Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is entering the crowded Republican race for president. Walker launched his long-expected run by filing the necessary paperwork Thursday with the Federal Elections Commission. Walker wrote in a Thursday letter to the FEC “Should I formally announce, I will seek the Republican nomination for the office of President of the United States in the 2016 election.” Walker’s official kickoff is expected July 13 in Waukesha, Wisconsin. The 47-year-old Walker is in his second term as governor. He won a recall election in 2012 after angering union members by signing a law curtailing their collective bargaining rights. Before jumping into the 2016 race, Walker had been waiting for state lawmakers to finish work on a new budget. But with progress in the Wisconsin Legislature stalled, Walker is moving ahead with his campaign.
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