By Beth Clayton
Alabama Political Reporter
MONTGOMERY–Wells Griffith joined the growing list of candidates seeking to run for the first congressional district following the resignation of Congressman Jo Bonner.
Griffith will run in the special election primary against seven other Republican candidates and one Independent.
Griffith worked for two years as the Deputy Chief-of-Staff to the Republican National Committee under RNC Chairman Reince Priebus. He is also a licensed attorney with experience in Alabama and Mississippi politics.
“I’ve given this decision a lot of thought and prayer and am humbled by the encouragement I have received from colleagues, neighbors, friends and family,” Griffith said in an interview with AL.com. “We are united by a deep concern for the future of our country and the dangerous levels of debt government bureaucrats are putting on every American and future generations.”
Griffith will join Quin Hillyer, a conservative columnist, and Bradley Byrne, a former gubernatorial candidate, among the likely front-runners for this seat due to well-known ties to deep pockets and high-ranking political connections.
Representatives Randy Davis (R-Daphne) and Chad Fincher (R-Semmes) will likely have a chance competing as well, since they currently hold elected office.
Other candidates include Dean Young, an Orange Beach businessman and candidate for Congress in 2012, Jessica James, a Mobile real estate agent, and Daniel Dyas, a Fairhope builder.
James Hall will run as an Independent. He is a first-time candidate from Stapleton.
So far, no Democrats have announced an intent to run.
