Haitian first lady Sophia Martelly registers as Senate candidate in her first bid for office

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – The wife of Haitian President Michel Martelly has registered to run for the Senate in her first attempt at elected office in the impoverished Caribbean country.

First lady Sophia Martelly filed the required documents Thursday to run in a crowded field for one of 20 open seats in the Aug. 9 election, representing the party created by her husband. She would represent a Senate district that includes the capital.

Sophia Martelly has played an active role in her husband's administration and there had been widespread speculation that she would run to replace him in upcoming presidential election.

She has never run for office in Haiti but neither had her husband before he was elected in 2011 after a career as a popular musician in the country.