Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam considering run for Lamar Alexander's Senate seat

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam is considering a bid for the U.S. Senate in 2020, a move that could freeze out other Republican candidates who are looking to replace retiring Sen. Lamar Alexander.

Republican sources confirmed on Monday that Haslam is interested in federal office, and that he would likely spend some time after he leaves the governor’s mansion in January to think it over. Other top names mentioned as potential Alexander successors include William Hagerty, U.S. ambassador to Japan, and outgoing Rep. Diane Black, who lost her bid for the GOP nomination for governor this year. But all of them are likely to wait on Haslam’s decision.