AUGUSTA, Maine — Former legislator and secretary of state Matt Dunlap became the latest candidate to turn in signatures to get on the ballot for the U.S. Senate race.

Dunlap, a Democrat, submitted more than the 2,000 signatures required to the Secretary of State’s Office on Wednesday morning.

The Old Town native is one of several Democrats who have been contemplating a run, but so far, he’s the only one to turn in signatures. The others who have been gathering are: former Gov. John Baldacci, state Sen. Cynthia Dill, state Rep. Jon Hinck and Portland homebuilder Benjamin Pollard.

Three Republicans — former Maine Senate president Rick Bennett, current Secretary of State Charlie Summers, and smallbusinessman Scott D’Amboise — submitted their signatures earlier this week to get on the ballot. Threes other Republicans are gathering signatures: treasurer Bruce Poliquin, attorney general William Schneider and assistant Senate majority leader Debra Plowman.

-ER