Austin Petersen, a former Libertarian presidential candidate from Missouri, announced Tuesday his intent to run for U.S. Senate as a Republican during the 2018 election.

Petersen made the announcement Tuesday during a Fourth of July party on his family farm in Peculiar, Missouri.

"After running for president in the 2016 election, my passion to restore liberty in this country has not waned," Petersen said, according to PR News. "I want to bring both my state and my country back to living under a principled, constitutional, limited government."

Petersen said he doesn't foresee problems with switching parties because his his pro-life, pro-liberty and pro-Constitution values align with conservative values. He finished second in votes to New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson in the Libertarian primary.

Petersen will join Tony Monetti, assistant dean of aviation at the University of Central Missouri, in seeking the Republican nomination. U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, R-MO, has said she will seek another term in the House.

The Republican nominee will face off against Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Democrat. McCaskill won her first reelection bid in 2012 by securing 55 percent of the popular vote, and has said she will seek another term.