Women’s rights activist Sandra Fluke announced Wednesday that she has decided to run for a California State Senate seat, reversing a previous move toward making a run for U.S. Congress.
“My entire career has been devoted to the public interest, whether representing victims of human trafficking or advocating for working families,” Fluke said in a statement. “I am committed to continuing that fight in Sacramento.”
The Democratic lawyer heavily considered running for the Congressional seat that will be vacated after Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Cali., retires at the end of the year. Fluke was one of three Democratic candidates who filed paperwork seeking the state party’s endorsement in what was expected to be a hard fought primary.
Fluke was catapulted into the national spotlight in 2012 after conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh called a “slut” after she delivered a Congressional testimony in support of mandatory health care insurance coverage for contraception.
NBC's Michael O'Brien contributed to this report.