Chelsea Manning, the transgender former Army private who was convicted under the Espionage Act for stealing classified government documents, has filed to run for U.S. Senate in Maryland.
Manning filed papers with the Federal Election Commission on Jan. 5. She is challenging Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin, a two-term Democrat who is up for re-election in November. The Washington Post first reported Manning’s filing.
Manning is running as a Democrat.
The 30-year old trans rights activist was released from federal prison last May after President Obama commuted a 35-year prison sentence she was serving for stealing classified government documents and providing them to WikiLeaks. In 2010, as an Army intelligence analyst, Manning stole hundreds of thousands of classified government cables and provided them to WikiLeaks. She was convicted in 2013 and sentenced to 35 years.
Manning, who was born Bradley, transitioned while in prison in Kansas.
Manning has not issued a statement announcing the Senate bid. And she stands almost no chance of defeating Cardin in a Democratic primary.
In addition to trans rights activism, Manning has embraced left-wing causes.
On Law Enforcement Appreciation Day she tweeted, “fuck the police.”