Former KKK Leader David Duke Announces Senate Bid

David Duke, a white nationalist and former leader of the Ku Klux Klan, announced on Friday his candidacy for Senate in Louisiana — a bid that could spell trouble for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Duke, who has endorsed Trump's candidacy, is likely to be a distraction for Trump's campaign — forcing the GOP nominee to answer for Duke's comments on the campaign trail.

In a video announcing his candidacy, Duke is already causing controversy, saying he wants to go to the Senate to stand up "for the rights and heritage of European Americans."

"I'm overjoyed to see Donald Trump ... embrace most of the issues that I've championed for year," Duke added in the video.

Even more problematic for Trump are Louisiana's election rules.

In the Pelican State, all candidates — regardless of party identification — run on the same ballot on Election Day in November. If no candidate receives at least 50% of the vote, the race heads to a run-off a month later.

That means Duke — if he qualifies for the ballot and goes through with his bid — will be on the campaign trail, causing potential distractions for Trump until Nov. 8.

Soon after Duke made the announcement, Ward Baker, the executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, tweeted his office's renunciation of the campaign.

This is not the first time Duke has run for political office.

He's run two unsuccessful bids for Senate in Louisiana, in 1990 and 1996. He's also made failed runs for president, Louisiana governor and the House.

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