Octogenarian Edwin Edwards told
Bloomberg News that he is running to represent Louisiana's 6th Congressional District.
The seat is being vacated by Republican incumbent Rep. Bill Cassidy, who is challenging Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu in her re-election bid.
Edwards, 86, a Democrat, served four terms starting in 1972 as governor of Louisiana during three separate tenures – as well as eight years of a 10-year prison sentence for racketeering.
The Almanac On American Politics described Edwards as "a roguish Cajun populist." In 1991, he ran on the slogan, "Vote For the Crook. It's Important," according to
The Washington Post.
He has been a free man since 2011.
Since October 2013, Edwards has starred along with his third wife, Trina, 35, in the A&E reality show, "The Governor's Wife."
He told Bloomberg he was interested in setting up a super PAC to bankroll his campaign once he had worked out the legalities. The Washington Post noted that Edwards cannot set up his own super PAC because candidates are not allowed to coordinate with such groups.
Edwards continues to be a popular character in Louisiana, according to the Post, though Republicans are likely to retain the heavily GOP district. The results of a
poll conducted on his behalf have not been released.
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