Radford University professor Carter Turner announced his candidacy for the House of Delegates today in Salem.

Tuner will replace Ginny Weisz as the Democratic candidate in the 8th District race, where incumbent Republican Del. Morgan Griffith, the House majority leader, is seeking re-election.

Weisz, who introduced Turner today at a 12:15 p.m. news conference outside the Roanoke County courthouse, withdrew from the race last week.

Turner is a 1987 Salem High School graduate. He attended college at Virginia Tech and earned a bachelor's degree in history, according to a news release. He also earned a master's degree from Iliff School of Theology and a a doctorate in religious and theological studies from the University of Denver.

Turner is currently an assistant professor of religious studies at Radford.