It’s official. American Idol season 2 alum, Clay Aiken, has announced his democratic candidacy for congress in North Carolina.
“I saw this as the best place I could serve, because I think Washington, in general, is dysfunctional,” Aiken said. “I think it’s high time we put people in Congress who were not beholden to their party, and not beholden to anything but the people who they live around and grew up around, in my case.”
He said he would press Ellmers to explain her voting record that cut funding for military families. “She didn’t have to run on her record last time,” Aiken said. “I plan on changing that. I want her to have to talk about and defend some of the things she’s done to people in this district.”
Aiken said he planned to raise “the vast majority” of his campaign funds from supporters, but said he might have to use some of his own money. He still retains a fanatical fan base – known as Claymates – which in recent weeks has promoted his candidacy through an online petition.
He doesn’t believe his sexuality will be an issue:
“People care about jobs, they care about the economy, they care about being able to pay for college,” he said. “That (his sexuality) is an issue that doesn’t affect many people in this district or this state.”
Watch Clay announce his candidacy:
Clay discusses his candidacy with the News and Observer
Interview with CNN
