Michal Šmarda, former leader of the Social Democrats (SOCDEM), has announced a late entry into the Czech Senate race. He will be contesting the seat in the Žďársko district (constituency 51). Šmarda, currently the long-serving mayor of Nové Město na Moravě, left SOCDEM last year in protest of the party's alliance with the Communist Party and the Stačilo! movement. He will be facing incumbent Christian Democrat Senator Josef Klement, whom he previously lost to in a second-round runoff six years ago. This promises to be a closely watched race within the constituency. The election will test Šmarda’s support base outside of the party structure.