OPELIKA, Ala. — Former Miss America Mallory Hagan is running for Congress from eastern Alabama.

The 29-year-old Opelika, Alabama, native announced her Democratic bid for Alabama's District 3 seat during an event at her parents' dance studio on Tuesday.

Hagan was crowned Miss America in 2013 and until recently worked as a news anchor at WLTZ-TV in Columbus, Georgia.

Hagan says many people feel unheard after nearly four terms of Republican Rep. Mike Rogers holding the congressional seat. She says she knows how to talk to people, assess their problems and come up with solutions.

Rogers was first elected to Congress in 2002. The heavily Republican 3rd District includes much of east Alabama and extends as far west as parts of Birmingham and Montgomery.

Read our comment standards

StarTribune.com welcomes and encourages readers to comment and engage in substantive, mutually respectful exchanges over news topics. Commenters must follow our Terms of Use.

Keep it civil and stay on topic.
No profanity, vulgarity, racial slurs or personal attacks.
Comments with web links are not permitted.
Comments that violate the above will be removed. Repeat violators may lose their commenting privileges on StarTribune.com.

Comments will be reviewed before being published.

Ex-Miss America Mallory Hagan seeks Alabama seat in Congress