State Auditor Jim Zeigler, a Republican, delivered the first official campaign speech in his run for U.S. Senate
“We need a watchman against waste in Washington,” Zeigler told the South Baldwin Republican Women’s Club in Foley.
Zeigler is conducting an “exploratory campaign,” weighing a 2020 run for the U.S. Senate for the seat currently held by Democratic U.S. Sen. Doug Jones.
The second-term State Auditor, however, assured the Republican group that his first priority is still, “to continue working my job as a watchman for taxpayers as State Auditor.”
“While state government can waste millions, the federal government can waste billions,” Zeigler said. “Our federal government has a national debt that is $21.5 trillion and growing. No one is taking the lead to balance the federal budget and rein in the national debt. I would lead that fight in Washington.”
Zeigler said that he serves as the eyes and ears of the taxpayers in the state capitol, and I can do the same in the national capital.”
Zeigler has been the most outspoken state Auditor in living memory and has advocated against waste and mismanagement in government during his one term as State Auditor. He filed the initial ethics complaint against then-governor Robert Bentley, sued to block school boards from using tax dollars to be used in political referendums, sued to end the failed STARS software contract, and subpoenaed Bentley for an Auditor’s investigation into non-official use of state planes, helicopters and vehicles.
The 2020 Republican primary for U.S. Senate, President of the United States, President of the Public Service Commission (PSC), and other offices is less than 13 months away with the deadline for qualifying being this November. The general election will be November 2020.
Doug Jones has already announced said that he will seek and expects re-election in 2020.
Former Gov. Robert Bentley and Congressman Bradley Byrne have both expressed interest in running for the Republican nomination for Senate. State Senate Pro Tem Del Marsh of Anniston, Congressman Gary Palmer, former Senator Jeff Sessions, and Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth are all names being tossed out in Montgomery as possible Republican
The deadline to qualify for the 2020 Alabama U.S. Senate race is not until November of this year. Republicans are eager to take back this Senate seat that Jeff Sessions had held from 1996 to 2017 when he was appointed U.S. Attorney General by President Donald J. Trump (R).
Doug Jones’ narrow 2017 Special Election victory over Judge Roy Moore is the only Democratic candidate to win a statewide race in Alabama since Lucy Baxley win for PSC President in 2008.
