From GwinnettDailyPost.com:

State Sen. Don Balfour, R-Snellville, Monday was the first to jump into the race for Congress, after U.S. Rep. John Linder’s surprise retirement announcement this weekend.

About a half dozen other politicians have said they are considering campaigns, including Commissioner Mike Beaudreau, Sen. David Shafer, Reps. Clay Cox, R-Lilburn, and Jeff May, R-Monroe and Gwinnett GOP Chairman Chuck Efstration.

Balfour, who is the chairman of the powerful Senate Rules Committee and heads the National Conference of State Legislatures, is a formidable competitor to become Linder’s replacement after 18 years in office. The Waffle House executive, like Linder, was first elected to his current position in 1992 and is the longest serving Republican senator in the state.

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