Just as US Senate candidate Beth Lindstrom, his rival for moderate GOP voters, jumped into the race Monday, businessman John Kingston made it clear he too is serious about running — and putting up $2 million of his own money to prove it.

Kingston, who made his wealth as an executive of a global asset management firm, said Monday in a statement he also has another $200,000 from donors, as well as a list of eleven campaign staffers and consultants he has hired to get him launched in his first bid for public office.

His self-financing is a key component of his strategy to persuade Republicans he can run an effective campaign to win the nomination and unseat US Senator Elizabeth Warren in 2018.