‘American Idol’ runner-up Aiken aims for Congress again

By GARY D. ROBERTSON
Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Former “American Idol” runner-up Clay Aiken says he’s running for Congress again in North Carolina, this time seeking to succeed the retiring U.S. Rep. David Price. Aiken announced his bid for the 6th District seat in the Research Triangle area Monday in a video. He finished second to Ruben Studdard on the TV singing contest in 2003. Aiken has had a career in music, theater and reality shows but also won the Democratic nomination for another district in 2014 before losing in the general election. Aiken would be the first openly LGBTQ person elected to Congress from the South if he won.