AL-Sen: Several Republicans are considering challenging Democratic Sen. Doug Jones in 2020, and last week, state Auditor Jim Zeigler went further than anyone else when he formed an exploratory committee. However, don’t mark Zeigler down as a Senate candidate just yet. In 2017, Zeigler also created an exploratory committee for a possible campaign for governor, but he announced he wouldn’t run seven months later.
Zeigler was one of Gov. Robert Bentley's loudest intra-party critics before Bentley resigned in disgrace last year, and he has a reputation for picking fights with powerful Alabamians. But one can’t accuse Zeigler of lacking big ambitions: In 2017, back when it looked like Bentley would just be termed-out of office the following year, Zeigler self-published a novel titled, "The Making of the People's Governor 2018." The tome's description states that, "Several of the usual suspects ran for governor with no track records of having stood up against the abuses of the Bentley administration. But one candidate had stood up in the Bentley years and, in 2018, stood out from the rest."
In reality, that “one candidate” instead sought re-election and won his primary by a not-so impressive 56-33 margin. So far, we haven’t seen “The Making of the People’s Auditor 2018” on sale anywhere.
One Republican whom Zeigler did get along with just fine, though, was 2017 Senate nominee Roy Moore. Last year, after multiple women accused Moore of preying on them when they were teenagers and he was in his early 30s. Zeigler defended him in perhaps the worst way possible. Zeigler declared, “Take Joseph and Mary. Mary was a teenager and Joseph was an adult carpenter. They became parents of Jesus,” and added, “There’s just nothing immoral or illegal here. Maybe just a little bit unusual.” Alabama voters didn’t agree, and Jones narrowly defeated Moore in this very red state.
Other Republicans also have shown some interest in jumping in. State Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh told Politico that he’s considering, though he didn’t have a big sense of urgency about deciding this early in the race. Politico also writes that Marsh has told state lawmakers that he plans to step down as the Senate’s leader at some point in the next years, which many Republicans think is a sign that he’s planning a timeline for a Senate bid.
Marsh very badly wanted to run in the 2017 special, and he sounded all but certain to do it. However, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was intent on protecting appointed Sen. Luther Strange, and they did everything they could to scare off potential primary challengers like Marsh. Politico reported last year that the Senate Leadership Fund, which is run by McConnell allies, was “very openly digging up dirt on … Marsh's ties” to Bentley, who had just resigned as part of a deal with prosecutors.
The NRSC also threatened to blacklist any consulting groups that work with Strange's opponents, something Marsh cited as part of why he didn’t jump in. Those heavy-hanged tactics had no impact on Moore, though, whose underfunded campaign defeated Strange and soon cost the GOP this seat.
But wait, there’s more! Politico writes that unnamed Republicans have also reached out to Lt. Gov.-elect Will Ainsworth about running, but there’s no word on if he’s interested. Rep. Bradley Byrne has also shown plenty of interest for a while, and his spokesman told CNN that he doesn’t expect to decide “until next spring at the earliest.”
However, many local Republicans expect Byrne to run, including Rep. Mo Brooks. Brooks, who took third place in that infamous 2017 primary after national Republicans spent plenty of money attacking him, responded to questions about his interest in another campaign with, “Bradley Byrne looks like he's running — talk to him.” An unnamed Republican close to Brooks also told CNN that he was “unlikely” to run against Byrne.
Still, Brooks doesn’t seem to have ruled out a bid. Politico also asked Brooks about a possible Senate run, and he texted back, “Too many uncertainties,” adding, “Senate? My intention right now is run for reelection to the House.” However, while Rep. Gary Palmer doesn’t seem to have said anything about his plans, Republicans tell Politico that they doubt he’ll go for it now that he’s been elected chair of the House Republican Policy Committee.
Meanwhile, one big name looms large over everything. Earlier this month, after Donald Trump sacked him as U.S. attorney general, reports began to surface that Jeff Sessions was interested in reclaiming his old Senate seat. Sessions still hasn’t said anything publicly, but potential candidates are taking his possible comeback bid into account. Marsh said he was hoping to talk to him before the end of the year and said he’s “always had a good relationship [with Sessions] and I would have to think real hard if I would run against him if he were to seek it again.” However, Byrne’s team maintains that Sessions’ possible comeback bid “doesn't change Congressman Byrne's plans one bit.”