More Republicans said Tuesday they were mulling a run for a South Shore and Cape Cod Senate seat that will open up at the end of 2023-2024 legislative session as a local House Democrat tossed his hat into the race.

Bourne School Committee member Kari MacRae, a Republican, said she plans to run for the post a week after Sen. Susan Moran, a third-term lawmaker from Falmouth, announced she would not seek reelection to the Plymouth and Barnstable Senate seat, and instead run for Barnstable Superior Court Clerk, an elected county position.

MacRae, who unsuccessfully challenged Moran in 2020, said she was planning to run for the seat before Moran said she would not seek another term on Beacon Hill.

“I definitely think immigration is the biggest problem, the way they’re handling it. Not necessarily the people themselves, but the way we’re handling it, and how much money it’s costing us. And I just think it’s misappropriation of funds,” MacRae said in a phone call with the Herald. “We’ve got homeless citizens and veterans and so on and so forth. And they need to come first.”

MacRae’s decision comes as Rep. Mathew Muratore, a Plymouth Republican, said he plans to make a decision on his own campaign for the seat after the start of 2024 and Rep. Dylan Fernandes, a Falmouth Democrat, officially announced his candidacy for the seat.

Muratore said it has been a “whirlwind” since last week when Sen. Susan Moran, a third-term lawmaker from Falmouth, announced she would not seek reelection to the state Senate and instead run for Barnstable Superior Court Clerk, an elected county position.

He said the district is “pretty purple throughout” except for Falmouth. The Senate seat covers Bourne, Falmouth, Kingston, Mashpee, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, and Sandwich.

“It’s a seat that’s winnable for Republicans. Of course, Vinny deMacedo had it before so it can be done,” he said, referring to the last Republican to hold the Senate seat.

Fernandes announced his bid in a video posted to social media where he pointed to women’s rights, substance misuse, promoting a sustainable environment, mental health, and housing as some of the top issues facing constituents in the district.

The fourth-term lawmaker was also central to helping a coordinate services for a group of migrants shipped to Martha’s Vineyard in September 2022 at the behest of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a move Democrats have since labeled as a political stunt.

“When I think about this district, we have some really big challenges ahead, none bigger probably than the largest infrastructure project in the country and making sure that we replace both of the Cape bridges,” he said in the video.

Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Steve Kerrigan said a candidate can either run “scared or unopposed” when asked if the seat will stay in the Democratic column.

“In a November election, what it comes down to is people are going to be voting on the issues and the causes that they care about. And Bay State voters are far more aligned with the Democratic Party values and what our candidates are talking about. And so I’m excited for the opportunity that lies ahead, but you can’t count any votes until after 8 p.m. on Election Day,” Kerrigan told the Herald. “We have to work as if you’re 10 points behind no matter what race you’re in and Dylan understands that and has campaigned incredibly hard for his seat.”

Fernandes reported $84,306 campaign cash on hand as of Nov. 30, according to state campaign finance data, which also shows he did not raise any money during November.

MacRae had just over $170 on hand while Muratore reported $19,065 in campaign cash as of Nov. 30, according to state data. Moran reported $51,631 cash on hand as of the end of November.

The Cape Cod Senate seat has flipped between parties over the last two decades, with the last Republican, deMacedo, holding the seat in 2018 before Moran brought the district back to the Democratic column through a 2020 special election.

Moran drew a Republican challenger during the 2020 special election, Attorney Jay McMahon, who unsuccessfully ran for attorney general against Andrea Campbell during the 2022 election cycle.

McMahon also unsuccessfully challenged Moran during that year’s regularly scheduled general election, bringing in 44,201 votes compared to Moran’s 56,962, according to data from the secretary of state’s office.

MacRae challenged Moran during the 2022 election, losing by almost 10 percentage points, according to data from the secretary of state’s office.

With over a year left in the 2023-2024 legislative session, Moran said she “will stay committed on the issues I have fought for since being elected; competitively funding childcare, protecting our aquifer and ocean resources, while encouraging local economic growth that we can all be proud of.”

She said it was “an absolute honor” to serve as a senator but that she is “excited” to pursue the clerkship.

“I wish to continue working for these communities with a hands-on approach, bringing my skills as a long-time practicing attorney in federal and state courts, to better integrate services to the community in partnership with the (district attorney) and sheriff and to increase the efficiency and accessibility of the court, for judges, lawyers, and consumers,” Moran said in statement.