State House Vice Speaker Michael Magaoay said he will run in the Democratic primary for state Senate in the North Shore and Wahiawa district being vacated by Sen. Robert Bunda, who plans to campaign for lieutenant governor.

Magaoay, an electrical consultant, has represented state House District 46 covering Schofield, Mokuleia and the North Shore for a decade. He has served as vice speaker for the past two sessions.

Magaoay said agricultural protection and land conservation will be priorities.

"Basically, right now, it’s to keep what we’re doing and preserving what we have on the North Shore," he said.

Bunda, a former Senate president, plans to resign from state Senate District 22 this month and enter the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor.

Magaoay’s decision creates an opening for Republicans.

Gil Riviere, a mortgage broker and leader of Keep the North Shore Country, ran a competitive GOP campaign against Magaoay in 2008 and will have a solid chance of capturing the open seat. Magaoay aide Larry Sagaysay, Maria Pacheco and Tammy Escorzon are Democrats who have shown interest in the House seat.