By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis – A former train conductor who lost his bid for Congress two years ago is making another run.
Republican Leslie Farr formally announced his candidacy Tuesday for Missouri's First Congressional district.
If he wins the August primary, Farr would challenge incumbent Democrat William Lacy Clay.
The north St. Louis native says the district has not benefited economically for a long time, partly because of voting trends.
"We in the African-American community sometimes don't have the best leadership, but we vote for people solely based on party," Farr said. "And so many times in our community we get that party first, community second. No - it's community first, party second, and that's the image that I put up there."
The 28-year-old has never held elective office.