Gingrey announces Senate run

Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) announced Wednesday he will run for the Senate.

He joins a field that already includes Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) and is expected to get more crowded.

Fellow House Republicans Tom Price (Ga.) and Jack Kingston (Ga.) are also mulling bids, with Kingston further along. Former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel (R) may also enter the race, but because of a friendship with Price may hold out if he officially runs.

{mosads}The seat is being vacated by Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), who has announced he’ll retire.

Gingrey has been busy building a campaign team in the state, and as early as a month ago started telling Georgia Republicans he planned to run for the seat held by Chambliss.

“Georgians are telling me they are frustrated with politics as usual,” he said Wednesday at his childhood hometown of Augusta, Ga.

“Each day, they are faced with the tremendous responsibility of having families to feed, bills to pay and children to raise,” he said. “Yet most of the folks to whom I listen are concerned for their future. Too many of them know someone who’s out of work, has lost their own job, or fear they might. And they increasingly believe that the opportunity for a better life for their children is slipping away.”