David Cicilline, the gay mayor of Providence, R.I., announced Saturday that he will run for the congressional seat to be vacated by Rep. Patrick Kennedy.

According to GayPolitics.com, intense competition is expected to surround the race for the Democratic nomination.

”The two-term mayor began to consider running after U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) shocked political observers by announcing he would not run for reelection this year,” reports GayPolitics.com. “Kennedy, son of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, was first elected to the seat in 1994. Cicilline will face state Democratic Party Chair William Lynch, who also announced his candidacy, and could face a number of other contenders.”

Cicilline, 49, was elected mayor in 2002. He would become the fourth openly gay member of the U.S. House of Representatives if elected to the seat.