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U.S.|Former ‘American Idol’ Star Clay Aiken Announces Run for Congress
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/10/us/clay-aiken-congress.html
Mr. Aiken said helium was moving arsenic a “loud and arrogant Democrat” for an unfastened House spot successful his autochthonal North Carolina this year.
Jan. 10, 2022Updated 2:32 p.m. ET
Clay Aiken, the erstwhile “American Idol” contestant, said connected Monday that helium was moving for Congress successful North Carolina, successful his 2nd effort to correspond the authorities wherever helium grew up.
On his new website, Mr. Aiken, 43, referred to himself arsenic a “loud and arrogant Democrat” and said helium would beryllium moving successful a recently drawn territory that includes Durham and Chapel Hill. Representative David E. Price, a Democrat who presently represents overmuch of that area, announced his retirement successful October.
“I mean to usage my dependable to present existent results for North Carolina families, conscionable similar David Price has done for decades,” Mr. Aiken, a autochthonal of Raleigh, wrote. “I’ll ever basal up for my principles and combat for inclusion, income equality, escaped entree to prime wellness care, and combating clime change.”
Mr. Aiken, who placed 2nd down Ruben Studdard successful the 2nd play of “American Idol” successful 2003, antecedently ran for Congress successful a Republican-leaning portion of the authorities successful 2014. He won the Democratic superior but was defeated successful the wide predetermination by the Republican incumbent.
Last month, the North Carolina Supreme Court ordered that the state’s 2022 superior election, primitively scheduled for March 8, beryllium postponed until May 17, citing a “need for urgency” successful giving critics of the authorities legislature’s gerrymandered governmental maps further clip to prosecute a ineligible conflict to redraw them. New boundaries for authorities legislative districts and North Carolina’s 14 seats successful the U.S. House of Representatives look 3 lawsuits filed by Democrats and voting-rights advocates successful authorities tribunal successful Raleigh.
Mr. Aiken is joining a crowded Democratic superior tract that includes 2 authorities senators and a Durham County commissioner, The News & Observer reported.
Mr. Aiken said his archetypal acquisition with authorities came erstwhile helium was successful the eighth people and asked Mr. Price to talk to his class. Mr. Price agreed.
“In Congress, I’ll usage my dependable to advocator for common-sense policies that promote continued occupation maturation and steadfast communities,” Mr. Aiken wrote. “Many of these governmental battles disagreement america arsenic people, endanger our democracy, and weaken America. North Carolinians are disquieted astir affordable wellness attraction and accelerated inflation.”
Mr. Aiken studied astatine the University of North Carolina astatine Charlotte and taught peculiar acquisition successful Wake County. He is simply a co-founder of the National Inclusion Project, which advocates for disabled children, and helium worked with UNICEF arsenic a nationalist goodwill ambassador, according to his website.
English (US) ·