AL-Sen: Sen. Richard Shelby (R) to Retire in 2022

Alabama Senator Richard Shelby has told friends he’s not going to run for re-election in 2022. Shelby is the 4th most senior Senator, having served in that body since 1987. Before that, he served in the House. Shelby was originally elected as a Democrat before switching to the GOP after the 1994 Republican Revolution in order to remain in the majority party in Senate. Overall, he has represented all or part of Alabama in Washington for the past 42 years.

The Republican primary to replace Shelby is likely to be crowded. Possible candidates include former Shelby chief of staff Katie Boyd Britt, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill, Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth, AL-5 Congressman Mo Brooks, AL-6 Congressman Gary Palmer, former AL-1 Congressman Bradley Byrne, and Alabama Senate President Pro-Tempore Del Marsh and Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle.

This Senate vacancy might help Alabama with Congressional redistricting should the state lose a seat in the 2022 reapportionment. Alabama is on the bubble to lose its 7th seat according to many estimates. Were Alabama to lose a seat, other Alabama Congressmen – perhaps AL-2’s Barry Moore or AL-3’s Mike Rogers – could be forced to run for Senate for lack of another landing spot.

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79 Comments

  • Masshole92 February 5, 2021 at 4:43 pm

    Clown Car primary incoming. Who we thinking?


    NH-1 (R)
    Hear me out... Dave Portnoy 2024

    • Jed Hogan February 5, 2021 at 4:54 pm | In reply to Masshole92

      Mo Brooks, Bradley Byrne, Barry Moore, Mike Rodgers, Will Ainsworth, John Merrill, Katie Britt

    • Theodoric of New York February 5, 2021 at 5:38 pm | In reply to Masshole92

      Depends a lot whether Ivey runs for reelection. If she doesn’t that should draw off some of the clown car.

      Assuming she does, I’ll say Byrne, Moore, Britt, Palmer, Brooks, Ainswortth, Merrill, Jim Ziegler, and Jonathan McConnell.


      M, 25, NY-11, NY-SD-22, NY-LD-46; "'It's one way or the other, Mr. Jackson,' he replied."

      • Theodoric of New York February 5, 2021 at 7:18 pm | In reply to Theodoric of New York

        Just realized there are two different prominent Moores in Alabama politics. I meant Barry, but what the hell, I’ll say Roy runs too.


        M, 25, NY-11, NY-SD-22, NY-LD-46; "'It's one way or the other, Mr. Jackson,' he replied."

  • dforston February 5, 2021 at 4:44 pm

    Bring on Katie Britt!

  • Rusty Shackleford February 5, 2021 at 4:49 pm

    This will probably make Alabama legislators’ lives much easier should Alabama lose its 7th seat.


    Whatever we're talking about, it's all Frank Meyer's fault
    Cheney ‘24
    9.38, -4.26

  • Paulie_Walnuts February 5, 2021 at 4:51 pm

    I wonder if either Edmund LaCour or Brett Talley run and follow in Sessions footsteps as failed judiciary nominees to wind up in the Senate.


    If anything I say offends you... you probably deserved to be offended.

    • Theodoric of New York February 5, 2021 at 5:42 pm | In reply to Paulie_Walnuts

      That’s pretty unlikely. Sessions had 12 years as US Attorney (a much more high-profile position) and 2 years as state AG before he ran, and that was with a much thinner Alabama GOP bench. If either has any interest in electoral politics they’d probably wait for AG to come open or try for a House seat.


      M, 25, NY-11, NY-SD-22, NY-LD-46; "'It's one way or the other, Mr. Jackson,' he replied."

  • Jed Hogan February 5, 2021 at 4:53 pm

    Come on Gary Palmer or Mo Brooks

  • ike56 February 5, 2021 at 4:58 pm

    What’s he going to do with all that money? IIRC, he always raised a ton of cash despite not needing in in AL.


    42, Navy Chief CA-26. Cultural, though not social, conservative. Hispanic, but "functionally white."

    • Jed Hogan February 5, 2021 at 5:00 pm | In reply to ike56

      Give it to candidates in AZ, PA?

  • StatenIslandTest February 5, 2021 at 5:00 pm

    I think Byrne or Mo Brooks make sense. Just keep the mall-walker away!


    35, Jersey City, No More Lockdowns! #ReadyforRoaring2020s

  • Paulie_Walnuts February 5, 2021 at 5:07 pm

    This is where Jessica Taylor losing the primary really sucks. She would have been an amazing Senator, but now it’s too big of a jump.

    Hopefully two or more House members run so something opens up for her.


    If anything I say offends you... you probably deserved to be offended.

    • Amish February 5, 2021 at 7:04 pm | In reply to Paulie_Walnuts

      Agree.

  • Paulie_Walnuts February 5, 2021 at 5:09 pm

    Are there any state legislators to keep an eye on? I remember liking Mooney last year, but he got absolutely slaughtered in the primary.


    If anything I say offends you... you probably deserved to be offended.

  • DreGator February 5, 2021 at 5:14 pm

    A state the Republicans don’t have to worry about who comes out of the primary not winning in a landslide not name Roy Moore, the question is do the Democrats put up a credible candidate who can get 40% or so. Senior Senator Tommy Tueberville lol

    • Paulie_Walnuts February 5, 2021 at 5:18 pm | In reply to DreGator

      Does Jones try again? Or is Biden giving him an ambassadorship?

      If not him, State Rep/ AL DEM Chair Chris England or Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox


      If anything I say offends you... you probably deserved to be offended.

      • zbigreddogz February 5, 2021 at 5:23 pm | In reply to Paulie_Walnuts

        He can’t beat anyone not-named Roy Moore.

        • Paulie_Walnuts February 5, 2021 at 5:30 pm | In reply to zbigreddogz

          Of course he isn’t. But does he know that? Keep in mind he ran before the Moore scandal came out.


          If anything I say offends you... you probably deserved to be offended.

          • zbigreddogz February 5, 2021 at 5:39 pm | In reply to Paulie_Walnuts

            I mean, he just got crushed in a landslide as an incumbent. So yeah I think he knows.

          • StatenIslandTest February 5, 2021 at 8:23 pm | In reply to Paulie_Walnuts

            Moore was already one of the weakest Rs in the Deep South even before his activities at the Gadsden Mall came out.


            35, Jersey City, No More Lockdowns! #ReadyforRoaring2020s

      • Rusty Shackleford February 5, 2021 at 5:38 pm | In reply to Paulie_Walnuts

        According to his Twitter page, Doug Jones is now a CNN contributor.


        Whatever we're talking about, it's all Frank Meyer's fault
        Cheney ‘24
        9.38, -4.26

  • zbigreddogz February 5, 2021 at 5:21 pm

    I like Byrne, but he is now a two-time loser statewide. Maybe third time would be a charm? But I’m not convinced he’s not seen as a has-been.

    Nobody outside the hard-right really likes Brooks. Which doesn’t mean he can’t win but things will need to happen. Particularly as he’ll almost certainly have to win a runoff.

    I suspect Gary Palmer will run for Governor if Ivy retires. If she doesn’t…he’ll probably look at this. He does come from the district with the most R voters in it, one of the most heavily R in the country. That’s gotta count for something. He also has no real enemies in the state.

    I have trouble seeing Shelby shoehorning his COS into his seat. Regardless of how well liked or known by the powers that be. Maybe run for one of the vacated Congressional seats. Could be wrong but that’s my impulse.

  • DariusDTT February 5, 2021 at 5:22 pm

    The media will tell us that this has nothing to do about age but it is because of Trump and MTG in 3,2,1…


    RO Conservative.

    • Jed Hogan February 6, 2021 at 1:47 am | In reply to DariusDTT

      They’ve already started with the “Now the 4th GOP senator has announced his retirement. Could this mean he thinks 2022 looks bleak”

      • cer February 6, 2021 at 10:57 am | In reply to Jed Hogan

        If any Democrat announces his or her retirement, things will be reported slightly differently from the MSM.


        R, NC-3

  • RRR February 5, 2021 at 5:23 pm

    Hopefully Tommy Tuberville will have had time to watch “I’m Just a Bill” by the time he’s Senior Senator!


    145-61

    • BostonPatriot February 5, 2021 at 6:23 pm | In reply to RRR

      Senior Senators Ossoff and Tuberville in neighboring states. What a world.

  • DariusDTT February 5, 2021 at 5:23 pm

    I want senator TWINKLE.
    LOL!


    RO Conservative.

    • Son_of_the_South February 5, 2021 at 5:34 pm | In reply to DariusDTT

      Are you kidding? Senator Young Boozer III would be even better. Unfortunately, he’s already in his 70s.


      27, R, TN-09
      Follow the big picture, not the daily tennis match

      • Paulie_Walnuts February 5, 2021 at 5:40 pm | In reply to Son_of_the_South

        That sounds like a rapper my cousin listens to.


        If anything I say offends you... you probably deserved to be offended.

        • Son_of_the_South February 5, 2021 at 5:59 pm | In reply to Paulie_Walnuts

          That would probably be Lil’ Boozy, if memory serves. Young Boozer III (R) is the former state Treasurer of Alabama.

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Boozer


          27, R, TN-09
          Follow the big picture, not the daily tennis match

      • Rusty Shackleford February 5, 2021 at 5:41 pm | In reply to Son_of_the_South

        Does he have a grandson named Young Boozer V? Inquiring minds want to know!


        Whatever we're talking about, it's all Frank Meyer's fault
        Cheney ‘24
        9.38, -4.26

        • Masshole92 February 5, 2021 at 5:49 pm | In reply to Rusty Shackleford

          Lil Boozer and Granddaddy-B would make one hell of a Governor ticket


          NH-1 (R)
          Hear me out... Dave Portnoy 2024

      • Dave February 6, 2021 at 12:51 am | In reply to Son_of_the_South

        Not that young!


        D. MD-08.

  • Paulie_Walnuts February 5, 2021 at 5:31 pm

    Isn’t AL-7th pretty much either the Last in/ First out seat?

    Also, I’d be pretty surprised if Brooks is the only congressperson to run.


    If anything I say offends you... you probably deserved to be offended.

    • cinyc February 5, 2021 at 5:37 pm | In reply to Paulie_Walnuts

      Yeah, AL-7 is on the bubble to be lost, probably along with NY-26.

      Brooks likely won’t be the only Congressperson to run, especially if AL loses that 7th seat. I just added AL-4 Aderholt and AL-6 Palmer to the great mentioner.


      @cinyc9 on Twitter

      • zbigreddogz February 5, 2021 at 5:41 pm | In reply to cinyc

        I doubt Aderholt will run. Too senior in the House. He’ll wait a few terms and be Appropriations chair.

        • Greyhound February 5, 2021 at 5:52 pm | In reply to zbigreddogz

          Aderholt is a legit contender for Dean of the House someday. Dude has been in Congress for 24 years from one of the safest seats in the country and is only 55.


          R, 30, CA-19. That didn't last very long.

          • zbigreddogz February 5, 2021 at 5:54 pm | In reply to Greyhound

            Agree.

          • Rusty Shackleford February 5, 2021 at 5:55 pm | In reply to Greyhound

            *Depending on the length of Chris Smith’s eventual reign as Dean.


            Whatever we're talking about, it's all Frank Meyer's fault
            Cheney ‘24
            9.38, -4.26

            • Izengabe February 5, 2021 at 10:54 pm | In reply to Rusty Shackleford

              Crazy thing is Chris Smith was a fluke Abscam winner who everyone in 1980 assumed would be a one term wonder.


              Follow me on Twitter: @Izengabe_

              • Rusty Shackleford February 6, 2021 at 6:40 pm | In reply to Izengabe

                Ah, the 1980s: when “Democratic congressman” and “scandal” were practically synonymous.


                Whatever we're talking about, it's all Frank Meyer's fault
                Cheney ‘24
                9.38, -4.26

          • Jed Hogan February 5, 2021 at 6:06 pm | In reply to Greyhound

            No. Don Young will live forever

          • cinyc February 5, 2021 at 6:21 pm | In reply to Greyhound

            I took Aderholt out (he was listed on Wikipedia as a potential candidate) and added Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, who ran for Governor in 2018. AL-1 Carl and AL-2 Moore are freshman Congressmen, so I’m guessing they’re less llikely to run. Is AL-3’s Mike Rogers too senior to likely run, too?


            @cinyc9 on Twitter

            • BostonPatriot February 5, 2021 at 6:26 pm | In reply to cinyc

              If AL goes to 6 seats, one of Moore or Rogers is likely going to have to run because those are the two districts easiest to combine. They may try to pair the freshmen Moore and Carl, but that’s really just eliminating Moore. Unless the 7th seat holds or the legislature surprises and cuts a seat up north, Moore might as well run for the Senate seat because his odds won’t be that much better against either Carl or Rogers.

              • Jed Hogan February 5, 2021 at 6:50 pm | In reply to BostonPatriot

                Rogers would be likely. Freshmen usually don’t run for Senate. Daines, Cotton, Rosen are the exceptions not the rule

                • BostonPatriot February 5, 2021 at 6:58 pm | In reply to Jed Hogan

                  Yeah and I think Moore would be quite the underdog if he ran. But it might be no worse than his House odds if his district is blown up.

                • RRR February 5, 2021 at 9:49 pm | In reply to Jed Hogan

                  There’ll be hell toupée if Rogers runs.


                  145-61

              • shamlet February 6, 2021 at 5:18 am | In reply to BostonPatriot

                If Palmer runs cutting the 6th is trivially easy, you just butterfly it in half between Aderholt and Rogers.


                R, MD-7.

  • The Rogue Prince February 5, 2021 at 6:28 pm

    How many think that Roy Moore makes another vanity run?


    Allergic to TDS

    • Jsmit781 February 5, 2021 at 6:59 pm | In reply to The Rogue Prince

      I’d be willing to bet my entire 401k


      33, M, WI-3, 94th assembly district. @jsmit781

  • Vosmyorka February 5, 2021 at 6:59 pm

    Matt Gaetz considered running for the other seat in 2020, and I wonder if he might not be able to snag a Trump endorsement (particularly if he follows through on resigning his House seat to defend Trump in the Senate impeachment trial). I think we’re also underestimating the size of the field here — Alabama likes celebrity candidates, and where those are unavailable Alabama often picks fairly obscure state legislators over more established politicians (see the 2010 gubernatorial runoff slots going to 2 different fairly obscure state legislators). This is likely a race for a lifetime Senate appointment, and it would make sense to stake a *lot* on it.


    OH-16. Male, Russoanglohispanophone.

    • Theodoric of New York February 5, 2021 at 7:17 pm | In reply to Vosmyorka

      You’re probably right about the overall size of the clown car, but I think you’re overstating the state legislators thing. The 2010 gubernatorial field was oddly weak without really any established politicians (by conventional definitions), so it’s not surprising Byrne and Bentley did OK. Tuberville is the only other particularly unconventional candidate I can think of who did fairly well – the other vote-getters in 2017 and 2020 were all pretty conventional (Strange, Brooks, Moore, Sessions, Byrne).


      M, 25, NY-11, NY-SD-22, NY-LD-46; "'It's one way or the other, Mr. Jackson,' he replied."

    • Jed Hogan February 5, 2021 at 7:20 pm | In reply to Vosmyorka

      Gaetz will forever be a Florida man

    • pstchrisp February 5, 2021 at 10:03 pm | In reply to Vosmyorka

      The Alex X Mooney School of Political Promotion.

      • zbigreddogz February 7, 2021 at 5:02 pm | In reply to pstchrisp

        Hey, it worked for Mooney.

        That said, Gaetz is a lot more…controversial. And I don’t think Alabama has a big Florida fan base. Mooney’s district in WV at least had the Eastern Panhandle which is a lot of MD/VA/DC transplants anyway.

        • Vosmyorka February 8, 2021 at 1:48 am | In reply to zbigreddogz

          Gaetz’s district is literally called the “Floribama Coast” — much like Western Maryland (the three westernmost counties in MD, Garrett, Allegany, and Washington, which Alex Mooney represented in the state Senate) is pretty universally acknowledged to be more like West Virginia than the rest of Maryland, “Floribama”, the part of the Florida Panhandle west of the Apalachicola River/west of Tallahassee is usually seen as being more like Alabama than Florida.

          Which doesn’t necessarily mean running is a good idea — Gaetz’s base will still be in Florida and Alabama has historically had some regionalized primaries. But I don’t think it’s hopeless, and if he really has a Trump endorsement up his sleeve then he has a fair shot.


          OH-16. Male, Russoanglohispanophone.

          • Dave February 9, 2021 at 1:10 am | In reply to Vosmyorka

            Not that it matters, but I thought Mooney represented a Frederick-area seat in the Maryland Senate.


            D. MD-08.

  • EricSouthernIll February 5, 2021 at 8:01 pm

    The Alabama GOP bench has a lot of names but many of them are old and nobody screams “frontrunner” to me. Wouldn’t be surprised if Shelby makes a deal with Ivey to Resign and have Katie Britt appointed in his spot. Matt Gaetz wouldn’t be the absolute worst carpetbagging job (and it would do the Florida GOP a huge favor), but he has no institutional connections in the state and the Pensacola media market covers like two rural counties in Alabama

    • EricSouthernIll February 5, 2021 at 8:10 pm | In reply to EricSouthernIll

      Also, while it’s nothing approaching Roy Moore’s alleged pedophilia, Gaetz has some rumours about his personal life that could come out if he runs

      • Jed Hogan February 5, 2021 at 8:15 pm | In reply to EricSouthernIll

        He’s a Florida man now and forever

      • RRR February 6, 2021 at 12:17 pm | In reply to EricSouthernIll

        THAT guy is a potential sleaze? No…


        145-61

        • Republican Michigander February 6, 2021 at 3:20 pm | In reply to RRR

          Was he also involved with Katie Hill?


          MI-08 - Pro-2a, Pro-life, pro-worker, pro-small business Generation X conservative

          • Vosmyorka February 8, 2021 at 1:50 am | In reply to Republican Michigander

            He defended her and said that the media’s publication of personal photos and intimate details of her private life was sleazy and unethical character assassination.


            OH-16. Male, Russoanglohispanophone.

    • cinyc February 5, 2021 at 8:17 pm | In reply to EricSouthernIll

      Pensacola and Mobile are in the same TV market, Mobile-Pensacola. That TV market covers 6 AL counties – including the very populous Mobile County, AL


      @cinyc9 on Twitter

    • pstchrisp February 8, 2021 at 8:14 am | In reply to EricSouthernIll

      The Pensacola media market is part of the Mobile, AL, media market, which are not two rural counties. Those two counties have almost 700,000 people living in them.

  • Yellow_hammer February 5, 2021 at 11:02 pm

    Del Marsh will not run. I hear He is done with politics after his current term is up

  • The Rogue Prince February 6, 2021 at 12:07 am

    I think Mo Brooks would be the frontrunner if he wants it. Ivy is probably too old and will want a second term as governor, while none of the other reps have Brooks’ standing in Trumper circles


    Allergic to TDS

    • Tekken_Guy February 6, 2021 at 1:51 am | In reply to The Rogue Prince

      Depends on how popular Trump still is by 2022. If Trump’s popularity with GOP voters goes down, so will Brooks’.

      • The Rogue Prince February 6, 2021 at 2:21 am | In reply to Tekken_Guy

        Brooks was a fav of conservatives even before Trump.


        Allergic to TDS

      • Jed Hogan February 6, 2021 at 6:06 am | In reply to Tekken_Guy

        It’s Alabama

      • Vosmyorka February 6, 2021 at 12:01 pm | In reply to Tekken_Guy

        Brooks is not *that* Trumpy (or at least, he was criticized in the 2017 primary for having been very anti-Trump during the 2016 presidential primary).


        OH-16. Male, Russoanglohispanophone.

        • BostonPatriot February 6, 2021 at 12:16 pm | In reply to Vosmyorka

          Brooks is one of a small remaining group that is still 100% 2010 Tea Party.

          • RRR February 6, 2021 at 12:25 pm | In reply to BostonPatriot

            Ironic considering Huntsville exists just about solely due to federal spending.


            145-61

  • Paulie_Walnuts February 6, 2021 at 10:47 am

    What are Katie Britt’s positions like?


    If anything I say offends you... you probably deserved to be offended.

    • SoILConservative February 6, 2021 at 10:52 am | In reply to Paulie_Walnuts

      The U.S. Chamber of Commerce

      • DariusDTT February 7, 2021 at 6:42 pm | In reply to SoILConservative

        The CofC which conspired with AFL-CIO and far left groups to ”preserve democracy”?
        No, thanks, we should pass.


        RO Conservative.

  • Mike1965 February 8, 2021 at 12:03 pm

    Official.

    https://twitter.com/burgessev/status/1358823190265532417

    Sen. Shelby keeps it succinct: “Today I announce that I will not seek a seventh term in the United State Senate in 2022. For everything, there is a season.”


    C'mon man.

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