Rep. Griffin announces bid for Ark. lieutenant governor

Rep. Tim Griffin (R-Ark.) will run for lieutenant governor in his state, he announced Thursday.

{mosads}”After much prayer, thought and discussion with my wife and family, I have decided to seek the office of lieutenant governor, which will allow me to continue serving Arkansans as a problem solver and watch my 3-year-old and 6-year-old grow up at our home in Arkansas,” Griffin said in a statement.

The two-term congressman has been widely expected to announce a bid for the last few weeks. The former Bush administration U.S. attorney surprised many when he announced late last year he wouldn’t seek a third term in the House, expressing frustration with how Congress was operating.

Republicans are expected to hold onto Griffin’s GOP-leaning Little Rock seat, though Democrats are hopeful they could compete for it.