MADISON, Wis., Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Former Gov. Tommy Thompson has formally announced he is running for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate from Wisconsin.
In an announcement posted online, Thompson, 70, said Thursday "Washington, D.C., is broken."
"Spending is out of control and government is just plain too big," he said. "There's too much finger-pointing and not enough leadership."
Thompson served as governor from 1987 until 2001, when he joined the administration of President George W. Bush as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
He said during his term as governor, Wisconsin cut taxes 91 times, ended welfare and reformed education. He said solving contemporary problems will require "conservative common-sense principles" using "market-based solutions to reform entitlement programs."
Thompson enters a GOP primary field that includes state Sen. Frank Lasee, former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann, John Schiess, and state Rep. Jeff Fitzgerald.
U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin is the only announced candidate for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination.
