Kirk Murder Opens More Eyes as Famed Sportscaster Considers Ditching ESPN, Running for GOP Senate Seat
The article discusses how the assassination of Charlie Kirk has deeply affected many Americans, including previously politically neutral figures. Notably, Paul Finebaum, a respected college football commentator and radio host known primarily for his work on ESPN Radio, revealed in an interview that Kirk’s murder profoundly impacted him and has led him to seriously consider running as a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate seat in Alabama. This Senate seat is opening up as the current senator, Tommy Tuberville, plans to run for governor. Finebaum, who is recognized as a leading voice in Southern college football media, admitted his political interest has grown significantly in the weeks following Kirk’s death. He also publicly identified himself for the first time as a supporter and voter of former President Donald Trump. The article emphasizes that the violent reaction to Kirk’s assassination, and the subsequent responses from some Democrats, have been eye-opening for Finebaum and others, motivating them to become actively involved in politics.
Even the most politically engaged Americans have had their eyes opened wider by the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
The same holds true, apparently, for some prominent voices who have hitherto kept their political sympathies largely to themselves.
In an interview with Clay Travis of Outkick, a clip of which Travis posted Monday to the social media platform X, legendary radio host and college football commentator Paul Finebaum revealed that he has thought very seriously about running as a Republican for an open U.S. Senate seat from Alabama, particularly since Kirk’s murder a few weeks ago at Utah Valley University.
“Finebaum says given the amount of time he spends on college campuses, the Charlie Kirk assassination profoundly impacted him and he didn’t feel he could stay silent any longer,” Travis wrote on X.
Finebaum says given the amount of time he spends on college campuses, the Charlie Kirk assassination profoundly impacted him and he didn’t feel he could stay silent any longer.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) September 29, 2025
The Southeastern Conference, arguably the preeminent conference in college football, has rightly characterized the 70-year-old Finebaum as “the leading voice on college football in the South.”
Indeed, Finebaum boasts national name recognition thanks to “The Paul Finebaum Show,” a four-hour weekday program on ESPN Radio, which the host has called home since August 2013.
In May, Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama announced that he would not run for reelection in 2026. Instead, the former Auburn University head football coach will seek the state’s governorship.
When Travis mentioned the open Senate seat, Finebaum admitted strong interest.
“I am thinking about it constantly,” the radio host said. “And that’s difficult to do, Clay, as you’re talking about college football 20 hours a week, debating Stephen A. Smith, as you well know.”
Moments later, Finebaum added that his strong interest in a Senate campaign developed only recently.
“It’s been going on for a couple of days,” he said, “if not weeks, and it’s just hard to chisel it down to make an educated decision.”
On X, Travis described the hitherto politically opaque Finebaum as “seriously considering entering the Alabama senate race.”
“For the first time he publicly says he is a @realDonaldTrump supporter and voter,” Travis added.
Senator @finebaum? Paul Finebaum is seriously considering entering the Alabama senate race. For the first time he publicly says he is a @realDonaldTrump supporter and voter. We sat down for a long form chat this weekend in Athens. pic.twitter.com/5TAzdykU13
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) September 29, 2025
Of course, Finebaum’s reference to “days, if not weeks” made it clear that the Kirk assassination helped shape his thinking.
And how could it not? After all, sane Americans watched thousands of demon-possessed Democrats publicly celebrate the murder.
Moreover, prominent Democrats who did not openly celebrate the assassination provided cover for it by shamelessly lying about Kirk’s legacy. That list of Democrats included former President Barack Obama, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, and Jimmy Kimmel, a Democrat propagandist masquerading as a late-night comedian.
In short, as someone who already regarded far too many modern Democrats as evil’s willing agents — or at best its hapless dupes — the amount of demonic energy they channeled in their reaction to Kirk’s murder was hard to believe.
Thus, we should welcome those like Finebaum who have had their eyes opened and decided to get involved.
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