On November 12, 2012, Angel announced that she would be running for the 26th District State Senate seat left open by Derek Kilmer, who had just won his election as U.S. Representative for the 6th congressional district. Democrat Nathan Schlicher was appointed to fill Kilmer's vacated State Senate seat on January 17, 2013, the election between Angel and Schlicher took place on November 5 that year, and he conceded the race on November 7.
