Pike County gubernatorial candidate Michael McAllister passed was found dead in his home in the Spring Hill community Saturday of apparent natural causes.

McAllister, 69, was a quiet Republican contender for the state’s highest office – he never even reached out to the Pike County Republican Party about his candidacy according to Donna Horn, president of the local chapter.

Coroner Jerry Williams said his friends called for a welfare check at McAllister’s home Saturday, where officials found him unresponsive at approximately 8 p.m.

McAllister would have been up against Kay Ivey, Tommy Battle, Scott Dawson and Bill Hightower in the Republican primary that will be held on June 5.