Yellowhammer was the first to report last November that former state representative Steve Flowers was considering challenging Public Service Commissioner Terry Dunn in the Republican primary for PSC — Place 2. Flowers made it official earlier this month when he announced he was joining the crowded primary field.

But multiple sources told Yellowhammer over the weekend that Flowers is now considering exiting the Place 2 primary, and instead may challenge Public Service Commissioner Jeremy Oden, who currently holds the Place 1 seat on the three person panel.

Oden has a pretty substantial head start, and is likely to receive the endorsement of ALFA and the coal association, two groups that play heavily in PSC races.

At the same time, the Flowers name is well known around Alabama, thanks to his career as one of the most widely read journalists in the state. Over 70 Alabama newspapers carry his political column. He also has weekly radio and television shows on public broadcasting stations and teaches a class on southern politics at Troy University.

Having built a thriving career in the private sector, it’s a little surprising Flowers is looking to return to public life by running for either PSC seat. It’s unclear at this point what he will ultimately decide to do, but his decision is a key variable in one of the most watched races of the 2014 cycle.

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