Attorney Ravi Sangisetty entered Lousiana’s open 3rd District race this week, one week after his third-quarter Federal Election Commission report showed that he had $130,000 cash on hand for his campaign as of Sept. 30.

Sangisetty is the first Democrat to file for the seat that Democratic Rep. Charlie Melancon is giving up to run for Senate. Sangisetty submitted his statement of candidacy with the FEC on Sept. 9 and within three weeks showed about $136,000 in total receipts which included a $50,000 loan that he gave himself.

“Our urgent problems demand thoughtful, practical, and fact-based solutions. Both in this race and in Washington, I will bring to the table a strong background in federal law and policy, and the passion and energy necessary to stand up for our region,” said Sangisetty, who works as a business attorney at the firm of Duval, Funderburk, Sundbery, Lovell and Watkins in Houma.

On the Republican side, professor Kristian Magar has filed for the race and state Rep. Nickie Monica has declared his interest in the seat. But the field is expected to get crowded on both sides before the July filing deadline.