Arthur Williams says he's running as a Republican for his old seat in the North Carolina House.

Williams, from Beaufort County, was elected as a Democrat when he previously served in the North Carolina House of Representatives. He was defeated in the 2010 election.

In October 2011, he changed his party to Republican.

He tells WITN his decision to run comes at the request of his constituents, and leadership in Raleigh.

Williams is running for the District 6 seat this week.

Previous Story from October 2011:

Is former state lawmaker Arthur Williams planning to run for public office again?

We may know the answer to that October 18.

Williams told WITN News this week he is holding a press conference Tuesday at the N.C. Estuarium in Washington at 5:30 p.m.

Sources speculate Williams plans on running for former Marc Basnight's Senate seat. There is also speculation he may run as a Republican.

Williams declined to comment on that speculation during WITN's phone conversation this week, stating he has hired Raleigh professionals to handle his media matters and would not be releasing any information until the press conference.

Williams, from Beaufort County, was elected as a Democrat when he previously served in the North Carolina House of Representatives. He was defeated in the 2010 election.

Williams lobbied to take over Basnight’s seat when Basnight resigned in January 2011, but Dare County’s Stan White was nominated to that position.