Clay Aiken Says He is Running For Congress in North Carolina

"American Idol" star will run in North Carolina's 2nd District

After weeks of exploration and conversations with Democratic officials, "American Idol" alumnus Clay is running for Congress.

In a video released Wednesday, Aiken said he will seek the Democratic nomination to run against Rep. Renee Ellmers, R-N.C., in North Carolina's second congressional district in the 2014 midterm election.

Aiken leaned on his hardscrabble upbringing in the video, noting that his star turn on the popular singing show was a far cry from his childhood with a single mother who'd fled his abusive father.