Son of Slain Sikh Temple President to Challenge Paul Ryan

One of the most visible members of the Oak Creek Sikh community plans to challenge U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan in next year's Congressional election. 

Amardeep Kaleka told the Associated Press he will form an exploratory congressional committee and formally announce his candidacy as a Democrat next month. 

Kaleka's father, Satwant, was killed in the Aug. 5 mass shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin.

Since then, Amardeep has been politically active, advocating for gun reform and measures to curb hate crimes. He told the AP he's running to bring accountability and transparency back to Washington. 

"There's a fever in the nation, and specifically in this district, for our leaders to stop playing politics and do their jobs," Kaleka told the AP. "All I want to do is bring democracy — a government of, for and by the people — back to America."

Later Monday, the AP reported the Democrat who ran against Ryan in 2012 will hold an "announcement rally" Oct. 26 at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

Democrat Rob Zerban previously signaled his intentions to run against Ryan a second time but hasn't yet formally announced his candidacy.