(AP) — Missouri Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder is moving toward a possible Congressional race.

The Southeast Missourian reported Tuesday (http://bit.ly/16UjtlK ) that Kinder has formed a congressional exploratory committee for the 8th Congressional District. He says the committee’s purpose is to forecast support for his potential candidacy. Kinder is serving his third term as lieutenant governor

Republican Jason Smith, of Salem, currently represents the 8th Congressional District. Smith beat out Kinder and several others earlier this year for the Republican nomination to replace U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson after she resigned. Smith was picked by an 84-person committee of local Republican leaders.

Missouri’s 8th Congressional District appears on the 2014 ballot.