CHALLENGER?

Sen. Jeff Flake Not Ruling Out 2020 Presidential Run Against Donald Trump

Claims someone has to stop Donald Trump, and hasn’t ruled out as an independent.

Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ), who is retiring from the Senate after his term is up, has not ruled out a 2020 primary run as an independent to stop President Trump. “It has not been in my plans to run for president, but I have not ruled it out,” Flake said Friday in his “first solo political appearance in New Hampshire,” where the first presidential primary of 2020 will take place. “I hope that someone does run in the Republican primary, somebody to challenge the president,” he continued. “I think that the Republicans want to be reminded what it means to be a traditional, decent Republican.” In an interview with the Associated Press on Friday, Flake acknowledged that Trump probably can’t be beat right now—but there is room in the future. “Not today, but two years from now, possibly. Things can unravel pretty fast,” he said. “As soon as he’s viewed as one who loses majorities in the House and the Senate, and there’s no chance that someone in the 30s [approval rating] can win re-election, people might move on.” He told the AP that in the current political environment, those in the middle of the political spectrum might want a different candidate. “There are going to be a lot of other people in the party looking for something else,” he said.