Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., played coy in an interview Wednesday when asked if he would mount a challenge against incumbent Republican Sen. Jerry Moran.
Pompeo, speaking on Hugh Hewitt’s radio show, said a decision to run against Moran could come in a matter of days.
“Hugh, you’ve known me long enough to know I’m going to always try to find the right place to serve Kansas and America,” Pompeo said when asked by Hewitt if he is preparing a primary challenge. “We’re trying to figure out exactly where that is. And in the next days or maybe a week or so, we’ll figure that out. You’ll be right among the first to know.”
The speculation that Pompeo might run for Moran’s Senate seat comes after the freshman senator had to double down on original calls to hold hearings on Merrick Garland’s Supreme Court nomination — calls that broke with his Republican colleagues. Pompeo has not backed off in in his criticism of Moran since.
“So that’s still an open possibility?” Hewitt asked.
“Ah Hugh, it’s a great day in Kansas,” Pompeo responded.
As both men simultaneously laughed, Hewitt replied, “I will leave it at that. Congressman Mike Pompeo, that’s gonna blow up a few headlines, so check back with us next week, will you?”
“I will, sir,” Pompeo said.
Earlier this week, Pompeo slammed Moran for his comments on the Supreme Court vacancy in an interview with The Associated Press. But, he played coy again about a primary challenge, telling the Associated Press, “We just never comment on campaign activities that we are engaged in.”
Even in a teleconference with supporters Tuesday night, he declined to rule out a challenge either way.
“I can’t say much about whether or not I’m going to run for any particular office,” Pompeo said, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal, adding that he and his family will think and pray about the decision.
Pompeo was elected to represent Kansas’s 4th Congressional District as part of the Tea Party movement wave in 2010.
