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Sen. Lamar Alexander won't seek re-election in 2020

By Nicholas Sakelaris
Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn, will not seek reelection in 2020, he announced on Twitter Monday. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn, will not seek reelection in 2020, he announced on Twitter Monday. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Republican Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander said Monday he won't seek re-election in 2020.

He made the announcement in a statement posted to Twitter.

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"The people of Tennessee have been very generous, electing me to serve more combined years as governor and senator than anyone else from our state," Alexander said. "I am deeply grateful, but now it is time for someone else to have that privilege. I have gotten up every day thinking that I could help make our state and country a little better and gone to bed most nights thinking that I have."

Alexander will serve out the remaining two years of his six-year term. He was first elected to the senate in 2002. Before that, he served two terms as governor of Tennessee, three years as president of the University of Tennessee and almost two years as secretary of education under President George H.W. Bush. He also ran for president in 1996 and 2000.

Alexander's departure means the 2020 election will be the second in two years that Tennessee has an open senate race -- the first took place this year after Sen. Bob Corker decided against a third term.

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