The Hill News

Former Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) confirmed Thursday that he's weighing a return to elective office, and will make a final decision this summer.

Feingold, a liberal darling who served three terms in the Senate before being ousted in 2010, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he's looking at running for Senate next fall to replace retiring Sen. Herb Kohl (D).

“I am looking at it, but I feel I should take some time to think this through,” Feingold told the paper. “For me the question right now is whether it’s a good idea for me to go back into this sort of life.”

The former senator has stayed active in politics, founding Progressives United, a political action committee supporting liberal candidates for office. But he also angered some of his former colleagues after sending out an email calling out certain Democratic lawmakers for "shame" for not backing an executive order to force federal contractors to disclose campaign contributions.

He's also not the only candidate in the race behind which liberals would rally. A number of activist groups are hoping that Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D) makes a run for the seat, and other members of the delegation could enter the race as well.

The Senate race would provide Democrats an opportunity to bounce back from tough losses statewide in Wisconsin during last fall's Republican wave. A number of Democratic and labor groups have sought political traction by attacking Gov. Scott Walker's (R) bill to eliminate most collective bargaining rights for public w! orkers.

Feingold said he'd make his decision somet! ime this summer.