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FILE: Undated: Maryland Rep. Andy Harris, Washington, D.C.(AP)

Maryland Democrats are pouring into the race to replace party member Sen. Barbara Mikulski, but her announced retirement appears to have caught Republicans by surprise with top prospects still one the sidelines.

Andy Harris, R-Md., is considered the first in line, as the only Maryland Republican in Congress.

Harris told FoxNews.com on Wednesday that hes considering a run but wont make a decision until the fall.

Were certainly going to take a look at it and see how it shakes out, said the three-term congressmen, who also made clear that other potential candidates were free to decide on their own timelines.

The party primaries for the open seat will be in April 2016.

Mikulskis retirement has sparked so much interest from potential Democratic candidates in liberal leaning Maryland because the state has had only three senators in the past 38 years.

Though Maryland is considered one of the most liberal states in the country, Republicans feel empowered after businessman Larry Hogans 2014 upset gubernatorial victory over Democratic Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, in which Hogan became only the second Republican governor in Maryland in nearly four decades.

Among the other GOP candidates mentioned for the Mikulski seat are former Maryland congressman and Gov. Robert Ehrlich, former congresswoman Connie Morella and former Maryland Secretary of State Mary Kane.

Harris said a potential Kane or Morales run would make sense considering Mikulskis legacy -- the longest-serving woman in the history of Congress who has held her Senate seat since 1987.

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Maryland Republicans so far appear to ignore open Senate seat