Republican Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala) announced on Monday that he will not be seeking re-election in 2022.
“Today I announce that I will not seek a seventh term in the United State Senate in 2022. For everything, there is a season,” Shelby said in a statement. “Although I plan to retire, I am not leaving today. I have two good years remaining to continue my work in Washington. I have the vision and the energy to give it my all,” he added.
Shelby is the latest GOP senator to announce his decision not to run for reelection. Republicans will be defending 20 Senate seats in 2022 compared to the Democrats’ 14, according to The Hill.
Sens. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) have all said they are either retiring or won’t seek re-election when their term ends in 2022.
Sources told The Hill that Shelby was interested in having Katie Britt, his former chief of staff, succeed him. But, other Alabama Republicans are expected to throw their hat in the mix to challenge for Shelby’s seat, including Rep. Mo Brooks, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill, Alabama Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth, as well as GOP Reps. Gary Palmer and Robert Aderholt.
