According to the latest from Politico senior columnist Jonathan Martin, the Paul Finebaum for U.S. Senate movement appears to be a real thing.
Last week, in a head-scratcher, Finebaum, a regular ESPN personality, appeared on ESPN critic Clay Travis' podcast and revealed his interest in seeking the seat that will be vacated by U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), who is running for governor in 2026.
"To say, I'm considering it, of course. Yes. It's something I can't say I've dreamed about. I can't say I've thought about it," Finebaum said to Travis. "I'm not a career politician that has it all mapped out. This is something that just came to me. It's also very late. I don't know what to do with it. As far as your question, would I give up what I'm doing? I would have to."
Pawwwwwl!
— Jonathan Martin (@jmart) October 4, 2025
The @finebaum float is fun - and more serious than folks may think - but the bigger, backstage story at hand is how @LeaderJohnThune and Co are leveraging Trump to normie'ize the Senate GOP
Ashley Hinsons and Mike Rogers in, Roy Moore and Herschel Walker out
And…
Martin reports Finebaum "is set to visit Washington for meetings with Republicans later this month," but expressed his skepticism that Finebaum would give up his lucrative ESPN deal for a $174,000 freshman U.S. Senator's salary.
Martin also suggested there was concern among U.S. Senators who would serve in that seat, noting U.S. Sen. Katie Britt's (R-Montgomery) "trying relationship" with Tuberville.
"Whoever wins the nomination in Alabama will almost certainly become the next senator – but more than a few GOP senators care about who they'll be serving with in such red states where the primary is tantamount to victory. Among those is Alabama's other senator, Katie Britt, who had a trying relationship at times with the departing Sen. Tommy Tuberville and would surely get along better with Finebaum (same as she would have with Bruce Pearl, the outgoing Auburn basketball coach who flirted with the seat)," he wrote. "But, as Finebaum's callers are wont to say of non-SEC competition, Paawwwl ain't played nobody yet."
Jeff Poor is the editor-in-chief of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
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