Mark Alford, a former Fox 4 KC news anchor in Kansas City, announced Wednesday that he is running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Alford told KCMO Talk Radio's Pete Mundo that he is vying for Missouri’s 4th Congressional District, which covers a large stretch of western and central Missouri, including parts of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The seat is currently held by Rep. Vicky Hartzler, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Roy Blunt.
Alford told Mundo that he wanted to run for office for a number of years, but felt that his conservative voice could be best utilized in the newsroom. As time went on, he said he felt like "a fish swimming upriver" against a current that was only getting stronger.
“I’ve got 20, maybe 30 years left in me to do something really spectacular and serve people,” Alford said. “I want to do that. I want to use my voice, my training, my communication skills, my love of the people of this area, this region, the state to make a conservative voice even stronger in Washington.”
Alford posted a video earlier this week on Twitter teasing the announcement. He said, in part, he left Fox 4 KC after 23 years because of difficulties he felt being a Christian and conservative in the media who respects law enforcement and wants to promote local businesses.
He reiterated that sentiment on Mundo’s show, stating that it was time for him to leave the newsroom.
“The more I tried to be an alternative to provide balance, the more of a fight it was each day,” Alford said.
Alford joins a growing list of Republicans vying for the district’s seat. Former Boone County clerk, Taylor Burks, announced his candidacy in July while Kalena Bruce, a farmer and CPA from Stockton, Missouri, joined the race in August. Missouri State Rep. Sara Walsh has also announced her bid for the fourth district seat.
