NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Latest on the 2020 U.S. Senate race in Tennessee (all times local):
4:30 p.m.
Republican Gov. Bill Haslam says he will give a U.S. Senate bid “serious consideration” after GOP Sen. Lamar Alexander announced he wouldn’t run again in 2020.
Haslam also told the Chattanooga Times Free Press on Monday that he will have a better answer in coming days about a possible bid. He says that for now, it’s a great time to honor Alexander.
Alexander announced in a news release Monday that he’s deeply grateful at having been elected to serve more combined years as governor and senator than anyone else in Tennessee. But he says now is the time for someone else to have that privilege. He will serve out his final two years.
Haslam is leaving office in January due to term limits.
Other possible GOP Senate candidates include U.S. Ambassador to Japan Bill Hagerty and U.S. Rep.-elect Mark Green.
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11:30 a.m.
Republican U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee says he won’t seek re-election in 2020.
Alexander said in a news release Monday that he’s deeply grateful for being elected to serve more combined years as governor and senator than anyone else in Tennessee. But he said now it’s time for someone else to have that privilege.
The Maryville, Tennessee native served as governor form 1979 until 1987, and helped bring the auto industry to the state. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 and was re-elected in 2008 and 2014.
Alexander’s announcement leaves an open 2020 race after a 2018 election in which Republican Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee declined to run again. Republican Sen.-elect Marsha Blackburn won an expensive, tough race against former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen.
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