ESPN commentator Paul Finebaum is contemplating a run for Senate.
Paul Finebaum Political Aspirations
Is @finebaum considering a run for Senate?@ClayTravis pic.twitter.com/MuwCDoihJv
— OutKick (@Outkick) September 29, 2025
A prominent ESPN voice not named Stephen A. Smith is considering a political pivot.
During an interview with Outkick, Finebaum mentioned he was “considering” a run for the U.S. Senate in Alabama.
Finebaum, 70, would run as a Republican and attempt to fill the seat vacated by Tommy Tuberville, the former Auburn football coach who plans to run in the Alabama gubernatorial election in 2026.
Tuberville’s Senate term ends in 2027.
Finebaum revealed that he is a registered Republican and voted for Donald Trump in 2024.
“I was very cautious. I didn’t take it too seriously,” Finebaum told Outkick when asked about his initial thoughts toward a career in politics. “And then ultimately, I ended up talking to someone who made it clear that there was a desire for me to be involved. And this person, obviously, that shall remain nameless, was compelling and compassionate in the approach to me, and I started thinking about this.”
Finebaum cited the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk as a catalyst for his interest in politics.
“It’s hard to describe, not being involved in politics, how that affected me and affected tens of millions of people all over this country,” Finebaum said about Kirk’s death. “And it was an awakening.”
In 2019, Finebaum had an opportunity to interview President Trump. However, ESPN killed the interview to avoid political discourse.
“I called my boss, and they killed it,” Finebaum said. “I was devastated. They told me that we were not allowed to mix politics with sports.”
Finebaum called this moment to deny him an interview a “turning point” in his career.
“It was just about the idea of going to the White House to interview the President of the United States. It wasn’t about politics; it was about the game that he was going to attend, the biggest game of the year in college football. I never exactly knew where the kill button came from, but it didn’t happen.”
Paul Finebaum’s Next Steps If He Wants A Political Career
Senator @finebaum? Paul Finebaum is seriously considering entering the Alabama senate race. For the first time he publicly says he is a @realDonaldTrump supporter and voter. We sat down for a long form chat this weekend in Athens. pic.twitter.com/5TAzdykU13
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) September 29, 2025
If Finebaum wants to run for Senate, he would have to leave his job at ESPN, which includes hosting the popular radio show The Paul Finebaum Show.
The qualifying deadline to run is in January, meaning Finebaum would have to decide within the next “30 to 45 days.”
If Trump personally asked Finebaum to run for Senate, would he say yes?
“Impossible to tell him no,” Finebaum said. “There’s no way I could. I would say yes.”
