Businessman Sean Mahoney, a national committeeman for the RNC, confirmed Monday in an interview with UnionLeader.com that he is actively exploring a bid to represent New Hampshire in the U.S. Senate.

Mahoney’s potential candidacy is the latest possible complication for former New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte, who has been boosted by the National Republican Senatorial Committee for the U.S. Senate, though the committee has stopped short of an official endorsement. Ayotte is officially in the exploratory stage. Republican Ovide Lamontagne, an attorney who ran for governor in 1996, is also exploring a U.S. Senate candidacy.

The party is fighting to hold the seat currently represented by Republican Sen. Judd Gregg, who is retiring.