Paul Finebaum Considers Senate Run After Charlie Kirk’s Death

Paul Finebaum, an ESPN SEC Network host and analyst, is reportedly contemplating a run for the U.S. Senate on a Republican platform. This comes in the wake of the tragic killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

In a recent chat with Clay Travis from Outkick, the 70-year-old Finebaum mentioned that “one or two” individuals from Washington had reached out to see if he might have an interest in entering the political sphere.

Reflecting on Kirk’s death at a Utah Valley University event on September 10, Finebaum expressed how deeply the incident resonated with him. “It’s hard to explain how I wasn’t involved in politics, how it affected me and how it affected tens of millions of people across the country. And it was awakening,” he shared.

He continued, “One or two from Washington have reached out to me about whether I’m interested in politics or not. After Kirk’s murder, the weekend unfolded, and I started to feel a little more interested.”

The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson from Utah, was apprehended and charged with Kirk’s murder, with prosecutors indicating they’ll pursue the death penalty.

Finebaum noted that former Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl, who retired recently, has shown some hesitation about considering a Senate bid of his own.

Reflecting on the discussions, Finebaum admitted he initially didn’t take the idea of running too seriously. “I was… I knew so much about Bruce’s interest, so I was hesitant at first. I’m a huge blues fan. But then I thought, maybe this is something worth considering,” he said.

Interestingly, Tommy Tuberville, one of Alabama’s senators, is vying for the governor’s position.

Finebaum described his struggle to focus on his work after the news of Kirk’s death. “I spent four hours feeling paralyzed and discussing things that seemed trivial, and that feeling just lingered over the weekend,” he said. “I felt very empty that day doing what I was doing.”