CHAMPAIGN – Two GOP candidates said Monday that they would like to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson on the November ballot, while the state Republican Party said it will start vetting potential successors right away.

Johnson said last week that he’ll drop his re-election campaign and retire at the end of the term, starting a race to replace him as the GOP candidate for the new 13th Congressional District seat.

Republicans consider the seat safe, although some national Democrats have called the race one to watch.