State governor announces run for U.S. Senate

WASHINGTON, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Governor Rick Scott of the southeastern U.S. state of Florida has announced that he is running for the U.S. Senate, local media reported Monday.

"I'm going to announce I'm running for senator," the Republican governor said in an interview published by American publication Politico on Monday.

"Washington is horribly dysfunctional ... Both political parties share some of the blame. They've tried a lot of things -- it just didn't work. But I will not accept the idea that we can't change Washington," he said.

Scott, a multi-millionaire businessman, has served in the governor's mansion since 2011, and is leaving office due to term limits. He has been urged to challenge the state's incumbent Democratic senator, Bill Nelson, by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Asked if he considers himself a "Donald Trump Republican," Scott told Politico that "I consider myself Rick Scott. I don't consider myself any type of anything."

But he did not reveal that whether or not Trump would campaign for him.

The gun issue is expected to play a key role in Scott's race. Last month, he signed into law new gun restrictions in response to a high school shooting in Parkland, Florida that left 17 students and faculty staff members dead in February.

Before that, Scott was considered a reliable supporter of the pro-gun National Rifle Association. Enditem