COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A Green Party candidate in Ohio is pursuing a bid for U.S. Senate in 2016.

Joseph DeMare, who announced his candidacy on Earth Day, April 22, says he's receiving good response while trying to collect the necessary 500 signatures to qualify for Ohio's spring primary ballot. The Greens secured minor party status in 2014 when their gubernatorial candidate, Anita Rios, received 3 percent of the vote.

DeMare is a machinist from Bowling Green. He says he wants to "break the stranglehold" of the two-party system. Green candidates don't accept money from corporations or corporate PACs.

If his efforts are successful, DeMare could potentially pull votes from two Democrats seeking to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman next year: former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and Cincinnati councilman P.G. Sittenfeld.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.