Kucinich says he'll challenge Kaptur

CLEVELAND, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, said he will run against Democratic U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur in 2012.

Kucinich said he will file the paperwork Wednesday, The Hill reported.

Ohio lost two House seats in the 2010 Census, throwing Kucinich and Kaptur into the same district as a result of congressional district remapping. The new district melds Kucinich's Cleveland base and Kaptur's Toledo base.

After openly shopping for a district in Washington state and considering whether to challenge Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, Kucinich determined that enough of his base was intact to mount a primary challenge against Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in the House, The Hill said.

The winner of the heavily Democratic district could square off with Republican Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, better known as "Joe the Plumber" in the 2008 general election.