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Franken Says He Will Not Run for President in 2020

Al Franken / Getty Images
March 15, 2017

Sen. Al Franken (D., Minn.) will not be running for President in 2020 according to an interview published on Wednesday. Franken was very blunt when the question was posed during the interview with Minneapolis website TC Jewfolk.

Franken was asked, "If you’re not looking to 2018, you’re probably not going to like this question at all; your seat is up in 2020 and in Minnesota, can you run for both Senate and president at the same time?"

"First of all, I’m not running for president. I think that normally what senators do is to enter the presidential race, then lose very quickly and run for the senate. That seems to be how it works," Franken responded.

"But that will not be you?" the reporter followed up.

Franken answered with a blunt, "No."

Another Minnesota news site, GoMN, pointed out that Franken had garnered a significant amount of attention as a possible 2020 candidate. The Washington Post, National Journal, and Politico have all speculated that the junior Senator may launch a campaign.

The speculation surrounding the Minnesota Senator and former Saturday Night Live cast member stems from his frequent critiques of President Donald Trump, and his grilling of cabinet appointees during their confirmation hearings. In January, Franken attacked now Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price for holding tobacco stocks which Franken also owns, and earlier in March Senator Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa) called out Franken for asking Attorney General Jeff Sessions a "gotcha question."

Published under: 2020 Election , Al Franken