Former Rep. Ed Case announced Sunday that he will run for Hawaii’s open Senate seat in 2012.

The Democrat made his announcement on his website and on a video posted to YouTube.

Case is pursuing the seat held by retiring Sen. Daniel Akaka (D). Case lost a primary challenge to Akaka in 2006, and he lost a special election for a House seat last year.

He was elected to represent Hawaii’s 2nd district in a 2002 special election to succeed the late Rep. Patsy Mink (D), and he served until 2007. Case launched his primary challenge to Akaka instead of seeking re-election in 2006.

He was also an unsuccessful candidate for a gubernatorial nomination in 2002.

Case emailed supporters in March to say he would decide by mid-April whether to run for the Senate.

Roll Call Politics rates this race Leans Democratic.