Former Texas governor Rick Perry has joined a small army of Republican candidates campaigning to become the next president of the United States.
Perry announced on his website Thursday morning that he will be seeking the nation’s highest elected office.
Overshadowed by deep-pocketed contenders like Senator Ted Cruz and Jeb Bush — who is set to announce his run on June 15, according to NBC News — and dogged by the memory of an awkward 2012 race where his televised fumbles made national news, Perry faces an uphill battle.
Perry notoriously said “oops” in a debate when he wasn’t able to recall the name of one of three federal agencies he planned to eliminate if elected president. He has also been indicted by a grand jury in Austin on two felony charges of abuse of office while he was governor.
Ten Republicans have formally announced they’ll be seeking their party’s nomination, and another five are likely to jump in. Contenders include Florida Senator Marco Rubio, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham and Kentucky Senator Rand Paul.