Paul Finebaum Will NOT Run for U.S. Senate
Will stay With ESPN, focus on College Football
Paul Finebaum announced Tuesday that he will not run for the U.S. Senate seat in Alabama set to open in 2026. The decision ends one of the more unusual political storylines of the coming election cycle in the State.
Finebaum, 70, has spent decades covering Southeastern Conference football and built a wide audience through his radio show and his role with ESPN and the SEC Network. Rumors about a possible run for public office grew this fall after he told an interviewer he was considering a bid as a Republican in the race to replace Senator Tommy Tuberville, who is running for Governor.
In an exclusive statement to AL.com, Finebaum thanked those who encouraged him to explore a campaign but said his heart remains with sports.
“I have been deeply moved by so many people in Alabama who have reached out encouraging me to run for the United States Senate,” Finebaum said. “It has been a gratifying and rewarding experience. I am also appreciative of my bosses at ESPN for allowing me to explore this opportunity. But it’s time for me to devote my full attention to something everyone in Alabama can agree upon — our love of college football.”
The brief flirtation with politics began in late September, when Finebaum told OutKick host Clay Travis that he was “seriously considering” a run for the Senate and that the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk had prompted him to reassess his priorities. At that time, Finebaum described his experience as an “awakening” that made him reconsider where he might make an impact.
Finebaum said then that he had not previously thought seriously about a political career, but added he had been encouraged by contacts in Washington and was weighing deadlines for qualifying in the Republican primary.
Speculation grew that his political interest may have affected his role at ESPN. Earlier reports claimed the network pulled him from certain flagship programs following his interview about a potential Senate run. ESPN officials denied those claims, saying the reports were “totally false” and that Finebaum remained a regular presence on the network and its SEC-focused programming.
Finebaum’s decision to remain with ESPN comes with roughly 18 months left on his contract and follows months of careful thought about his future. With the Republican primary filing deadline now just weeks away in January, the window for new candidates to enter the Senate race is closing.
His announcement removes yet another complicating factor from what is already a competitive, high-stakes race—for which most of us can be truly grateful.
