A former Cyclone has announced she intends to run for Congress in 2016.

Iowa Democratic activist Kim Weaver, who is currently the chair of O’Brien County Democrats and a member of the party’s state central committee, announced Friday evening she would challenge seven-term U.S. Rep. Steve King for his House seat.

Speaking Friday to Iowa Democrats in Clear Lake at the Iowa Wing Ding dinner – an event which is hosting four of the five Democratic presidential candidates – Weaver said Iowan’s need new leadership to represent them in Washington.

Invoking President Gerald Ford, Weaver quoted the 38th president, saying, “at long last, our national nightmare is over.” She said Iowan’s in the fourth district feel the same way about King, citing what she called “ineffective” leadership and a history of “offensive” statements.

“Hardly a week goes by without him making some sort of derogatory comment, or insulting somebody on public TV,” she said. “This has to stop.”

Weaver went on to talk about herself, saying she became a Democrat after struggling to live paycheck-to-paycheck as a single mom. She said she became involved in the Democratic party, working as a volunteer before moving up to her position as county chair and being elected to the state central committee.

“I understand that a responsible government is there for Iowan’s when we need it,” Weaver said. “We want Iowa families to have good jobs, good education and live the American dream.”

If elected to Congress, Weaver said her priorities would be helping those with disabilities and mental illness, raising the minimum wage and protecting Medicaid and Medicare. She said she was “strongly pro-choice” and would work to end what she called the “predatory” student loan system.

Weaver voiced her support for immigration reform by saying “good, hard working people” should be able to become citizens, not be attacked for wanting to live the American dream.

King is known as an outspoken critic of illegal immigration.

“Immigration is what made our country great, and our immigration system needs to be reformed. That reform must include a pathway to citizenship,” Weaver said. “Many of these individuals are our friends, our neighbors, and their children go to school with our children.”

Weaver released the following video online announcing her candidacy:

Weaver currently resides in Sheldon, Iowa.

More info on Weaver’s campaign can be found at www.weaverforcongress.com.

King has represented Iowa in the U.S. House since 2003. He was easily reelected to his current term in 2014, defeating now-Iowa Democratic Party Vice-Chair Jim Mowrer by a 24-point margin.