BATON ROUGE - Republican Rob Maness, a retired Air Force colonel who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate last year, is making another bid for a Louisiana-based Senate seat.

Maness has filed federal paperwork declaring his candidacy for the 2016 election that will determine who takes the Senate position being vacated by Republican David Vitter. Vitter announced he wouldn't seek a third term after losing the Louisiana governor's race. 

Announced earlier this week for the Senate race is Republican U.S. Rep. John Fleming. Republican U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany has said he will announce his Senate campaign soon. Several other contenders also are eyeing the job.

A political newcomer when he ran in 2014, Maness came in third for the Senate seat won by Republican Bill Cassidy, who defeated Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu.