Attorney Ravi Sangisetty (D) formally threw his hat into the open 3rd district race this week, one week after his third-quarter Federal Election Commission report showed that he had $130,000 in cash on hand as of Sept. 30.

Sangisetty is the first Democrat to file for the seat that Rep. Charlie Melancon (D) 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 personal loan.

“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 Duval, Funderburk, Sundbery, Lovell & 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 could get crowded on both sides on the aisle before the July filing deadline.