Former Democratic Pennsylvania Rep. Joe Sestak has officially announced his candidacy for president, joining two dozen other Democrats vying for their party’s nomination.
Launching with the campaign slogan of “Admiral Joe: Accountability to America,” Sestak will make his official announcement from Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum in Waterloo, Iowa.
He also appeared at a Marion, Iowa church early on Sunday, tweeting, “Thank you Pastor Morgan and the First Antioch Church for welcoming me in Iowa. I began my day with the warmth of an African American congregation as I often did in Pennsylvania on many Sundays.”
Thank you Pastor Morgan and the First Antioch Church for welcoming me in Iowa. I began my day with the warmth of an African American congregation as I often did in Pennsylvania on many Sundays. pic.twitter.com/AzYK8JMxZA
— Joe Sestak (@JoeSestak) June 23, 2019
Before serving as a congressman from 2007-2011, Sestak was a three-star admiral in the Navy. He launched two unsuccessful campaigns for U.S. Senate in 2010 and 2016.
Sestak’s official announcement was posted to his campaign website on Saturday. He states in part, “What Americans most want today is someone who is accountable to them, above self, above party, above any special interest … a President who has the depth of global experience to restore America’s leadership in the world to protect our American Dream at home … and one who is trusted to restructure policies where too many see only the growth of inequity not of the economy …”
Sestak has missed several major Democratic campaign events, including the deadline to be able to participate in the first round of candidate debates. He attributes his late entry to having spent time with his daughter as she recovered from brain cancer.
