Singer Clay Aiken of American Idol announced that he will be running for Congress.
He is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenged Republican Representative Renee Ellmers in North Carolina's second congressional district.
“I am not a politician. I never want to be one. But I do want to bring back, at least to my corner of North Carolina, the idea that someone can go to Washington to represent all the people, whether they voted for you or not,” Aiken said.
Moreover, Aiken highlighted his personal story, sharing that he grew up in a home torn apart by domestic violence, and how that motivated him to be a voice for the weak, particularly for his students with autism.
“The years I spent as a special education teacher for students with autism was my first window into the difference that a person can make in someone's life,” he said.
Aiken said he was lucky to find victory in the entertainment industry.
“For most Americans, there are no golden tickets. At least not like the kind you see on TV. More families are struggling today than at any time in our history. And here in North Carolina, we've suffered more than our share of pain,” Aiken stated.
He also criticized votes of Ellmers on the government shutdown and financial support for the military, which is very important in a district that neighbors Fort Bragg, one of the biggest U.S. Army bases in the country.
“Vote against the best interests of North Carolina military families and those who depend on the military for their jobs. To do it when you know it's wrong is even worse,” according to Aiken.
Aiken asserted that Ellmers voted the way her party leaders told her to.
“In the end, convinced me that if I didn't try and do something about it, then I couldn't complain if no one else did,” he declared.
Aiken achieved national interest after he came in second to Ruben Studdard in the second season of American Idol. He will join two other Democrats who have already confirmed their bids for Congress in the district.
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