Is Paul Finebaum running for Senate? What to know about rumors of ESPN departure for Alabama politics

Is Paul Finebaum running for Senate? What to know about rumors of ESPN departure for Alabama politics originally appeared on The Sporting News Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Paul Finebaum is considering a major career pivot.

The longtime SEC Network host and ESPN personality could move forward to the world of politics, he recently revealed. A formal decision has not been made, but Finebaum told OutKick that he has been thinking about a run for political office.

Will Finebaum make the pivot? Here is what to know about his political ambitions and what that means for his future as one of ESPN’s main voices of college football.

MORE: What to know about Stephen A. Smith’s potential presidential run

Is Paul Finebaum running for U.S. Senate?

Finebaum has not officially decided to run for U.S. Senate, but he told OutKick he is “considering it.”

He took a new interest in the opportunity after recently retired Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl shared that he would not run. There is an open seat in the Senate as former Auburn football head coach Tommy Tuberville is leaving to run for Governor of Alabama.

“I was… hesitant at first because I was very aware of Bruce’s interest and [I’m a] huge fan of Bruce… I didn’t take it too seriously,” Finebaum said. ‘

“I ended up talking to someone… who made it clear that there was a desire for me to be involved. And this person… was compelling and compassionate in the approach to me, and I started thinking about this.”

Finebaum called the opportunity “very intriguing” and said, “I am thinking about it constantly.” He added that there is difficulty making such a decision when focusing on sports 20 hours a week, but that he is working to find an answer.

MORE: Why Bruce Pearl stepped down as Auburn’s head coach after 11 seasons

Is Paul Finebaum leaving ESPN?

Finebaum has not decided to leave ESPN yet, but said if he decides to run for office, “I would have to.”

His future with the network depends on his decision on a career in politics. On Monday, Oct. 6, Bill Hofheimer, VP,  ESPNPR, refuted a report that Finebaum had been removed from ESPN programming since announcing his interest in running for Senate.

Is Paul Finebaum a Republican or Democrat?

Finebaum is a Republican.

“I just moved and registered in Alabama, but I am a registered Republican in North Carolina as of this hour,” Finebaum said in his interview. “And I was a registered Republican in Alabama before I moved.”

Where does Paul Finebaum live?

Finebaum and his wife moved to Charlotte, N.C., in 2013, but recently moved back to Alabama, opening the path for a political run. He said he is registered in North Carolina “as of this hour,” during his Outkick interview.

He called Alabama “the place I’ve felt the most welcome, that I’ve cared the most about the people.”

Paul Finebaum net worth

Finebaum’s net worth is $2 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

The exact figure is unknown, as there is no public information available on Finebaum’s annual salary with ESPN.