Article snippet: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee announced Monday that he won’t seek re-election in 2020, a decision that gives the red state its second open Senate contest in two years. Alexander said in a news release that he’s deeply grateful for being elected to serve more combined years as governor and senator than anyone else in Tennessee. But the 78-year-old said it’s now time for someone else to have that privilege. The long-tenured Tennessee leader’s decision raises speculation that popular Republican Gov. Bill Haslam could make a run for the Senate. Haslam declined to run for the seat that Republican Sen. Bob Corker is vacating and that Republican Sen.-elect Marsha Blackburn won in November. Haslam is leaving office in January due to term limits. Republican strategist Ward Baker, who led Blackburn to victory, said President Donald Trump spoke with Alexander on Sunday night and wanted him to seek re-election, but that Alexander wanted to go out on top after serving a long time. A Maryville, Tennessee native, Alexander served as governor from 1979 until 1987, and helped bring the auto industry to the state. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 and was re-elected in 2008 and 2014. He developed a reputation as a consensus builder, including recent laws to address the opioid crisis and overhaul the way music is licensed and songwriters are paid. He also teamed with Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington to try to stabilize h... Link to the full article to read more