Ali Schmitz

TCPalm

A former senior Obama administration official has announced her run for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Lauren Baer, a Democrat from Palm Beach Gardens, announced her run Monday for Florida's District 18 congressional seat in a news release. The seat is occupied by Republican Rep. Brian Mast.

The District 18 seat represents Martin, St. Lucie and northern Palm Beach counties.

Baer served as a senior adviser for Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry. She also advised former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power. She currently works as a consultant for the Albright Stonebridge Group, a global strategy firm founded by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

Her key issues include job creation and economic policies that “preserve and expand the middle class,” environmental issues, improving public education and health care.

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If Baer wins, she would be the second person in American history to be in a same-sex marriage while in Congress. She and her wife, Emily Meyers, have an 11-month-old daughter.

“As the mother of an infant, and the daughter of parents in their 60s, I am committed to creating a bright future for all of our children, making government work for working families, and protecting our seniors,” Baer said in the statement.

Baer’s great-grandparents founded Baer’s Furniture, which extended family members continue to run today.

Democrat Pam Keith has also announced her candidacy in the race.