Tim Pawlenty, former two-term Republican governor of Minnesota and CEO of the Financial Services Roundtable, is reportedly considering running for Sen. Al Franken's seat next November, after the embattled incumbent resigns in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations.
Speaking to the Chamber of Commerce in St. Paul today, Pawlenty suggested Franken's impending resignation has opened up the possibility of a bid for the open seat in 2018, according to reporting by the Associated Press.
Pawlenty's 2006 election was the last time a Republican has won a statewide election in Minnesota.
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A 2008 Minnesota Public Radio poll put the then Governor's approval rating at 55 percent—including a 60 percent approval rating among independents, and a 30 percent approval rating among Democrats.
But it dropped to the low 40s later in Pawlenty's second term, which some explained was the result of him foregoing a third-term bid in lieu of presidential ambitions.
Pawlenty formerly declared his candidacy for president in 2011, but withdrew months later after a lackluster showing in an Iowa straw poll.
In 2012, he co-chaired Gov. Mitt Romney's campaign for President, but stepped down to accept the CEO position at FSR.
FSR is considered among the most influential lobbying associations for the financial services, banking, and insurance industries.
The association has spent nearly $3.8 million in lobbying expenditures in 2017, according to opensecrets.org.
Pawlenty's total compensation in 2016 was close to $2.5 million, according to CEO Update.
A request for comment from FSR was not returned before press time.
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Nick Thornton
Nick Thornton is a financial writer covering retirement and health care issues for BenefitsPRO and ALM Media. He greatly enjoys learning from the vast minds in the legal, academic, advisory and money management communities when covering the retirement space. He's also written on international marketing trends, financial institution risk management, defense and energy issues, the restaurant industry in New York City, surfing, cigars, rum, travel, and fishing. When not writing, he's pushing into some land or water.
