August 16, 2019 11:15 a.m. 
Well known hometown hero, and former county commissioner candidate, announced the launch of his congressional campaign Thursday.
26-year-old Alek Skarlatos, of Roseburg, is aiming to defeat fellow GOP candidate Art Robinson in the May 2020 primary in order to take on incumbent Representative Peter DeFazio, a democrat from Springfield, in the November 2020 election to represent Oregon’s 4^th Congressional District.
Skarlatos is best known for helping to stop a terror attack on a train traveling to Paris in August of 2015, and later writing a book about his experience, staring as himself in a movie version of the events directed by Clint Eastwood, competing on a televised dancing competition, and making appearances on many talk shows.
Skarlatos ran for a position as a Douglas County Commissioner last year, but lost the race to Tom Kress.
DeFazio has represented the district, which includes Lane, Linn, Coos, Curry and Douglas counties, since 1987.
DeFazio is currently the Chairman of the House Transportation Committee, as well.
In a video posted by the Skarlatos campaign, Skarlatos says Oregon values are his values and shares his platform to work against the Green New Deal and other legislation that he says makes it harder for the middle class, rural families to make “ends-meet.”