Alabama Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Rick Pate said Wednesday he is running for lieutenant governor next year.

Pate had said for several months he was considering the race and said Wednesday he has made up his mind and will run in the Republican primary.

Pate spoke to reporters at a luncheon for Alabama Associated General Contractors at the Montgomery Country Club.

Pate had also considered a run for governor but changed his mind after he learned that Sen. Tommy Tuberville was likely entering the race, which Tuberville made official on Tuesday.

Pate said then he thought nobody but Nick Saban could beat Tuberville.

Lieutenant governor was the best fit among other offices on the ballot, Pate said.

“At my point in life, I wanted to do something meaningful,” Pate said. “And not many of those constitutional officer positions were probably in my skill set. Really, lieutenant governor was the only one.”

The main responsibility of the lieutenant governor is to preside over the state Senate.

“I’m such good friends with so many of the senators,” Pate said.

“I just think I could do some good there working with them the next few years,” he said.

Pate said one goal as lieutenant governor would be to help businesses that are burdened by regulations.

Pate, who has an ornamental horticulture degree from Auburn, was in the commercial landscaping and irrigation business before he was elected agriculture commissioner.

“When I ran for commissioner seven years ago, I had been in business for 37 years and really ran against the unbelievable amount of regulations that are put on business,” Pate said.

“I just felt like they really stifled me. I always felt like the government was trying to catch me. I’m trying to do right, and there’s so many flippin’ rules and regulations.”

Pate becomes the fourth Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, which is an open seat because Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth is in his second term and cannot seek a third. Ainsworth considered running for governor but decided to return to the private sector.

Secretary of State Wes Allen, Opelika pastor Dean Odle, and commercial real estate developer Nicole Wadsworth are all Republican candidates for lieutenant governor.

“I hate to run against Wes, because he’s a good friend and I respect him,” Pate said.