Sen. Charles E. Grassley said in a local television interview that he intends to seek a seventh Senate term in 2016.

“I am making plans to run for re-election,” the Republican told “Iowa Press,” a local public affairs show, per The Des Moines Register.

“I’m making plans, but it’s not taking much of my time. I’m concentrating on doing my job for Iowans, on being there when we’re in session, doing my oversight, doing my legislation, doing my town meetings in the 99 counties every year,”said Grassley, who turned 80 this week.

Although Grassley regularly wins re-election by 2-to-1 margins, Iowa is a perennial battleground state.

And before he can run for re-election, Iowans will go to the polls in 2014 to elect a successor to retiring Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin. That race is rated Lean Democrat by Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call.