Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker announced on Monday that he does not plan to run for president.
"Last August when I was asked about the 2016 presidential race, I said I hoped the Republican Party would rally behind a consensus candidate with a bold vision to guide our country, and as the field begins to form, it's apparent that serious, substantial candidates are stepping forward," Corker said Monday night in a written statement.
Corker said he is honored to continue serving Tennesseans in the Unites States Senate.
"I relish my current opportunity to serve as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at a time when pragmatic U.S. leadership around the world matters more than ever," he said.
In a survey conducted by Middle Tennessee State University, only 11 percent of those surveyed believed that Corker should run for president, while 41 percent thought Corker should not run.
Jason Reineke, associate director of the MTSU poll, previously told the Times Free Press that Tennesseans "seem less than keen on potential aspirations for Corker despite his rising political profile in recent years thanks to bipartisan congressional efforts on fiscal issues and other matters."