Businessman Scott Rigell (R) on Wednesday joined the ranks of Southeast Virginia Republicans looking to knock off freshman Rep. Glenn Nye (D) in the Norfolk and Virginia Beach-based 2nd district.

Rigell is a former Marine and the president of Freedom Automotive in Chesapeake. He’s been a major Republican donor in the district in recent years and a supporter of former 2nd district Rep. Thelma Drake (R). But, interestingly, Rigell also donated $1,000 to Obama’s presidential campaign last cycle, according to campaign finance reports.

In his announcement Wednesday, Rigell rolled out endorsements he had earned from Drake and state Sen. Frank Wagner (R) along with several other state and local Republican officials.

“I grew up in a middle-class family, served our country in the Marine Corps Reserves and grew a successful business,— Rigell said in his release. “In Congress, I will leverage my background to fight every step of the way for working families, for our military men and women, and for the small businesses that form the backbone of our economy.—

Rigell joins attorney Chuck Smith and businessmen Ed Maulbeck and Ben Loyola in the Republican primary.