Jeff Sessions’ potential Republican primary rival cautioned the former attorney general against trying to reclaim his old Senate seat, warning that he could face President Trump’s wrath.
Sessions, who served as Trump’s first attorney general until he was ousted in 2018, is strongly considering a Senate run for his old Alabama seat. Trump still holds a grudge against Sessions for his recusal from overseeing the Russia investigation, which led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller.
Republican Rep. Bradley Byrne, a top candidate for the seat Sessions gave up to be attorney general, said he has no plans to bow out of the race if Sessions decides to run.
“The president is very angry with Jeff. I think the president will be very vocal against him,” Byrne told the Washington Post. “For Jeff’s sake, I don’t want that. But I think that’s the reality of what he’s facing.”
Byrne said Sessions’ history in the state would not be enough to counter Trump’s anger toward him. Trump is highly popular among Republican primary voters in Alabama, and Republican officials privately agreed Sessions could face an uphill battle.
“The president will take Sessions to the woodshed,” one Alabama GOP official said.
Sessions has until Nov. 8, the state’s filing deadline, to make a decision. The Republican primary winner will face Democratic Sen. Doug Jones in the 2020 election.
