David Duke registers his candidacy for the Nov. 8 Senate race at the Louisiana secretary of state's office in Baton Rouge, La., on Friday. | AP Photo GOP’s Senate campaign arm condemns David Duke’s bid

The National Republican Senatorial Committee quickly repudiated David Duke on Friday, as the former Ku Klux Klan leader said he was running for U.S. Senate in Louisiana.

"Louisiana voters will be able to choose from several Republican Senate candidates who will have a great impact on the Bayou State and the future of our country," NRSC executive director Ward Baker said in a statement. "David Duke is not one of them. He will not have the support of the NRSC under any circumstance."


Duke, a convicted felon, is seeking the open seat left by GOP Sen. David Vitter's upcoming retirement. He officially filed paperwork to appear on the ballot Friday, the last day in Louisiana's qualifying period. Duke served one term in the Louisiana state House and has made unsuccessful runs for governor and Congress in the past.

The field seeking Vitter's seat is crowded, with more than 20 people throwing their hats in the ring. Leading Republican candidates include Reps. Charles Boustany and John Fleming and state Treasurer John Kennedy, all of whom have been raising money and campaigning for months already. The NRSC is not backing a candidate in the race.

"I'm overjoyed to see Donald Trump and most Americans embrace most of the issues I've championed for years," Duke said in a video announcing his candidacy. " My slogan remains America first. I've always said equal rights for all, special interests for none."

A white supremacist, Duke is pitching himself as supporter of European Americans in the Senate.

“Thousands of special interest groups stand up for African Americans, Mexican Americans, Jewish Americans,” he added in the video. “The fact is that European Americans need at least one man in the U.S. Senate who will defend their rights and heritage.”

In February, Trump found himself in hot water after hesitating to denounce Duke’s endorsement of him. At first, in a CNN interview, Trump said he didn’t know anything about Duke — and later blamed his comments on a “bad earpiece.” Trump eventually denounced Duke’s support after pressure mounted from outside groups.