Republican Delegate Kirk Cox, who served as Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates from 2018 to 2020, announced on Twitter on Tuesday morning that he is seeking his party’s nomination for governor in 2021.

Cox, a retired teacher, has represented the 66th District in the House of Delegates since 1990, and he was the first teacher to serve as Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates. Before being elected Speaker, he served as Majority Leader from 2010 to 2018. His district includes the City of Colonial Heights and parts of Chesterfield County.

Declaring his candidacy with a video, Cox tweeted, “I am running for Governor because it’s time to fight back and lead forward. Will you join me?”

Cox’s launch video takes aim at “cancel culture” as he claims, “Timeless principles like free speech and the freedom to worship are being replaced with cancel culture that says if you don’t act and think like big city elites, you’re ignorant and bigoted.” He goes on to claim that the “one-party control” in the General Assembly and executive branch is tearing the commonwealth apart, though he does not cite any specific examples.

Cox is not the only member of the General Assembly who represents Chesterfield who is also vying for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. State Senator Amanda Chase is also seeking to lead the Republican ticket. Currently there are three candidates in the Democratic Primary, Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy, State Senator Jennifer McClellan, and Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax. Former Governor Terry McAuliffe is expected to join the race, and Delegate Lee Carter has hinted at a possible bid.

Cox has yet to unveil his platform.