“Today I announce that I will not seek a seventh term in the U.S. Senate in 2022,” the 86-year-old Republican said in a statement. “For everything there is a season.”
Shelby, 86, chaired the Senate Committees on Credits, Rules, Banking and Intelligence. He said he is proud of his work focusing on economics, education, space exploration and, still the coincidence, the Port of Mobile.
Shelby’s decision will open a fierce race in the deep red state. Possible candidates include Shelby’s former chief of staff, Katie Boyd Britt, who is now president and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama, Secretary of State John Merrill, and Rep. Mo Brooks.
Brooks wrote in a statement that he would run for office or run for the Senate seat. Brooks indicated that a motion of no confidence tabled by some House Democrats last month, proposing that he be punished for speaking at the Capitol before the riot on Jan. 6, only increased his prestige in Alabama. has.
“Honestly, the past three months of scurrilous and tangible false attacks on me by Socialist Democrats and their Fake News Media allies have been a wonderful blessing because they have sent my statewide ID and Republican Primary support through the roof,” Brooks said. . said.
The Senate is currently divided 50-50. Democrats are hopeful that the retirement of three other Republican senators – Portman, Toomey and Richard Burr of North Carolina – will help them hold on to their control of the Senate.
This story was updated Monday with additional developments.