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Former Texas Republican Party Chair Allen West has thrown his name in the hat with the announcement he's running for governor against Republican counterpart and current Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in the gubernatorial primary.
West recently posted the announcement on the West4Texas Facebook page for his campaign.
"It's official! I'm all in," he wrote in the post. "Your prayers and well-wishes are appreciated."
Also shared with that post was a link to a seven-minute YouTube video announcing West's bid for governor. West, who was born in Georgia, said he was passionate about the state and protecting the words of the Texas State Song.
"It is our time to stand up and honor those words of Texas, our Texas and to secure the future for our children and our grandchildren, to make sure the growth, the opportunity and the prosperity the economic success you see here in Texas continues on," West said in the video.
West also stressed the importance of being energy independent, and not reliant on renewable sources of energy outlined in the "Green New Deal," protecting and securing the state's borders, and combat human trafficking.
"I have not been in elected political office for about a decade, but I can no longer sit on the sidelines to see what is happening in these United States of America, what is happening in the place that I call home," West said in the video.
CBS DFW reported West made the official announcement on Independence Day that he'd challenge Abbott in the GOP primary.
According to the Associated Press, West is the second Republican to take on Abbott for the party's nomination. The governor may have little to worry about though because he's already been endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
The AP also reported West previously represented Florida's 22nd district in the U.S. House of Representatives.