Vinehout, D-Alma, said she's been approached by a number of people asking if she's going to run. She turns the question around, asking if they think she should run, and so far everyone has encouraged her to mount a bid.

"It's like an instant focus group," she said.

Vinehout said voters want someone who knows the issues and thinks through the answers.

"They want someone who is not hyper-partisan or hyper-political," she said.

As Dems look at who may run in 2018, when Gov. Scott Walker would be up for a third term, some have brought up state Rep. Dana Wachs, whose Assembly seat is in Vinehout's Senate district.

But Wachs said he is focused on this fall, when he faces Republican Bill Ingram in his re-election bid.

"I'm really excited about the prospect we should get back Assembly seats," he said.