U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Clarendon) said in a television interview this week that he has not made a decision yet regarding his plans for the 2020 election.
In an interview with KXAN-TV, Thornberry was asked whether he will run for re-election again in 2020. In response, Thornberry said he has not made a decision yet, but dodged on whether he is currently planning on running for another term.
“Oh, I don’t know, I’ll have a final decision and announcement on that before too long,” Thornberry said.
Thornberry also went on to say voters should not “make too much” of recent retirement announcements by Republican House members, saying that those who replace them could be individuals with “added skills and perspectives that could be good for the party and the country.”
The statement by Thornberry comes as rumors have been circulating that the longtime Republican legislator may not run for another term in 2020. Thornberry is term-limited as ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, leading some pundits to speculate that he may not seek re-election in 2020.
Democrat Greg Sagan has already launched his 2020 bid for Thornberry’s seat, and a number of Republicans have been mentioned by political observers as potential candidates for Thornberry’s seat if he chooses to retire, including State Rep. Four Price (R-Amarillo), Amarillo Mayor Ginger Nelson, and Amarillo City Councilwoman Elaine Hays.
Candidates can begin filing for spots on the ballot in November.