Scott Beason’s hat is in the ring, or so it appears.

The controversial state senator from Gardendale is set to announce that he will oppose incumbent Congressman Spencer Bachus in the Republican primary this spring.

According to political reporter Kyle Whitmire on his Weld Birmngham blog, Beason will announce his candidacy during a press conference Thursday morning at Alabama GOP Headquarters in Homewood. However, staffers at party headquarters would not confirm or deny the event Wednesday afternoon.

Beason, who as had his share of political ups and downs last year, will take on the sitting chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. However, Bachus has had political troubles of his own, after being accused in the book “Throw Them All Out” of using inside information gained through his chairmanship to trade stocks and stock options, a charge reiterated in a report on the CBS program “60 Minutes.” Bachus, both in person and through his press spokesman, has repeatedly and vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

If Beason does run, it will likely be one of the most closely followed races in the primary season outside of the presidential elecion, because of Bachus’ posiiton in the House GOP Caucus, and for Beason’s notoriety in his testimony at the federal bingo corruption trial in Montgomery and his sponsorship of the state’s controversial immigration law.

We’ll have more on this story as it develops.