Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced Thursday that he won't seek a third term, setting off a scramble to replace the two-term Democrat in the battleground state’s first open race for governor in 16 years.

The decision is likely to invite a wide-open race for the Democratic nomination in a battleground state the party hopes to control.

Democrat Tony Evers’ decision not to seek a third term sets up something unusual in this political era — a truly “open” race for governor.