Jo Bonner, Alabama GOP Congressman, To Announce Resignation

Rep. Jo Bonner (R-Ala.) will announce at a press conference on Thursday that he plans to resign his seat later this summer and join the faculty at his alma mater, the University of Alabama.

According to a AL.com, Bonner's resignation will be effective Aug. 15, at which point he'll transition to his new position as vice chancellor of government relations and economic development. Bonner will join his sister, Judy, who currently serves as president of the university.

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) confirmed the news to reporters, according to Roll Call.

Bonner was first elected to Alabama's solidly red 1st Congressional District in 2002. He'll be giving up his seat as chairman of the House Committee on Ethics.

With Bonner's departure, Gov. Robert Bentley (R) must now set a date for a special election for the seat.

A House Democratic aide told Roll Call that the party has no plans to field a challenger in the district where Republicans have won at least 60 percent of the vote in the last four presidential elections.