By Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News
State Rep. Mike Jones, R-Andalusia, is leaving his high-profile House status to seek an open Senate seat.
Alabama Daily News first reported last month that Sen. Jim Holley, R-Elba, is retiring after 11 terms in the Legislature.
Senate District 31 includes Coffee, Covington and Pike counties and the northern portion of Dale County.
“Sen. Holley has done an outstanding job in service to our state and his legacy will be remembered for generations to come.” Jones said in a written statement Thursday. “I believe that my experience in the Alabama legislature has prepared me to serve this district well. I am committed to protecting our Constitutional rights, the integrity of our elections and the Christian conservative values that are so important to me and to the people who live and work in this district.”
Jones is in his third term in the House. He’s been the Rules Committee chairman, deciding the House’s agenda of bills to be voted on each day. He previously chaired the House Judiciary Committee during its impeachment proceedings against former Gov. Robert Bentley.
Jones’ bid for Senate will leave his House District 92 seat open next year. It includes all of Covington County, eastern Escambia County and a portion of western Coffee County.
Jones begins his Senate with nearly $147,000 in his campaign account.
The 2022 primaries are May 24. Candidates have until Jan. 28