Former Democratic Congressman Ruben Kihuen announced today via Twitter he’s running for Las Vegas City Council.
The former U.S. representative — who decided to forego reelection in 2018 after being accused of sending sexually explicit messages and making unwanted advances toward women lobbyists and former campaign staffers — announced his candidacy in a video tweeted just after 4:30 p.m.
“I hope to earn your support,” he said in the video, as he hammered a campaign sign into the ground Tuesday in the rain.
Kihuen will be running for the Ward 3 seat held by Bob Coffin, who is not seeking reelection.
Kihuen represented Nevada’s 4th Congressional District from 2016 to 2018 after defeating then-incumbent Cresent Hardy. But accusations of sexual misconduct from his 10 years as a state legislator quickly derailed his chances at reelection.
A nine-month House Ethics Committee investigation found Kihuen made frequent unwanted advances toward women required to work with him. That included two women who the committee found accurately accused Kihuen of grabbing the back of their thighs or buttocks while they were alone in an office with him.
Kihuen denied the allegations but has said he regretted his conduct toward the women.
Candidates begin filing for the Las Vegas municipal election today.
Kihuen's opponents are expected to include Democratic former Assemblywoman Olivia Diaz, who resigned her seat in December to run for the city office.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.