John Merrill ‘not in a hurry to make a decision’ on U.S. Senate run; Expects decision by Memorial Day

With the field of potential 2020 GOP U.S. Senate candidates beginning to take form, one name that has gotten a lot of mentions in recent days is Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill.

First reported by IAP News earlier on Wednesday, Merrill was mentioned as a candidate being courted by the conservative Club for Growth to run for U.S. Senate.

In an interview later in the day on Huntsville radio’s WVNN, Merrill addressed the possibility of a run for Senate.

“I have had a lot of people that have come to me and have introduced the idea of promoting me as a candidate for the United States Senate,” Merrill said on “The Jeff Poor Show.” “And I have not indicated my desire to be a candidate for that position. There have been people who have wanted to talk with who I have met with. There have been people who have wanted to promote my candidacy, people who have wanted to give me a financial contribution to allow me to be a serious candidate for that position. And I am thrilled and honored that people would want to do that.”

“But in doing so, I have to make sure it will not interfere with the job that I have — that the people of Alabama asked me to serve them in this capacity, and that’s what I’m currently doing now,” he continued. “So, I’m not in a hurry to make a decision. I feel like this field for the United States Senate will be set by the first part of the summer. And of course, most people say summer begins Memorial Day. But I feel like the field will be set shortly after that because if you’re not in the race by then, you don’t have the financial wherewithal to be competitive, you’re not going to be able to be effective as a candidate.”

Merrill went on to indicate he was looking at a Memorial Day deadline for himself, as well.

“As far as I’m concerned, that’s probably the timeframe that I’m looking at based on the information that has been introduced to me and the conversations that I’ve had with my supporters and my friends,” Merrill added.

If Merrill were to announce his candidacy, he would join Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Fairhope), and former Auburn head football coach Tommy Tuberville as the only formally announced candidates.

@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University, the editor of Breitbart TV and host of “The Jeff Poor Show” from 2-5 p.m. on WVNN in Huntsville.