From the Little House to the House of Representatives: Melissa Gilbert, the actress best known for her role as Laura Ingalls Wilder in the long-running series Little House on the Prairie, says she is running for US Congress.
And while the quips are easy when discussing Gilbert’s political aspirations to run for Congress – as a Democrat – in a solidly, safely Republican district, her presumptive opponent already takes her serious enough to call her a “tax cheat”, highlighting a recent financial woe the actress dealt with this year.
Gilbert, 51, announced her inaugural bid for political office on her campaign website on Monday. She moved to the city of Howell, Michigan – in the state’s eighth district – in 2013, after marrying actor Timothy Busfield.
“Here in Michigan, I know people are doing their best to make a good life for themselves and their families,” Gilbert said in a statement. “When it comes down to it, I think that’s what we all really want.”
She continued: “I’m running for Congress to make life a little easier for all the families who feel they have fallen through the cracks in today’s economy.”
The former Dancing with the Stars contestant envisioned a new economy that’s built by “fresh voices”.
If she prevails in next fall’s primary election, Gilbert will likely face Republican representative Mike Bishop, whose campaign immediately shot back Monday against the novice politician, calling her a “tax cheat”.
In February the IRS filed a tax lien against the actress, claiming she owes $360,000 in federal income taxes. Gilbert’s campaign couldn’t be immediately reached for comment.
“Hollywood actress and IRS tax cheat Melissa Gilbert owes hundreds of thousands to the IRS and wants to get a government paycheck,” said Bishop campaign spokesperson Stu Sandler in a statement. “Melissa Gilbert can afford to have a stylist for her dog, but cannot pay her taxes. Her values are out of whack with the district.” Gilbert has said she worked out a payment plan with the IRS.
The California native lives with former West Wing actor Busfield in a district that’s typically a Republican stronghold. Last year Bishop soundly defeated his Democratic party opponent in the race to fill outgoing Republican representative Mike Rogers’ seat, by a 12-point margin.
Gilbert, a California native, began acting when she was two years old. She served as president of the Screen Actors Guild, which represents hundreds of thousands of individuals, between 2001-2005. She has also authored several books, including the recently published My Prairie Cookbook.
