COEUR d’ALENE — After spending two decades on the sidelines as a civilian, former Idaho Lt. Gov. Dave Leroy is coming off the bench and aiming for U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador’s seat.

Labrador, who recently announced he will run for governor after spending six years in Congress, has less than one year left on his current term as the First District’s representative. In an editorial board meeting Friday with The Press, Leroy said he’s getting involved in politics again because now is a critical time for the country.

“I return because the most important political job in America during the next six years will be members of Congress,” the Republican said. “We’ll either break the gridlock, or potentially break the American dream.”

Leroy, who also served as the state’s attorney general and held elected positions at the county level, described himself as a “pro-gun, pro-life, constitutional conservative.” Although his experience gives him different perspectives than Labrador, Leroy said the two believe in similar conservative principles.

When asked if he would join the House Freedom Caucus, of which Labrador is a founding member, Leroy said he is only interested in joining the “Idaho Caucus.” The idea behind the caucus, Leroy added, is to get it formally recognized like the 274 other Congressional caucuses as a way to “work more aggressively with other members of the Idaho delegation to not just react, but to take an Idaho-based approach toward solving problems.”

Leroy would then build a coalition with other small states, which he said have functioned well and can bring small-governance to the nation's capital.

“The election of Donald Trump to the presidency, while retaining party majorities in the House and Senate, presents a singular opportunity to address and resolve the political gridlock which has paralyzed this country’s legislative and policy-making processes,” Leroy said.

In addition to helping combat the gridlock he sees in Congress, Leroy said some of the top issues he hopes to address are overspending, over-regulation, and reversing course on the Affordable Care Act, which he called “the predictable result of a bad social experiment.”

Leroy added the nation just went through an exhausting election season, and that he has no intention of campaigning too much or too soon.

“However, I will be engaging daily with the great people of Idaho, to listen, learn and refine a plan of action to make the First District stronger and more vital,” Leroy added.

“Together, with Rep. Labrador’s best effort as he finishes out his term, the good citizens of the First District of Idaho and I will watch, express opinions, and insist upon the maximum of diligence and immediate progress toward the small government, better government and limited government demanded by this opportune time and America’s current critical needs.”