President Trump on Friday tweeted that U.S. Ambassador to Japan Bill Hagerty will make a Senate run for a seat being vacated by Tennessee Republican Lamar Alexander. Hagerty served in Haslam’s cabinet from 2011 to 2015 as his economic development commissioner. He also served as Tennessee’s finance chairman for the Trump Victory Committee, The Tennesseean reported.
He must resign from his ambassadorship before officially entering the race. Veteran GOP strategist Ward Baker will head Hagerty’s campaign, Politico reported.
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Aside from Haslam, several Republicans have passed on the Senate race, including Rep. Mark Green. Nashville orthopedic surgeon Manny Sethi entered the contest last month and Rep. David Kustoff tweeted Thursday that he would consider running.
James Mackler, an attorney and Iraq War veteran, is the lone Democrat in the field.
