BATON ROUGE - The mayor of Baton Rouge, whose city is embroiled in the aftermath of shootings and protests, has signed up to run for a congressional seat.

Kip Holden, a Democrat who is term-limited as mayor, qualified Wednesday for the 2nd District race, challenging Democratic incumbent Cedric Richmond. The district is Louisiana's only majority black district, representing New Orleans up the Mississippi River to part of Baton Rouge.

Holden didn't speak much about his congressional campaign plans, saying his focus remains squarely on leading Baton Rouge, where three local law enforcement officers were shot and killed this week and three others were wounded by a black man who appeared to target police.

The shootings came fewer than two weeks after a black man was shot and killed by white police officers, setting off a string of protests around the city. The East Baton Rouge Mayor-President was met with criticism on social networks for his seeming lack of presence in the days after the shooting.

Richmond's response to Holden's candidacy was: "Welcome to the race, but resign. Be a full-time candidate, but let the people of the city have a full-time mayor."