John Barrasso formally announced Monday he will run for another term in the U.S. Senate.

Barrasso, who was selected last year to fill the seat of the late Republican Sen. Craig Thomas, told a roomful of supporters at the Parkway Plaza in Casper that he was running to represent Wyoming values.

"I'm asking for your help to carry on the Wyoming tradition of forceful, independent and effective service for all the people of Wyoming in the United States Senate," he said.

Barrasso has served as Wyoming's junior senator since June, when Gov. Dave Freudenthal selected him to fill the seat of Thomas, who had died earlier that month from complications from leukemia.

In his 10-minute speech, Barrasso said he would focus on liberty by limiting the size and scope of government and by fostering Wyoming's traditional values.

"Our future is simply too important to be left unprotected, or worse than that, to be left to Washington, D.C.," he said.

Barrasso said security would be another priority because residents of the Cowboy State "deserve the peace of mind to know America is becoming better, stronger and safer."

A physician and former state senator, Barrasso said he's returned to Wyoming every weekend since taking office and attended 44 town meetings across the state.

"Hard work is something that the people of Wyoming know very well," he said. "And I want to be very clear: I will not be outworked. Not during this campaign, not in the United States Senate, not ever. "

Barrasso was introduced by Republican Sen. Mike Enzi. The senior senator for Wyoming lauded Barrasso's work in Washington so far and said Barrasso has easily made the transition to the federal level.

"I just can't tell you how impressed I am," Enzi said. "There isn't anybody else who can touch the ground running like he has."

Enzi narrowly defeated Barrasso the last time Barrasso campaigned for a senate seat, in the 1996 Republican primary.

Two democrats - Gillette lawyer Nick Carter and Casper City Council member Keith Goodenough - have also announced they are seeking their party's nomination to run for Barrasso's seat.

Barrasso also made campaign stops Monday in Thermopolis and Cheyenne.

Reach Joshua Wolfson at (307) 266-0582 or at josh.wolfson@trib.com.