Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile, accelerated his departure from Congress, telling House leadership he would step down on Aug. 2 instead of his originally planned mid-August date. The shift gives the governor additional runway to call and conduct a special election so the First Congressional District has seated representation when Congress returns in January.
“It was always my intent for this seat to be vacant as little time as possible,” Bonner said in announcing the move, adding that he wanted to ensure a successor could be elected and sworn in ahead of the second session of the 113th Congress. He also thanked Gov. Robert Bentley for his cooperation in coordinating the timeline.
A Crowded Field Forms Quickly
Even before the resignation took effect, at least nine names had surfaced as prospective candidates for the safely Republican seat. The list spanned the district’s two population centers: former gubernatorial nominee Bradley Byrne of Mobile, Orange Beach businessman and 2012 congressional candidate Dean Young, conservative columnist Quin Hillyer of Mobile, real estate agent Jessica James of Mobile, first-time independent candidate James Hall of Stapleton, state Rep. Chad Fincher of Semmes, state Rep. Randy Davis of Daphne, Fairhope builder Daniel Dyas and Wells Griffith of Mobile.
Bonner, who spent a decade representing South Alabama in Washington, closed his announcement by saying he would be “forever indebted” to the people of the region for the chance to serve them in Congress.