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# Clay Aiken Running For Congress In North Carolina

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<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/sEzYSQYv.m3u8" -->
## Video: Clay Aiken Running For Congress In North Carolina

[Watch (HLS stream): Clay Aiken Running For Congress In North Carolina](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/sEzYSQYv.m3u8) (1:29)

![Clay Aiken Running For Congress In North Carolina](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/sEzYSQYv/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2014-02-05. Clay Aiken announced he’s running for a House seat in North Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District. The “Idol” runner up is hoping to unseat the Republican incumbent Renee Ellmers._


---

Jul 27, 2023 4:11 PM UTC

---

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### Late Night Highlight: Clay Aiken Talks 'Duck Dynasty'

---


## Transcript

>> Millions voted for him on American Idol, but can he convince North Carolina voters to do the same? Clay Aiken announced he is running for a House seat in North Carolina's 2nd Congressional District.

>> If you only know the part of my story that begins with the golden ticket, something that still seems unbelievable to me even to this day. You might wonder what would qualify me to run.

>> Aiken point to his time as a Special Education teacher and his work with UNICEF. He also noted that, even as a democrat, he was appointed by President George W. Bush to a Commission on Special Education. The Idol runner- up is hoping to unseat the Republican incumbent Renee Ellmers. Aiken's criticized her votes in favor of October's government shutdown and votes to cut military funding.

>> The congresswoman who went to represent the 2nd district in North Carolina had good intentions. I'd like to think she having good intentions. But she ended up in D. C. and was changed by it.

>> But Ellmers doesn't seem too worried about a potential challenge from Aiken. She recently told a local radio station, I guess we don't have a very high approval rating. So, I guess, the bar has been lowered for him. As for whether Aiken could actually win, the odds aren't in his favor. Aiken's running as a Democrat in North Carolina's 2nd Congressional District, voted heavily for Romney in 2012 and McCain in 2008. He'll first face at least 2 challengers in the Democratic primary including North Carolina's former Commerce Secretary.

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