CNBC commentator Larry Kudlow announced Tuesday he will not be running for U.S. Senate in Connecticut after months of speculation that he would take on incumbent Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal.
Kudlow, a former Reagan administration official, made the announcement on CNBC Tuesday afternoon, citing his position at the network and his radio show as reasons for foregoing a bid.
“At the end of the day, [my wife and I] decided against,” Kudlow said on CNBC. “That the best course for me was to do exactly what I’m doing — which I love — that was the bottom, bottom line. CNBC’s like an extended family to me … I just love it, and I love it so much I don’t want to give it up.”
“Over the course of this, there were times I’d wake up in the morning and I’d say, ‘Yes, yes,'” Kudlow said. “It’s not exactly breaking news that I’m a Reagan Republican … I don’t like what’s going on in Connecticut or what’s going on in Washington. But having said that, this broadcasting and the radio give me platforms to discuss that.”
Kudlow had previously pondered a run against either Blumenthal or Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., as the economist owns residences in both states.
This isn’t the first time Kudlow floated a potential senate bid. In 2010, Kudlow was mentioned as a possible challenger in Connecticut against then-Sen. Chris Dodd (as well as Schumer) before deciding against a run, citing “The Kudlow Report,” which he hosted on CNBC until 2014.
