Jeff Flake: I’m Not Ruling out Running Against Trump in 2020

Outgoing Arizona Senator Jeff Flake says he's not ruling out running against President Trump in a 2020 Republican primary.

Asked Sunday whether he would "completely rule out challenging the president for the nomination in 2020," Flake said no.

“No, I won’t," Flake said in an interview with Kasie Hunt on MSNBC. "I won’t rule it out. It’s not in my plans but I’m not ruling it out. I don’t think anybody should.”

Flake, who has blamed Trump for his decision to retire from the Senate after just one term, said Trump represents "the spasms of a dying party."

"After the Mitt Romney loss, we got together as Republicans and produced what we call the autopsy, where we said we’ve got to appeal to a broader base, particularly minority groups that we haven’t done that well with," Flake explained. "And when you look at every election cycle, we are 2 percent less white as a country. And unless we, as Republicans, figure out how to appeal to a broader electorate, then we’re just not going to succeed in the long term. ... And I’m afraid that’s where we’re headed if we don’t start appealing more to minority groups, as well as do better among young people and women.” 

Flake also said Sheriff Joe Arpaio is a bad candidate to replace him in the Senate and endorsed a potential Mitt Romney run in Utah.

"I don't think," Arpaio could win, Flake said. "He lost an election for sheriff in Maricopa County which is the Republican stronghold of the state. He lost that election by double digits. And now to run statewide, which is much more Democratic, that would be extremely difficult.” 

Earlier in the day, Flake likened Trump's criticisms of the media to Joseph Stalin. 

Here's a transcript of the exchange:

[clip starts]
HUNT: “Will you completely rule out challenging the president for the nomination in 2020? You won’t?” 
FLAKE: “No, I won’t. I won’t rule it out. It’s not in my plans but I’m not ruling it out. I don’t think anybody should.” 
HUNT: “Is there anybody else that you would like to see throw their hat in the ring?” 
FLAKE: “Well some that ran last time, I’m sure, may be thinking of it as well, on the Republican ticket. And, like I said, as an independent, I’m sure there will be some who are independents who will declare — you know, as an independent and run. I think that that’s probably certain.” 
HUNT: “You once said that when you look at some of the audiences cheering for Republicans, sometimes you look out there and you say, those are the spasms of a dying party.”
FLAKE: “Right.”
HUNT: “What do you mean about that?” 
FLAKE: “Well After the Mitt Romney loss, we got together as Republicans and produced what we call the autopsy, where we said we’ve got to appeal to a broader base, particularly minority groups that we haven’t done that well with. And when you look at every election cycle, we are 2 percent less white as a country. And unless we, as Republicans, figure out how to appeal to a broader electorate, then we’re just not going to succeed in the long term. You can win an election here or there by, you know, whipping up the base. I think California in the early ‘90s proved that. But in California, you’ve only had one statewide Republican elected in the last 20 years. And I’m afraid that’s where we’re headed if we don’t start appealing more to minority groups, as well as do better among young people and women.” 
HUNT: “In your home state of Arizona, the former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has announced he’s going to run for your Senate seat. Do you think that Arpaio could win a general Senate election in Arizona?” 
FLAKE: “No, I don’t. I don’t. He lost an election for sheriff in Maricopa County which is the Republican stronghold of the state. He lost that election by double digits. And now to run statewide, which is much more Democratic, that would be extremely difficult.” 
HUNT: “Former Governor Mitt Romney has been considering running for Orrin Hatch’s seat in Utah, now that Hatch’s announced he’s retiring. Do you think that Romney would be a strong voice potentially against the president? And what do you think Romney could bring to the debate in Washington?” 
FLAKE: “I — I — run, Mitt, run. I’m a big Mitt fan. I always have been. I met with him a couple of weeks ago. I think that he would be a strong independent voice in the Senate, conservative independent voice.” [crosstalk] 
HUNT: “What did you talk about in the meeting?” 
FLAKE: “Well some of what’s going on in the Senate. The need to get things like DACA and immigration reform done. You know, a lot of the priorities here. And, in particular, you know, our position in the world, and on trade issues. I know that Governor Romney had strong feelings on that and — and it will be, you know, somebody who gets here with immediate gravitas and authority. And he’ll be a great senator.” 
[clip ends]
HUNT: “That was Senator Jeff flake earlier this week. We want to note you that the president has apparently briefly at least answered a couple of questions from reporters down in Mar-a-Lago where he’s currently having dinner with the number two house Republican Kevin McCarthy. We will bring you those remarks once we have them.”