President-elect Donald Trump’s first set of administration appointments has kicked off jockeying over possible Senate and House vacancies in two states — with more potentially to follow.
Trump’s nomination of Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) to serve as attorney general and Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) to serve as CIA director will open two safe Republican seats, including the first Senate vacancy in Alabama in two decades. And potential GOP candidates quickly began putting their names forward in both states, in a process that could repeat itself if Trump taps any more sitting elected officials for his administration.
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley would get to appoint a new senator to fill a vacancy left by Sessions, but there would also be a special election to fill the remainder of Sessions’ term, which expires in 2020. GOP Rep. Robert Aderholt has already asked Bentley for the appointment, the Montgomery Advertiser reported Thursday. Reps. Mo Brooks and Mike Rogers also told the newspaper they were interested, while Rep. Bradley Byrne — who lost to Bentley in the 2010 governor's race — ruled out seeking the appointment. Rep. Martha Roby, another potential candidate, may face opposition because she declined to back Trump in the general election.
Bentley has given no indications about who he might favor with a Senate appointment, but he was scheduled to travel to D.C. on Friday to meet with members of the delegation.
But Bentley’s appointed senator may face a primary challenger. Bentley has wide latitude to set the date of a special election, but if it came concurrently with regular elections in 2018, members of Congress would have to choose between keeping their seats and angling for the Senate.
Bentley is also facing an inquiry into alleged misuse of state resources amid an extramarital affair with a former aide. Bentley was facing impeachment proceedings in the state House of Representatives, but they are now on hold because another potential Senate hopeful – state Attorney General Luther Strange – is conducting a related investigation.
Strange, who strategists see as a likely candidate, just became chairman of the Republican Attorneys General Association and was in Washington Friday meeting with conservative groups.
One Alabama Republican noted Aderholt and Rogers are both relatively close to key committee chairmanships in the House — appropriations for Aderholt, homeland security for Rogers — and viewed Brooks and Rep. Gary Palmer as more likely to run. Palmer won retired Rep. Spencer Bachus' district in 2014 with the backing of the Club for Growth and other conservative groups.
"We're actively watching the race and have already begun identifying and meeting with possible pro-growth candidates," Club spokesman Doug Sachtleben said.
Other possible candidates mentioned include Mobile Mayor Sandy Simpson, Trump battleground states director Wells Griffith (who lost a House primary in 2013), and state Sen. Del Marsh. Simpson is from Sessions' hometown. Griffith is a former Sessions staffer.
The rush to succeed Pompeo in Kansas was equally crowded Friday. Within days, several big names could announce bids for Kansas' 4th District, which leans heavily Republican and just last week elected Pompeo to a fourth term.
Two Republicans garnering early interest in political circles are Kansas State Treasurer Ron Estes and GOP strategist Alan Cobb, a Trump aide and member of his transition team. Estes was also considered a potential candidate for the district earlier in 2016, when Pompeo had weighed challenging Sen. Jerry Moran in a GOP primary.
"There's a lot of interest in Ron Estes right now," said Sean Hatfield, chairman of the Sedgwick County GOP, the district's most populous county.
Cobb, meanwhile, has close ties to Pompeo, having served as a consultant to him in 2014 when Pompeo faced a serious primary challenge from former Rep. Todd Tiahrt. Asked Friday by POLITICO if he was considering running, Cobb said, "Of course I am."
Several other state Republicans are also being mentioned as possible candidates: State Senate President Susan Wagle, state Rep. Mark Hutton, departing state legislator Mark Kahrs, Tiahrt, and businessman Willis "Wink" Hartman.
Hutton and Kahrs both told POLITICO Friday they are considering making a bid, while Hartman said he remains focused on his business but "will be watching from afar to see if that's something I want to pursue." The other potential candidates did not return requests for comment.
"It's an embarrassment of riches. There's a lot of people who can step in and be effective," Kansas GOP consultant David Kensinger said.
A special election to replace Pompeo, assuming he is confirmed and resigns his House seat, would not feature a primary. Instead, local delegates from the parties will meet within 25 days of Gov. Sam Brownback calling the election to nominate candidates.
"I'm very interested, and I believe we need a strong social and fiscal conservative to replace Congressman Pompeo," said Kahrs, who has started reaching out to area leaders and businessmen about a possible run. Kahrs is a lawyer and serves as the Republican National Committeeman for Kansas. He was also Sen. Ted Cruz's state chairman when Cruz ran for president.
Hutton, a Wichita-area state representative, said that "over the next few days I will be visiting with my family and others to discuss if I should pursue this opportunity. I have great respect for Mike Pompeo and the job he has done representing our great State. His will be big shoes to fill."
Alex Isenstadt contributed reporting.