Former Gardiner Mayor Brian Rines is planning to take another run at the Senate seat now occupied by Sen. Earle McCormick, R-West Gardiner.

Rines lost to McCormick by 700 or so votes in 2006, in one of the most hotly contested Senate races in the state. McCormick moved over from the House to claim the seat left open when Sen. Scott Cowger, D-Hallowell, decided not to run again.

Looking ahead to next year, it’s likely to be a race to watch as Republicans try to turn the tide on the Democrats’ one-seat majority.

Rines said he learned from his campaign mistakes last time and is ready for another chance.

“I really want to be a senator,” he said.

While there may be other Democrats who step forward for a primary, McCormick said he will likely be the only Republican running.

“I thought it was a very nice campaign last time,” he said. “It was cordial. And it was fairly close.”