Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim James thanked his family and supporters and sent kind words to the party’s remaining candidates in a June 21 press release.

James’ comments came three days after the Alabama Republican Party announced he finished third to candidates Bradley Byrne and Dr. Robert Bentley in a recount of the June 1 Republican primary results.

James requested and funded the recount after he trailed Bentley by fewer than 200 votes following the primary.

“I want to thank the many people that worked so hard in this campaign, people in all 67 counties,” James wrote in the press release. “I want to once again thank my staff, for their hard work and their unselfish commitment. I’d take these people into battle, never worrying about my back.”

In the release, James congratulated Bentley and Byrne for making it to the July 13 Republican primary runoff.

“I want to congratulate my opponents in this race and wish them the best going forward,” James wrote in the release.

As of June 21, James had not announced if he planned to endorse a candidate in the runoff election.