Quin Hillyer, a senior editor at The American Spectator, a fellow at the Center for Individual Freedom, and a contributor to and great friend of National Review, is running for Congress in Alabama.
From his announcement:
I am a constitutional conservative—and an “opportunity society” conservative as well, hearkening back to the Reagan-Kemp era of prosperity and liberty. Free men and women, with free minds, in a free market, produce abundance and a vibrant society. . . .
I am a movement conservative, with a Madisonian love of our constitutional system. And I love my adopted home of southern Alabama, which is developing into one of the greatest areas of growth in the country.
There will be much more to say in the coming weeks, and major endorsements to announce. But now I must set aside my cyber-pen for The American Spectator, which has hosted me for seven years. I am honored to have been a part of this publication, which has enlightened and entertained the world of American letters for nearly half a century—and my thanks go to Bob and Wlady and to the whole team that does such a good job here. I also thank the readers for making this not just a magazine, but a conversation.
This is going to be a great adventure.
Hillyer is running for the seat to be vacated by Representative Jo Bonner, who announced yesterday that he will be leaving Congress in August to become a vice chancellor for government affairs at the University of Alabama, where his sister is president. The governor of Alabama has the power to schedule when the special election to fill his seat will occur. Bonner’s district, Alabama’s first, is deep red, and split 62 percent to 37 for Mitt Romney in 2012.