Sam Brown, a retired Army captain who was severely burned by the explosion of a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, announced his plans to enter Nevada's Republican primary Monday to take on Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen next fall.

"Right now, the American Dream is at risk. Joe Biden and Jacky Rosen promised to unite Americans and solve problems. Instead, they've abandoned Nevada and divided America with extreme policies to satisfy special interests in Washington," said Brown in a statement. "As your Senator, I will get the job done for Nevada. I am ready to lead and fight for you again."

Brown's entry gives Republicans a significant recruit in what's expected to be one of 2024's most competitive states. Democrats hold a narrow majority in the Senate and are defending the lion's share of seats expected to be competitive next year, including three in states former President Donald Trump carried twice. Nevada narrowly went blue in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.

"Nevada is always a battleground, and this Senate race will be on the toughest in the country," Rosen said in an April video announcing her bid for a second term.

Rosen unseated Republican Sen. Dean Heller in 2018 after a term in the House representing a suburban Las Vegas seat.

This story is breaking and will be updated.