Brad Carson, a member of the Cherokee Nation, will run for the seat being vacated by Rep. Dan Boren (D-Oklahoma).

Carson represented Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional district from 2001 to 2005. He vacated the seat for his unsuccessful Senate campaign in 2004.

If elected, Carson would be the second Native American in Congress. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma) is a member of the Chickasaw Nation.

Boren, who replaced Carson in 2005, is a long-time member of the House Natural Resources Committee. He currently serves as the top Democrat on the new House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs.

Boren is currently a co-sponsor of H.R.1291 and H.R.1234, two bills to fix the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar. He recently spoke out against H.R.887, a bill to limit attorney fees in the Indian trust fund lawsuit to $50 million.

In prior sessions of Congress, Boren supported bills for Indian tax credits, Indian housing, self-determination and land-into-trust.

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Dan Boren to announce he won't seek re-election in 2012 (The Oklahoman 6/7)