Andrew Griffin announces candidacy for Fifth District congressional seat

Republican Andrew Griffin announced his candidacy for the Fifth District congressional seat in Virginia on Wednesday.

Griffin, a native of Lynchburg, was a walk-on basketball player at Virginia Tech and former congressional intern to Sixth District Republican Rep. Bob Goodlatte.

He is running for the seat currently held by Republican Congressman Robert Hurt, who announced last year his intention to retire at the end of his current term in January 2017.

Statement from Andrew Griffin

For nearly a decade, I have grown to see traditional American principles dwindle into unprecedented debt, an over-regulating government, economic decline, and a lack of conservative values. Congressional gridlock and the failed policies of the current administration have left the American people both frustrated with the status quo and concerned about the prospects of a better tomorrow. The elections of 2016 present a historic crossroads, which will determine the fate of our country as we know it.

As a former Congressional staffer, a millennial, and a lifelong Virginian, I have a unique perspective that has compelled me to step forward at a time when this country needs a new generation of leadership to promote fresh ideas for an under-represented voice in Congress. The troubles of today will directly impact my generation and I believe I am the leader who will face these challenges head-on and serve as a strong voice for the people who have been forgotten by the leaders they have elected. While I do not claim to know every solution, I will work tirelessly to address the challenges plaguing both Virginia, and this country.

As such, I am formally announcing my candidacy for Virginia’s Fifth Congressional District. Representative Hurt has been a strong voice in Washington for several years and it is imperative that we elect a leader to continue moving conservative agendas forward in his stead. I look forward to spending time in each of the 23 counties and meeting with the people of this great district in the months to come, listening to their concerns and working together for common sense solutions.