Louisiana Republican Sen. David Vitter announced Tuesday that he’s running for governor in 2015.
“After listening and learning, I will lead,” Vitter said in a launch video on his website, promising that his campaign “will in no way limit the critical work I’m doing” in the Senate. Vitter said he would focus on improving Louisiana’s economy and the accountability of state government.
“I’m running to take on the important issues, and make the hard decisions, not to avoid them or play politics with them,” he said.
With incumbent Gov. Bobby Jindal leaving office after two terms, Vitter is likely to face a tough primary race. Lieutenant Gov. Jay Dardenne is also running in the solidly Republican state. Vitter will also likely face new attacks over the 2007 “D.C. Madam” scandal, in which his telephone number appeared in the phone records of a woman who ran a prostitution service. Vitter has apologized and called his actions a “sin,” though it didn’t stop him from winning reelection in 2010.
See Vitter’s announcement video below.