State Sen. Walter Boasso formally entered the race for Louisiana governor today, filing qualifying papers in Baton Rouge.

Boasso became the third major candidate to file to run for governor. He is another Democrat challenging front-runner Republican U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal.

Qualifying ends Thursday afternoon.

Boasso said he is not bothered by polls showing Jindal with a big lead.

Jindal, of Kenner, and Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell of Bossier Parish qualified on Tuesday.

The primary is Oct. 20 primary. A runoff would be Nov. 17.

Singer Sammy Kershaw of Lafayette filed today to run for lieutenant governor; Buddy Caldwell, a district attorney in three parishes of northeast Louisiana, filed to run for attorney general; and Don Johnson of Transylvania qualified in the commissioner of agriculture race.

More candidates filed today to run for Northwest Louisiana seats in the Legislature:

Senate District 37: Billy Montgomery of Bossier City and Barrow Peacock of Shreveport.

Senate District 38: incumbent Sherri Smith Cheek and Alan Seabaugh, both of Shreveport.

Senate District 39: incumbent Lydia Jackson of Shreveport.

House District 7: Kenny Cox of Mansfield, Dennis Freeman of Logansport and Hilda Rives of Mansfield.

Also running for governor are B. Alexandrenko of Baton Rouge, Vincent Castillo of St. Rose, Sheldon Forest of Maurice, Anthony Gentile of Mandeville and T. Lee Horne III of Bunkie.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)