Jim Webb, a former Democratic Virginia senator and Secretary of the Navy under Ronald Reagan, has launched a 2016 presidential exploratory committee.
"I made this decision after reflecting on numerous political commentaries and listening to many knowledgeable people," Webb wrote on new website Webb2016.com. "I look forward to listening and talking with more people in the coming months as I decide whether or not to run."
In a 14-minute video on the site, Webb, a former Marine and author, laid out his biography and his rationale for considering a run, saying that the American people want "positive, visionary leadership that they can trust, at a time when our country is facing historic challenges."
Webb has long hinted that he might pursue a presidential run. But he enters the campaign as a long-shot, with many Democrats rallying behind a likely Hillary Clinton candidacy.