It’s the slogan that has swept the Democratic Party: “Ready for Hillary.” But in Iowa, one of the early battleground states on the way to the 2016 presidential nomination, a contender is emerging that could challenge Clinton’s status as the clear favorite: former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley.

He’s nowhere near Clinton yet in terms of support, but it’s a long way until November 2016, and Clinton enjoyed the frontrunner status in 2008 before Barack Obama swept in and took the nomination from her. O’Malley campaigned heavily in Iowa this weekend, seeking to establish himself as the Clinton alternative, hoping to take advantage of the fact that many on the left don’t think that Clinton is liberal enough, according to an Associated Press report.

Clinton will be a tough one to beat. She is the wife of former President Bill Clinton, has served as a senator in New York, was the secretary of state in the Obama Administration, and nearly won the nomination for president in 2008. And with a black president now in office, perhaps voters are pining for the first woman president.

But no candidate is immune to challenges from within their own party, as Clinton herself showed in 2008, and O’Malley may be just the challenger to cause Clinton to look over her shoulder.

O’Malley was a volunteer in Gary Hart’s presidential campaign in 1983, which is when he first came to Iowa. More than 30 years later, he’s back with 14 staffers and an open pocketbook that has contributed nearly $50,000 to local candidates as he hopes to win over some hearts in the important state.

O’Malley has said that perhaps the reason he doesn’t enjoy the support among Democratic voters that Clinton does is because “they haven’t met me yet,” he said according to the report.

He received enthusiastic applause from the 200 in attendance during his comments about income inequality and better oversight of the financial industry. Many of those in attendance didn’t know much about him to begin with.

Although O’Malley hasn’t yet officially entered the race, many have taken his decision to pass up running for the seat of retiring Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski as a sign of a presidential run.