ROLL CALL: Signs Point Against Cummings Running for Senate.

Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, who has been considering entering the Democratic race for Maryland’s open U.S. Senate seat, said he will reveal his plans for 2016 during a three-stop tour that could come in “maybe less than two weeks.”

Cummings revealed his plans on Tuesday, just a few hours before Baltimore Rev. Jamal H. Bryant — who was seen by some as perhaps the toughest Democratic primary opponent in the 10-term lawmaker’s career — said he would drop his own campaign for the 7th District seat.

Martha McKenna, a Baltimore-based Democratic operative, said the “tea leaves” point toward Cummings staying out of the race to replace retiring Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski to focus instead on his own re-election and representing Baltimore.

“Bryant dropping out says a lot,” said Martha McKenna, a Baltimore-based Democratic operative.

Bryant, who leads a church of 12,000, told the Baltimore Sun on Tuesday night, “I believe the continued stewardship of my church is my highest calling.”

Another sign? Cummings told reporters in Baltimore he would make his intentions clear during stops in Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Howard County — all parts of the 7th District he represents.

When asked Tuesday what should be read into his those plans and whether they meant he had decided one way or the other on the Senate seat, Cummings — who has been coy about the subject for months now — hedged again: “You never know,” he said.

He’s bad in the House, he’d be bad in the Senate.