Foster Friess, a Republican megadonor, is weighing a 2018 challenge to Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., according to a report.
Friess, 77, told the Washington Post he typically wouldn’t consider a bid for the U.S. Senate, but is worried about the healthcare system and its lack of transparency.
“Normally over the years, I’ve dismissed these urgings,” he told the Washington Post in an email. “But due to the stature of the people requesting, I sense a responsibility to prayerfully explore the possibility.”
Friess said he would like to see healthcare providers “publish prices,” and said his worries about the current state of the healthcare system “might be enhanced by a position in the Senate.”
Friess, a mutual fund executive, has donated thousands of dollars to Republican candidates, organizations, and state Republican parties over the years. He also backed President Trump during the 2016 election.
Though he didn’t divulge who is encouraging him to mount a bid for the Senate, a source told the Post that Friess has spoken with former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon recently.
Bannon has plans to support a slate of primary challengers running against Republicans up for re-election next year, including Barrasso, and has held meetings with donors, including hedge fund manager Robert Mercer and his daughter, Rebekah, and prospective candidates.
In addition to Friess, Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater, is also considering whether to mount a 2018 Senate bid, according to the New York Times. Bannon is pushing him to run, the Times reported.
