Former U.S. Rep. Vance McAllister, who made national headlines as the “kissing congressman,” is planning a political comeback.
McAllister, R-Swartz, whose kissing scandal cost him re-election to the 5th Congressional District seat in 2014, told Gannett Louisiana in an exclusive interview today that he will run against state Sen. Mike Walsworth, R-West Monroe, for the Louisiana Senate District 33 seat.
“This district needs somebody who hasn’t been in the pocket of a governor [Bobby Jindal] who sold out the state to run for president,” McAllister said.
McAllister was embraced by voters as a self-made millionaire and everyman when he shocked the field as an unknown and won the 5th District seat in 2013 with 60% of the vote in a special election.
But the following spring a video surfaced showing the married congressman kissing a married member of his congressional staff.
McAllister finished with 11% of the vote and out of the runoff in the fall 2014 election that current 5th District U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham, R-Swartz, eventually won.
McAllister, who reconciled with his wife, Kelly, told Gannett Louisiana he considers the scandal “old news” and hopes voters will as well.
“I didn’t hide from it; I admitted my mistake and asked for forgiveness,” he said. “The first question I asked Kelly before we made the decision is would it bother her, and she said no.”
