Actress Melissa Gilbert, best known for the television series "Little House on the Prairie," announced on Monday she is running for Congress in Michigan.
The actress, who is running as a Democrat, will have an uphill battle against incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop, who handily won the 8th District last year beating Democrat Eric Schertzing 54 percent to 42 percent,
noted the Detroit Free Press. The seat had been held by another Republican, U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers.
Gilbert, who moved to Howell two years ago with her actor husband Timothy Busfield, also will have to overcome negative publicity from owing the Internal Revenue Service more than $360,000 in taxes,
the Detroit News reported in June.
"Like so many people across the nation, the recession hit me hard," Gilbert said in a statement to the News in June. "That, plus a divorce and a dearth of acting opportunities the last few years, created a perfect storm of financial difficulty for me."
Gilbert posted a message on Twitter announcing her candidacy for U.S. House seat.
"Here in Michigan, I know people are doing their best to make a good life for themselves and their families," Gilbert said in a message on her political
website. "When it comes down to it, I think that’s what we all really want.
"I'm running for Congress to make life a little easier for all the families who feel they have fallen through the cracks in today's economy. I believe building a new economy is a team effort, and we need to bring fresh voices to the table to get the job done," she said.
The Michigan Republican Party wasted no time attacking Gilbert, issuing a Twitter post Monday referencing the actress's tax problems.