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brooklynite

(94,725 posts) Thu Apr 4, 2019, 03:07 PM Apr 2019

Trump loyalist Gaetz eyes Senate bid in Alabama

Source: The Hill

Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, one of President Trump’s most devoted loyalists on Capitol Hill who represents the Florida Panhandle, has told GOP colleagues he is considering moving across the state line to run for the Senate in Alabama in 2020, several House lawmakers told The Hill.

Some of those discussions took place as recently as Thursday. The rumor had been bouncing around the Capitol for weeks but took a more serious turn in recent days when Gaetz began privately discussing the idea with fellow lawmakers.

“He’s talking about running for Senate in Alabama. They have a one-day residency requirement there,” said a GOP lawmaker who knows Gaetz well. “POTUS [President of the United States] would probably endorse him.”

Sources close to Gaetz, 36, said that "people in Trump's orbit" are personally encouraging the sophomore congressman to run for the Senate seat now held by freshman Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.). Those Trump allies are pointing to Alabama’s liberal requirement that people can run for the Senate so long as they are 30 years old and have been a resident for a minimum of one day.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/437425-trump-loyalist-gaetz-eyes-senate-bid-in-alabama

This would be to run against Doug Jones.

17 replies

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Trump loyalist Gaetz eyes Senate bid in Alabama (Original Post) brooklynite Apr 2019 OP

Well, at least he'd no longer be a shame on my state. nt Tommy_Carcetti Apr 2019 #1

I wonder if Alabamee wasn't a carpetbagger? Chicago1980 Apr 2019 #2

Doug Jones IS a Democrat... brooklynite Apr 2019 #3

I've got family in AL who feel sure Roy Moore will run for redstateblues Apr 2019 #4

So Gaetz et al believe Republicans in AL have no dignity at all, to vote for such a carpetbagger? RockRaven Apr 2019 #5

As a Floridian I propose we relinquish a good chunk of the panhandle and declare it for what it is peekaloo Apr 2019 #6

Carpetbagger candidates are problematic DeminPennswoods Apr 2019 #7

I'd be shocked if he moonscape Apr 2019 #8

I was actually surprised that he didn't move to the right Polybius Apr 2019 #9

Yeah, and I would have been moonscape Apr 2019 #14

I think being honest all along about who he is will DeminPennswoods Apr 2019 #15

But well over 50% of the state vote Republican Polybius Apr 2019 #16

At least in PA, our most recent special election DeminPennswoods Apr 2019 #17

Can you imagine anyone claiming to be loyal to Trump? Enough to make a maggot gag. Judi Lynn Apr 2019 #10

Republican Alabamians - so stupid they need to import smart people? Great campaign slogan. keithbvadu2 Apr 2019 #11

We always called the Florida panhandle ''Lower Alabama'' anyway. YOHABLO Apr 2019 #12

Brings out my inner James Brown! Joe Bacon Apr 2019 #13

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,198 posts)

1. Well, at least he'd no longer be a shame on my state. nt

Reply to brooklynite (Original post)

Thu Apr 4, 2019, 03:09 PM

Apr 2019

Chicago1980

(1,968 posts)

2. I wonder if Alabamee wasn't a carpetbagger?

Reply to brooklynite (Original post)

Thu Apr 4, 2019, 03:09 PM

Apr 2019

Could be an opening for the right democrat...?

brooklynite

(94,725 posts)

3. Doug Jones IS a Democrat...

Reply to Chicago1980 (Reply #2)

Thu Apr 4, 2019, 03:11 PM

Apr 2019

redstateblues

(10,565 posts)

4. I've got family in AL who feel sure Roy Moore will run for

Reply to brooklynite (Original post)

Thu Apr 4, 2019, 03:17 PM

Apr 2019

Governor or Senator

RockRaven

(14,992 posts)

5. So Gaetz et al believe Republicans in AL have no dignity at all, to vote for such a carpetbagger?

Reply to brooklynite (Original post)

Thu Apr 4, 2019, 03:22 PM

Apr 2019

Well, they did vote for Roy Moore in droves, so I guess they are not wrong.

peekaloo

(22,977 posts)

6. As a Floridian I propose we relinquish a good chunk of the panhandle and declare it for what it is

Reply to brooklynite (Original post)

Thu Apr 4, 2019, 03:27 PM

Apr 2019

Eastern Alabama.

Thank you.

DeminPennswoods

(15,290 posts)

7. Carpetbagger candidates are problematic

Reply to brooklynite (Original post)

Thu Apr 4, 2019, 03:36 PM

Apr 2019

imho. I also think pundits are underestimating Doug Jones.

moonscape

(4,673 posts)

8. I'd be shocked if he

Reply to DeminPennswoods (Reply #7)

Thu Apr 4, 2019, 07:54 PM

Apr 2019

could pull out another win. His approval plummeted after election when he disappointed by actually being a democrat. We’d need his opponent to be on death row this time to do that again.

That said, love your take and so want it to be the right one.

Polybius

(15,475 posts)

9. I was actually surprised that he didn't move to the right

Reply to moonscape (Reply #8)

Thu Apr 4, 2019, 09:45 PM

Apr 2019

Manchin has proven that Democrats can win re-election is bright Red states, but Jones isn't at all like him.

moonscape

(4,673 posts)

14. Yeah, and I would have been

Reply to Polybius (Reply #9)

Fri Apr 5, 2019, 02:34 AM

Apr 2019

okay with him moving more to the right if it meant we could keep his seat. Regaining the Senate is going to be tough.

DeminPennswoods

(15,290 posts)

15. I think being honest all along about who he is will

Reply to moonscape (Reply #14)

Fri Apr 5, 2019, 07:37 AM

Apr 2019

actually help Jones. I think voters like that, tbh.

Polybius

(15,475 posts)

16. But well over 50% of the state vote Republican

Reply to DeminPennswoods (Reply #15)

Fri Apr 5, 2019, 09:39 AM

Apr 2019

He has to win 10% or so of them over.

DeminPennswoods

(15,290 posts)

17. At least in PA, our most recent special election

Reply to Polybius (Reply #16)

Fri Apr 5, 2019, 06:07 PM

Apr 2019

showed suburban women are still pretty motivated. Our newest state senator outperformed the last Dem candidate by 6 pts in the most GOP-friendly part of the state senate district. It was a big reason for her win in a district that was gerry-mandered to elect Rs and has only been represented by a D once in the last couple of decades.

Judi Lynn

(160,611 posts)

10. Can you imagine anyone claiming to be loyal to Trump? Enough to make a maggot gag.

Reply to brooklynite (Original post)

Thu Apr 4, 2019, 10:14 PM

Apr 2019

Matt is delivering an insult to people in Alabama by assuming they are stupid enough to vote for him.

Of course, they did vote for Roy Moore....

Roy

keithbvadu2

(36,899 posts)

11. Republican Alabamians - so stupid they need to import smart people? Great campaign slogan.

Reply to brooklynite (Original post)

Thu Apr 4, 2019, 10:33 PM

Apr 2019

Republican Alabamians - so stupid they need to import smart people? Great campaign slogan.

Remember Scott Brown who moved to NH to run.

YOHABLO

(7,358 posts)

12. We always called the Florida panhandle ''Lower Alabama'' anyway.

Reply to brooklynite (Original post)

Thu Apr 4, 2019, 11:26 PM

Apr 2019

Joe Bacon

(5,165 posts)

13. Brings out my inner James Brown!

Reply to brooklynite (Original post)

Fri Apr 5, 2019, 12:48 AM

Apr 2019

Oh yeah, I want to do the Please Please for Gaetz to run against Doug "Mr. Clean" Jones!

And I'll do the mock faint if he gets in the race! Imagine the GOP primary between Gaetz and Roy Moore! It'll be a royal bloodletting!

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