Pam Gulleson

Pam Gulleson officially announced her campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday.

The former North Dakota legislator from Rutland has been a rumored Democratic federal candidate for months, but surprised many Wednesday when it became clear she would run for the House rather than the U.S. Senate.

Here’s Gulleson’s announcement:

I am running because I’m a proven independent voice. The problems facing our country are huge, and I’ll work across party lines to get things done for small businesses, farmers, communities – right here in North Dakota.

What’s happening right now in Washington—from ending Medicare and privatizing social security while protecting corporate loopholes and tax breaks for billionaires— certainly isn’t the ‘North Dakota Way’, and it’s not the American way. I will fight for economic policies that benefit the middle class, as well as tax breaks and incentives for small businesses.

I will work to ensure that North Dakotans can count on strong, independent leadership that puts job creation and common sense before partisan tongue-lashing and insider politics. By working together, I know that we can build a strong future for all of our families.

She’s now on a statewide tour that will take her to Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot and several other towns.

North Dakota’s lone member of the House, Republican Rick Berg, announced earlier this year that he will seek the GOP nomination to run for the Senate seat that Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., is not seeking re-election to next year.