The race is on to fill the opening created by the retirement of Georgia Supreme Court Justice Robert Benham, as Athens lawyer and former U.S. Rep. John Barrow announced his candidacy for the job Monday.

“An appellate court depends on the combined experience of its judges to arrive at decisions that are fair and just,” Barrow said in a news release Monday. “When Justice Benham retires, the Supreme Court will lose almost as much experience as the rest of the Court combined. That's why I'm running—to offer my experience to help maintain the kind of balance we want in our Supreme Court.”

Barrow's is the second hat in the ring. On Friday, Georgia Court of Appeals Judge Sara Doyle said she plans to run for Benham's seat.

Barrow was the Democratic nominee for Georgia secretary of state last year, losing to Republican Brad Raffensperger.

Judicial elections are nonpartisan in Georgia. The vote will be held during the May 19 primary.

Atlanta lawyer and former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Evans will chair Barrow's campaign. Former Judicial Nomination Commission chair and King & Spalding partner Pete Robinson will serve as Barrow's campaign treasurer.

“I've known and respected John for years as a dedicated public servant and a smart and hard-working lawyer,” Evans said in Barrow's news release. “I know he will be a fair and thoughtful judge, and Georgia will be better for his continued leadership.”

“I have known and admired John for many years,” Robinson said in Barrow's news release, noting that they have long been friends. Robinson praised Barrow's “keen intellect, good character, and strong work ethic.”

Barrow, the son of a Clarke County Superior Court judge, graduated from the University of Georgia and Harvard Law School. He clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits.

Barrow was an Athens-Clarke County commissioner for 14 years. Then he served 10 years in Congress. After returning home from Washington, Barrow taught at the University of Georgia and served as a volunteer attorney for the Atlanta Legal Aid Society and Legal Aid of Cobb County in Marietta.

Barrow said he would bring geographic balance to the high court. He noted that only two currently serving justices come from south of the fall line, and none comes from the northeast part of the state: east of Interstate 75 and north of Interstate 16.

It has long been known that Benham will reach the state's mandatory retirement age for appellate judges of 75 soon after the next term would begin. Benham had spoken privately about his plans to retire when his current term ends and made the news public Friday in response to questions about Doyle's plans to run.

The news is historic for the court. Benham is the longest-serving member—appointed by Gov. Joe Frank Harris in 1989—and the first African American justice. His departure will leave the court with only African American member: Chief Justice Harold Melton. The court has only one woman: Justice Sarah Warren, appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal last year.