Shays to run for US Senate

(WTNH) - Former Republican Congressman Chris Shays tells News 8 he will file for the U.S.Senate on October 3rd.

He is reestablishing his Connecticut residence in Bridgeport so he can run for Sen. Joe Lieberman's seat.

Former WWE/CEO Linda McMahon, who lost the election to succeed Chris Dodd, is expected to announce within the next few weeks.

Shays also tells News 8 that the reason he will not officially enter the race until after October 1st is because his appointment to the non-partisan 'Commission on Wartime Contracting' does not expire until September 30 and he wants to avoid any claims of conflict.

Shays and his wife Betsy restored their Connecticut driver's licenses and re-established themselves as registered voters last week. They had been living in Maryland for the commission job.

The couple sold their home on the Bridgeport shoreline after he lost his 4th Congressional District seat to Democrat Jim Himes in 2008, but he retained a condo in the same Bridgeport neighborhood.