Former Ku Klux Klan leader, David Duke, registered his candidacy on Friday, July 22 and now he officially runs for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by former David Vitter.
David Duke, white supremacist and former Ku Klux Klan leader, announced on Friday that the climate of the United States had moved in his direction when he registered his candidacy for Louisiana’s U.S. Senate race. He submitted his paperwork for the November 8 ballot as a Republican candidate for the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office in Baton Rouge.
“I’m overjoyed to see Donald Trump and most Americans embrace most of the issues that I’ve championed for years… I’ve always said equal rights for all, special interests for none. My slogan remains America first,” said the 66-year-old now candidate for the US Senate.
As per Duke, he has always been faithful to principles that are shared by Republicans, the same principles laying today the foundation of Trump’s presidential campaign.
Duke’s bid comes one day after the Donald Trump accepted the GOP nomination for presidential elections.
Nevertheless, the Republican candidate for Senate does not count with the support of every single Republican Party. When acknowledging that Duke officially runs for US Senate, Republicans quickly denounced his Senate bid.
It was, in particular, the LAGOP that made public its position towards Duke’s endorsement with the release of a Duke-bid opposing statement.
Duke is a ‘hate-filled fraud’ for the LAGOP
Duke was officially found qualified for the job just before noon on July 22. Although he runs as a Republican candidate, the Republican Party of Louisiana (LAGOP) has condemned his campaign calling him a “hate-filled fraud.” In a statement, the chairperson of the Republican Party of Louisiana (LAGOP), Roger Villere, stated the party’s opposition to Duke’s candidacy.
“The Republican Party opposes, in the strongest possible terms, David Duke’s candidacy for any public office. David Duke is a convicted felon and a hate-filled fraud who does not embody the values of the Republican Party. The Party of Lincoln and Reagan is on that recognizes the inherent value of every human life, regardless of age, religion or race. David Duke’s history of hate marks a dark stain on Louisiana’s past and has no place in our current conversation. The Republican Party of Louisiana will play an active role inopposingg David Duke’s candidacy,” the LAGOP’s statement read.
Duke’s endorsement comes in a moment when Louisiana faces deep racial tensions after the shooting death of a black man by white police officers and the killing of three law enforcement officers.
Duke only made reference to the deaths of police. He said the unpleasant incident shattered him.
Some GOP leaders firmly believe Trump failed during the primary season with the premature endorsement of Duke. Trump’s campaign representatives, in turn, pronounced no statements on Friday concerned with Duke’s candidacy.
Duke will run on November 8 in a crowded field of more than 20 qualifiers for the US Senate seat.
Source: The Washington Post