(JTA) — David Duke, the anti-Semitic former grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, announced he will run for Senate in Louisiana.
Duke is a registered Republican, and will run in that party’s primary for the Louisiana Senate seat being vacated by Republican David Vitter, according to the Associated Press. Duke served one term as a state representative more than 20 years ago and has run unsuccessfully since then for higher office.
“Thousands of special interest groups stand up for African Americans, Mexican Americans, Jewish Americans, et cetera, et cetera,” Duke said in a message announcing his candidacy. “The fact is that European Americans need at least one man in the United States Senate, one man in the Congress who will defend their rights and heritage.
Duke supports Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, which has landed Trump in controversy. Earlier this year, Trump demurred when asked to disavow Duke’s support, before disavowing it — claiming he had misunderstood the original question.
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