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Published On: Wed, Feb 5th, 2014

Former ‘American Idol’ Clay Aiken announces run for Congress

Former American Idol star Clay Aiken announced Wednesday that he is seeking election to Congress in his native North Carolina.

screenshot NBC Today Show

screenshot NBC Today Show

Aiken announced he would seek the Democratic nomination for the 2nd Congressional District seat currently held by Republican Rep. Renee Ellmers.

Aikens is focusing on his career as  special education teacher, UNICEF representative and presidential commission member on education while explaining his reason for getting in the race.

In each situation, “I saw a group of people, a population that was not being served,” Aiken told The Associated Press in an interview.

“For most Americans, there are no golden tickets — at least not like the kind you see on TV,” he said in a video announcing his bid. “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.”

The ‘Golden Ticket’ is a reference to finishing second on American Idol in 2003, losing to Ruben Studdard in a wildly popular showdown.

Aiken, age 35, is expected to face former state Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco of Asheboro and licensed professional counselor Toni Morris of Fayetteville in the Democratic primary in May.

Aiken said that he considers Washington dysfunctional and that he would focus on jobs, the economy and education. He said the federal health care law needs to be changed but shouldn’t be repealed. He supports abortion rights and considers his political philosophy in the broad middle between political extremes — he said he was once a registered independent voter.

“I’m not a politician. I don’t ever want to be one,” he says in the video. “But I do want to help 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.”

Ellmers, a two-term congresswoman, faces her own primary challenge from radio talk show host Frank Roche.

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About the Author

- Catherine "Kaye" Wonderhouse, a proud descendant of the Wunderhaus family is the Colorado Correspondent who will add more coverage, interviews and reports from this midwest area.

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  1. From 'American Idol' to Congress? Clay Aiken seeks new golden ticket – Los Angeles Times | Today-News says:

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  2. From 'American Idol' to Congress? Clay Aiken seeks new golden ticket – Los Angeles Times | Fox Global News says:

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  3. From ‘American Idol’ to Congress? Clay Aiken seeks new golden ticket – Los Angeles Times « Body build says:

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