Former U.S. Senator Dan Coats has filed candidacy papers to regain the office he held for 10 years.

Coats met briefly with reporters Thursday outside the Indiana Secretary of State's Office, saying he plans to campaign connect with Hoosier voters throughout the state.

"We are looking forward to a vigorous effort all across the state of Indiana to listen to them...to go into the diners, to go into the places where people meet and congregate and talk," Coats said.

He joins four other Republicans seeking the GOP nomination.

Former Rep. John Hostettler and state Sen. Marlin Stutzman of Howe have filed papers for the May primary. Tea Party activist Richard Behney and financial advisor Don Bates Jr.are also running.

Democratic leaders will choose a party nominee since Bayh's decision not to seek re-election came one day before the deadline to submit the required 4,500 signatures to be on the primary ballot.

It appears that U.S. Represenative Brad Ellsworth is the front-runner for Bayh's replacement. Other speculative candidates, including Indiana Senate Minority Leader Vi Simpson, have said they will not seek the nomination.