SALT LAKE CITY — A third Utah Republican says he'll challenge U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch for this year's GOP nomination.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Provo state Rep. Chris Herrod announced his bid Friday.

Herrod joins former state Republican Sen. Dan Liljenquist of Bountiful in challenging the six-term incumbent.

Liljenquist announced his candidacy Wednesday. Radio talk show host Tim Aalders also is in the running for the Republican nomination.

Pete Ashdown, an Internet businessman who lost to Hatch in 2006, is the only Democrat to have declared his candidacy.

Unlike Liljenquist, Herrod says he won't resign from the Utah Legislature to run his campaign.

Herrod says he has plans for important proposals during the legislative session that starts Jan. 23.