Las Vegas Councilman Stavros Anthony plans to file papers Monday to make himself an official candidate for Democratic freshman Rep. Ruben Kihuen's congressional seat, sources confirm.

Anthony, a Republican, had been known in political circles to have an interest in Congress, and this news cements it.  He will file documents with the Federal Election Commission.

Anthony, who was easily re-elected just a few months ago, winning in the primary with 74 percent of the vote, has displayed ambition before. He earned a respectable 42 percent against the Goodman family juggernaut in 2015, nearly forcing Mayor Carolyn Goodman into a runoff.

Anthony, a retired Metro captain, faces an uphill struggle against Kihuen, although an off-year presents a better opportunity. Democrats have a 42,000-voter edge (11 percentage points) in the district, but incumbent Steven Horsford lost to GOP Rep. Cresent Hardy in 2014 in one of the biggest upsets in Nevada political history. Almost one-third of the district's voters are not registered with either party.