Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., is considering challenging Democrat Doug Jones for his Senate seat in Alabama in November 2020, reports the Hill.
The 36-year-old Trump ally told several House lawmakers of his plans, though Gaetz, who was elected to his seat in 2016, brushed off the rumors publicly on Thursday.
“I had a few people make mention to me that Alabama has a very short residency requirement but it’s not something I’ve looked at myself,” Gaetz told The Hill. “I think that my most likely path would be to seek reelection in the House.”
Alabama law requires congressional candidates to only live in the state for one day before running for public office.
Jones defeated Republican Roy Moore in a Senate special election in 2017 following a controversial election marred by sexual contact allegations against Moore.
Gaetz would likely have President Donald Trump’s endorsement, one GOP lawmaker who knows Gaetz well told the Hill.
“The Florida Panhandle is just like Mississippi and Alabama — it’s Trump country, and he’s probably got one of the best districts for Trump. Sometimes that’s all it takes,” said one fellow GOP congressman from Florida. “He can probably win.”
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