David Duke, perhaps America’s best-known white supremacist, is considering running for Louisiana’s 1st Congressional District seat occupied by Republican Majority Whip Steve Scalise, according to the former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard’s website.
Duke, who was elected to Louisiana’s House of Representatives in 1989 and served one term, says the murder of the five Dallas police officers by a black sniper last week prompted his interest in running, Gannett Louisiana reports. He has previously called Scalise a “sellout” after the congressman apologized for speaking in 2002 to a white supremacist group founded by Duke.
Qualifying for the congressional election is set for July 20-22 in Baton Rouge.
“… Dr. Duke spoke to the rash of murderous violence aimed at police across the country due to baseless accusations of racism in recent confrontations with uncooperative black suspects,” Duke’s website says. “He underscored how this is symptomatic of the pervasive anti-white narrative spun by the elite that incites hatred and violence among blacks.”
But Duke makes no mention of Alton Sterling, whose shooting death last week at the hands of police in Baton Rouge has generated civil unrest and mass protests in Louisiana’s capital city and others. More than 200 protesters have been arrested in Baton Rouge since the death of Sterling, who was black.
Duke hasn’t responded to an interview request from USA Today Network of Louisiana.
It’s not the first time Duke has hinted at another run for political office, but his most recent forays have been bluffs.
He was a perennial candidate in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s with just one victory.
But Duke was a factor in other races, especially in the 1990s, most notably making the runoff for governor in 1991 before losing to former Gov. Edwin Edwards.
Gannett Louisiana has the full story.
