In this file photo from Oct. 28, 2014, Paul Davis addresses a rally of teachers and other supporters outside the Statehouse in Topeka.

Former state Rep. Paul Davis of Lawrence has scheduled a series of appearances Tuesday where he is expected to formally announce that he will seek the Democratic nomination for the 2nd District congressional seat in 2018.

Davis, 45, announced in April that he was exploring the 2nd District race, which will be an open contest in 2018. Incumbent Rep. Lynn Jenkins, a Topeka Republican, has already said she would not run for another term.

Davis, who recently completed a tour of all 25 counties in the 2nd District, has scheduled events throughout the district on Tuesday, starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Downtown Ramada and Convention Center in Topeka. From there, he travels to Pittsburg for a noon event at Butler’s Quarters. At 4:30 p.m., he makes another appearance at Leavenworth’s River Front Community Center. Then he returns home to Lawrence for a 6:30 p.m. event at the Cider Gallery, 810 Pennsylvania St.

Davis was the Democratic Party’s unsuccessful candidate for governor in 2014 when he lost narrowly to incumbent Republican Gov. Sam Brownback. He points out, though, that he carried the 2nd District in that race, largely due to wide margins in Douglas and Shawnee counties, the two largest counties in the district.

With the 2018 primary elections a year away, the 2nd District race has already drawn a crowded field. On the Democratic side, Davis will likely face Neosho County resident Kelly Standley for the nomination. On the Republican side, state Sen. Steve Fitzgerald, of Leavenworth, and Basehor City Councilman Vernon J. Fields are the two candidates who have filed so far, although Attorney General Derek Schmidt, Sen. Dennis Pyle, of Hiawatha, and Sen. Caryn Tyson, of Parker, are frequently mentioned as potential candidates.