HOT SPRINGS, Va. (AP) - Virginia Del. Nick Freitas has announced his plan to seek the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine in 2018.
Freitas will go up against Corey Stewart - the chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors - for the nomination. Stewart, who has modeled himself after President Donald Trump, ran a primary campaign for governor this year, but narrowly lost the Republican nomination to Ed Gillespie.
Freitas formally announced his candidacy Friday at a gathering of Virginia Republicans. The second-term delegate from Culpeper has a conservative voting record and libertarian streak.
The 38-year-old joined the Army after high school, became a Green Beret and served 11 years of active duty.
Several other Republicans are expected to join the race, including evangelical pastor E. W. Jackson.