FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): Former Allen County Circuit Court Judge Wendy Davis announced Tuesday that she will run for the open Third District seat in Congress.

Davis said that she is stepping away from her role as judge so that she can run for office. She said that while being a judge, it was essential that she remained impartial, but that she will now run as a Republican and be pro-active to help people in the Third District.

During the announcement Tuesday morning at the Allen County G.O.P Headquarters, she also said that tackling the fentanyl problem in northeast Indiana and bringing back the America that she grew up in are priorities for her.

Davis has served as a judge for more than 12 years, and was the first woman elected to the Allen Circuit Court.

Davis is seeking to replace Congressman Jim Banks, who is running for an open U.S. Senate seat in Indiana after serving Congress since 2017.