TN-Sen, TN-Gov: GOP Sen. Bob Corker is up for re-election next year, and it’s possible he won’t seek a third term. Back in December, when Corker was mentioned as a possible pick for secretary of state, he mused that the “first thing we'll do is sit down and think about what our future should or should not be inside the United States Senate.” Corker added that “you know what we do is something we'll be thinking about over the course of the next several months.” It was clear that Trump was going to name his choice for secretary of state very soon, so Corker’s comments that he’ll be mulling his future in the next few months indicate he was considering leaving the Senate for something other than the State Department.
The Times Free Press writes that there’s been “speculation in some Tennessee Republican circles” that Corker is interested in running to succeed termed-out Gov. Bill Haslam, a fellow Republican, instead of for re-election. Corker hasn’t said anything publicly to indicate he’s interested in a gubernatorial bid though if he truly has no intention to seek the job, there’s nothing stopping him from just saying so. Haslam himself amplified the rumors that Corker may run to replace him a few days ago, when the governor didn’t rule out a future Senate bid. However, Haslam soon said that he assumes Corker will run for re-election. A number of Tennessee Republicans are eyeing the governor’s office, though if Corker actually is serious, he could scare many of them off.
However, if Corker does seek re-election, he may not be able to avoid a GOP primary. The Times Free Press recently asked Andy Ogles, the state director of the Koch brother’s Americans for Prosperity, about rumors that he’s interested in facing Corker. Ogles did nothing to dispel the rumors, just saying that “[t]here has been speculation along those lines,” before he went on to talk about taxes. After a reporter noted that Ogles hadn’t actually said no to a Senate bid, he promised “we'll have another conversation in a few months.” There’s no sign that Corker has angered many conservatives, and an Ogles’ challenge may have a tough time gaining traction.