TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) - Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton says he will run in the November special election for the U.S. Senate to serve the remainder of Thad Cochran's term.

Shelton made the announcement live Tuesday exclusively on WTVA 9 News Today.

Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton

The Democrat becomes the fourth candidate to announce his intention to run.

Former Democratic Congressman Mike Espy has said he is running. So has Republican state Senator Chris McDaniel, who almost beat Cochran in the 2014 GOP primary.

Also running is Cindy Hyde-Smith, the Republican who was appointed by Governor Phil Bryant to serve as interim U.S. senator prior to the election. She will be sworn in next week since Cochran formally stepped down April 1.

Bryant has yet to announce when the qualifying period will be for the race.

This will be Shelton's first run for statewide office. He plans to continue serving as mayor while campaigning for the U.S. Senate.