Former Honolulu City Councilman Stanley Chang said Thursday he plans to run for the state Senate seat occupied by Sam Slom, the only Republican in the 25-member chamber.

Chang, 33, is a lawyer, a Waialae-Kahala resident and a Democrat who served one term on the Council. He also made an unsuccessful bid for the District 1 U.S. House seat in 2014.

“We need to take action on some of the persistent issues facing our state — improving our schools, building more affordable housing, creating good jobs for young people — and I want to fight for the priorities of the people of East Honolulu,” Chang said.

Slom, 73, was unavailable for comment. He has represented East Honolulu in the Senate since 1996.