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Bill Haslam turns thumbs down on U.S. Senate bid, saying it’s ‘not my calling’

Gov. Bill Haslam gives the commencement address during Chattanooga State Technical Community College's Tennessee College of Applied Technology commencement ceremony at Abba's House on Friday, July 27, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Many of TCAT's graduates are part of Gov. Haslam's Drive to 55 initiative, which aims to increase the number of Tennesseeans with post-secondary educations to 55 percent by 2025.
Gov. Bill Haslam gives the commencement address during Chattanooga State Technical Community College's Tennessee College of Applied Technology commencement ceremony at Abba's House on Friday, July 27, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Many of TCAT's graduates are part of Gov. Haslam's Drive to 55 initiative, which aims to increase the number of Tennesseeans with post-secondary educations to 55 percent by 2025. Gov. Bill Haslam gives the commencement address during Chattanooga State Technical Community College's Tennessee College of Applied Technology commencement ceremony at Abba's House on Friday, July 27, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Many of TCAT's graduates are part of Gov. Haslam's Drive to 55 initiative, which aims to increase the number of Tennesseeans with post-secondary educations to 55 percent by 2025.

By Andy Sher 5 min read

NASHVILLE – After having “wrestled” with whether to run for U.S. Senate for six months, former Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam said Thursday he finally reached the “conclusion that it is not my calling for the next period of my life.”

The popular two-term former governor and billionaire announced his decision early Thursday.

One political observer said it “completely recasts” the race on the Republican side to succeed Republican U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, who announced in January he would not seek a fourth term.

Wryly noting the time it took to arrive at what he would do, Haslam, 60, who served as Knoxville mayor before getting elected in 2010, said in a letter to “Fellow Tennesseans” that “the truth is, this [Senate deliberation] has been the hardest vocational decision in my life.

photo Gov. Bill Haslam answers questions during his first news conference on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

“As I have said before, I think public service is one of the highest callings that anyone can have on their life,” he wrote. “And there is no question that this is an important time in our nation’s history. It does matter who we elect to such critical positions.”