Former state legislator Jason Allen, R-Traverse City, has announced he is trying again to win northern Michigan's seat in US Congress. Allen came within 15 votes of winning the Republican primary for the 1st Congressional District in 2010.
"I'm very concerned with the direction America is heading," Allen says. "First of all, from a national defense perspective, we'll have the smallest military since before the first World War."
He spoke with IPR News Radio's David Cassleman about why he is running.
U.S. Rep. Dan Benishek, R-Iron Mountain, who narrowly defeated Allen in a primary six years ago, is retiring after three terms. State Sen. Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba, is the only other Republican who has declared for the race, although other names are rumored to be interested.
Allen declared his candidacy for the 1st Congressional District on Thursday morning at his family's Traverse City clothing store, Captain's Quarters.
The former state senator from Traverse City ran and lost by 15 votes to U.S. Rep. Dan Benishek in the Republican primary in 2010. He and state Sen. Tom Casperson are the sole Republicans who have declared their candidacy in the district.