MONTGOMERY (AP) — Alabama Republican Party Chairman Bill Armistead said today he's disappointed Gov. Robert Bentley has abandoned him, but it shouldn't affect the outcome of his re-election bid.

Bentley held a conference call with members of the Republican Executive Committee Thursday evening, where he endorsed Birmingham attorney Matt Fridy for the party's top leadership job. Bentley backed Armistead when he was elected two years ago, but he said Fridy is the better choice to unite the party for the 2014 elections. That's when Alabama voters will pick the governor, several other constitutional officers and Legislature.

"I'm disappointed to see the governor abandon a friend who's been with him from the election to today," Armistead said Friday. He said he has worked to unite the party, and it is others who have been divisive. He declined to name them publicly, saying it wouldn't help the party.

The State Republican Executive Committee will meet in February to elect a chairman to lead the party for two years.

Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey and House Speaker Mike Hubbard are also backing Fridy, but Armistead said he's not worried.

"I don't think the majority of the members of the executive committee are influenced by elected officials telling them how to vote," he said.

Paul Reynolds, who serves on the executive committee and represents Alabama on the Republican National Committee, said Armistead might overcome opposition from one major state official because people would consider that just a clash of personalities. "But it's difficult to overcome when a myriad of elected officials are supporting your opponent," Reynolds said.