KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo addressed rumors and speculation about a possible Senate run in Kansas on Wednesday.
In an exclusive interview with Martha MacCallum on Fox News, Pompeo was asked about running for Senator Pat Roberts' seat in 2020.
"Lots of folks have reached out to me and suggested I ought to do that," Pompeo said. "I have suggested to them that I have a very full plate as Secretary of State and I intend to keep doing this as long as President Trump will commit to it."
When MacCallum pressed Pompeo, he did not budge. "Everyday I'm trying to make sure that I'm doing what President Trump wants me to do to keep America safe. That's my singular focus."
Pompeo did say Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called him and asked if he would think about running. Pompeo said on Fox News, "I told him I appreciated the phone call."
Before serving as CIA Director and Secretary of State under President Trump, Pompeo served as congressman in the 4th District of Kansas from 2011 to 2017.
Earlier this month, Senator Roberts announced he will retire once his term is up in 2021.
Several other politicians have said they are considering running to replace Senator Roberts. They include former Governor Jeff Colyer, former Secretary of State Kris Kobach, Attorney General Derek Schmidt, Rep. Roger Marshall and American Conservation Union Chairman Matt Schlapp.
The only candidate that has officially announced is Kansas State Treasurer Jake LaTurner.
