Former U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge is considering a run for U.S. Senate against incumbent John Boozman, he said in a statement Monday.
The Lonoke native, 37, had resisted talking about his future political plans until he left his post Friday as the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Arkansas.
Nominated by President Barack Obama in 2010 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate later that year, Eldridge was responsible for a district stretching across 34 counties, from Texarkana, El Dorado and Hot Springs to Fayetteville, Fort Smith and Harrison.
Earlier this month, the chairman of the Democratic Party of Arkansas said Eldridge would be "a promising candidate" if he entered the race.
Eldridge's statement said he is ready to consider a political race.
"I'm doing what I said I would do, talking to friends and family, and doing a lot of thinking about what comes next for me and my family," Eldridge said in the statement. "I do know that I always want to be a part of making a difference for Arkansas. I intend to take some time to figure out how I can best continue to serve the state and that includes looking at running for the United States Senate in 2016."
Calls to Eldridge were not returned Monday afternoon.
Eldridge said he would make a decision in the coming weeks. He would be the first announced candidate to challenge Boozman's bid for a second Senate term.
Boozman spokesman Patrick Creamer declined to comment beyond the statement he gave when Eldridge stepped down earlier this month, saying that the Rogers Republican is focused on working for the people of Arkansas and "won't be commenting on speculation."
Boozman defeated Sen. Blanche Lincoln for the seat in 2010 with 57.9 percent of the vote. His most recent campaign finance report to the Federal Election Commission showed that he had $872,704 as of July 30.
In recent years, Republicans have made historic gains in Arkansas' elected offices.
Republicans now control the state's six seats in the U.S. Congress, all seven of the state's constitutional offices, and have majorities in the state Senate and state House of Representatives.
Republican Party of Arkansas Chairman Doyle Webb said in a written statement that the party stands behind Boozman. "While we do not comment on speculation, the state of Arkansas has shown in the past two election cycles that it is solidly Republican," he said.
Democratic Party spokesman H.L. Moody said Eldridge and state Democratic Party Chairman Vince Insalaco spoke briefly over the weekend.
"I think he's going to make a good candidate when and if he decides to run, and we look forward to an announcement," he said. "[Insalaco] looks forward to talking with Conner more as Conner gets closer to making his decision, but there was nothing definite in that conversation."
Prior to serving as U.S. attorney, Eldridge worked as a deputy prosecuting attorney in Clark County, chief executive officer of Summit Bank in Arkadelphia and a judicial law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge G. Thomas Eisele in the Eastern District of Arkansas. He also worked for Democratic U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln and U.S. Rep. Marion Berry.
Metro on 08/25/2015