From the “Little House” to the Congress? It could happen for Livingston County resident Melissa Gilbert.

Gilbert, star of the hit 1970s television series, “Little House on the Prairie” on Monday announced she would run as a Democrat for the 8th District Congressional seat in next year’s election.

The news thrilled area Democrats.

“I think it’s very, very exciting news,” said county party chairwoman Judy Daubenmier,

“We worked with her on the Schauer campaign (for governor) and, I can tell you, she’s a real trooper. She’ll be a very effective campaigner.”

Gilbert served a president of the Screen Actors Guild from 2001-05, a position once held by Ronald Reagan.

In her announcement, Gilbert said she was running, “to make life a little easier for all the families who feel they have fallen through the cracks in today’s economy.”

“I believe building a new economy is a team effort, and we need to bring fresh voices to the table to get the job done,” she said.

Gilbert has maintained a visible presence in the Howell area since moving there with husband, and fellow actor, Timothy Busfield in 2014.

A published author, she has held several book signings in downtown Howell and served as grand marshal of the 2014 Fantasy of Lights holiday parade .

Though the couple once lived in Howell, they announced earlier this year that they would be moving to a new location within Livingston County.

Gilbert’s campaign website http://www.gilbertformichigan.com/ lists a Brighton mailing address.

Earlier this summer, it was revealed that the IRS had filed a $360,550.72 tax lien against her , alleging she had failed to pay her federal income taxes.

In a statement, Gilbert blamed her tax woes on a “perfect storm of financial difficulty” citing the recent recession, a stall in her acting career and a previous divorce.

First term U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, currently holds the seat and Gilbert’s tax woes appear likely to surface during the campaign.

“Melissa Gilbert can afford to have a stylist for her dog, but cannot pay her taxes,” Bishop spokesman Stu Sandler said. “Her values are out of whack with the district.”

The seat was once held by Republican Mike Rogers, who declined reelection in 2014 to begin a talk radio career .

In that year’s election, Bishop defeated Democratic nominee Eric Schertzing by a 55-42 percent margin .

The distrcit includes all of Livingston County as well as Ingham and northern Oakland counties.

Contact Livingston Daily reporter Wayne Peal at 517-548-7081 or wpeal@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @wpeal.