Former Neb. Sen. Bob Kerrey announced today that he had changed his mind, and he will run for the state's open US Senate seat after all, the Associated Press reported.

More from GlobalPost: Former Sen. Bob Kerrey reconsidering run for US Senate

Kerrey, 68, who served two terms as a senator for Nebraska between 1989 and 2000, said in early February that he would not run for his old seat, the AP reported. The job became available in December when Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson, who replaced Kerrey, unexpectedly announced his retirement.

However, Kerrey explained, according to the AP, "It just felt wrong. I wasn't happy with the decision.”

In a statement, Kerrey said, "doing things the conventional way has never been my strong suit," Bloomberg News reported. Kerrey has lived in New York City since 2001, serving as president of New School University for several years.

According to Bloomberg News:

Republicans had been favored to pick up the seat because Democrats were hampered in their candidate recruiting and the voters in the state have been electing Republicans. Nelson is now the only Democrat holding statewide elective office in Nebraska.

Democrats are hopeful that Kerrey’s name recognition and ability to raise funds will help them hold on to Nelson’s seat, Bloomberg News reported. Retaining Nebraska may be key to the party keeping its majority in the upper chamber of Congress, the AP reported. Currently, Democrats have a 51-47 majority in the Senate, with two independents who caucus with the party.

However, it’s unlikely that Kerrey will breeze into office, Nathan Gonzales, political editor of the non-partisan Rothenberg Political Report, told Bloomberg News. "He's still a Democrat in Nebraska, and I don't think that puts him in a strong early position," Gonzales said. Living outside the state for 11 years will also be an issue, he said, adding, “I think Republicans are going to make 'New York City' Bob Kerrey's middle name.”

More from GlobalPost: Top India CEO warns of slowdown