BALTIMORE - Former NAACP President Kweisi Mfume announced Monday that he will run for the U.S. Senate in 2006.
"It is with great pride and deep humility that I announce to you today my candidacy for the Senate of the United States," Mfume said at a news conference in Baltimore.
"I can't be bought. I won't be intimidated. I don't know how to quit," Mfume said as his supporters applauded.
Mfume, who was a five-term U.S. congressman before becoming president of the Baltimore-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (news - web sites), issued the statement after incumbent Paul Sarbanes announced Friday that he will not run for re-election.
"This is step one in what will be an embarrassment of wealth for the Democratic Party in 2006," said Derek Walker, spokesman for the Maryland Democratic Party.
Mfume, 56, left the House in 1996 to take the NAACP post.
At the time, the civil rights group was in turmoil — rocked by an embarrassing sex scandal involving its previous head, bitter internal strife and a crippling $3.2 million deficit.
Many observers say Mfume brought credibility and stability, working to institute corporate style-management practices. When he stepped down in November, the organization had enjoyed a budget surplus for eight consecutive years and an increasing endowment fund.
Mfume, whose adopted West African name translates to "conquering son of kings," began his career as a dashiki-clad radio talk show host and political activist in the 1970s.
He also has been mentioned as a possible Democratic candidate for governor of Maryland.
Sarbanes, 72, announced Friday that he would not seek a sixth term, noting that he would be 80 by the time that term ended.
"It was just the right time," Sarbanes said. "We think we've served long and well and honorably, and we're very comfortable with this decision."
Maryland traditionally votes Democratic, and went for John Kerry (news - web sites) in the 2004 presidential election. Sarbanes, the longest serving senator in Maryland's history, is serving alongside outspoken Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski (news, bio, voting record).
Four of Maryland's six Democratic congressmen, Ben Cardin, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Chris Van Hollen and Al Wynn, said when Sarbanes announced his retirement that they were considering running for his seat.
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