The 49-year-old New Jersey native announced his bid to represent his hometown of Willingboro on Monday.
"When I run, as you see from my record, I run to win," said Lewis.
This is Lewis' first bid for political office, and he will run as a Democrat. Lewis actually had to register to vote in New Jersey before announcing his bid. He had been registered previously in Texas and California, two states he had lived in.
"I'll be an independent thinker all the way through, I will do what I think is right, I'm going to always look at the issues and vote that way," Lewis said.
Lewis won nine Olympic gold medals, including four gold medals in Los Angeles in 1984. He is considered among the best track and field athletes of all time.
The Associated Press contributed to this story
