RICHMOND, R.I. (WPRI) – Former Republican state Rep. Justin Price is seeking a comeback bid for R.I. House District 39, 12 News has confirmed.

District 39 saw one of Rhode Island's closest General Assembly races in 2022 election. Price, who at the time was seeking a fifth term as a state legislator, lost by 32 votes to Democrat Megan Cotter.

“I probably decided right after the election because it was such a close margin,” Price told 12 News on Tuesday. “I would say that after watching my opponent that ultimately won with a close margin, watching her, and what she’s doing while she’s up there and who she’s aligned with up there.”

Price said another factor that motivated this decision was his view that voters in the district lean to the political right. “I think it should be represented by someone that’s conservative,” he said.

Price attributes his loss in 2022 to the presence on the ballot of an independent candidate, Sean Comella, who ran and earned 10% of the vote.

“If that third-party [candidate] wasn’t in there, the results would’ve been probably the same as the previous election,” he said. “I would have won, by a wide margin.”

As for what issues he’s had with Cotter during her first term, Price said, “Openly siding with the progressives up at the State House, living in a conservative district.”

When it comes to criticism of legislation she introduced, Price mentioned Cotter’s bill from this session that would increase the conveyance tax on high-dollar home sales.

If he’s elected to represent the district again, Price said his priorities would be to focus on “representing my district.”

“Focus on bringing the issues from my district up to the State House,” he added.

Price faced controversy during his last term before losing in 2022. Comments Price made regarding the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, led to several elected officials calling for his resignation.

Price said he was in D.C. that day with “the other 1 million people” but did not go into the Capitol building. As for whether he thought his connection to Jan. 6 hurt his 2022 re-election bid, Price said, “I don’t think it affected it.”

Cotter announced on Monday that she's running for re-election.

"I am honored to serve as your representative, and I hope to keep building on the progress made in our community for another term," Cotter said in a press release. "As we look ahead, I remain committed to being a proactive, collaboration-focused lawmaker who gets things done for our neighbors in Exeter, Hopkinton, and Richmond."

In her announcement, she highlighted accomplishments during her first term such as working with RIPTA to "fully fund a van for Wood River Health," fighting to increase "accessibility to affordable healthcare for residents" and garnering "more legislative grants for the district" than other representatives who represented the seat in the past decade.

Cotter also mentioned legislation she sponsored that created a Forest Management Commission, which she chairs.

When asked her reaction to Price running again, Cotter told 12 News, "I'm proud of the work we've accomplished together for our rural communities, and I hope they will place their trust in me for another term."

If Price secures the Republican nomination in September, this will be the third time he and Cotter have run against each other. They had also faced off in 2020, where Price won by 4%.

The former representative has stayed active in politics since his 2022 loss. Price got the second-highest number of votes to be a delegate for Rhode Island's 2nd Congressional District for former President Donald Trump at this year’s Republican National Convention.

A formal kickoff date for his campaign hasn’t been scheduled yet.