During Friday’s broadcast of Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal,” State Auditor Jim Zeigler weighed in on his possible opponents should he decide to run for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat up in the 2020 election.

That seat is currently occupied by Sen. Doug Jones (D-Mountain Brook) and is thought by many to be a likely pick-up for the GOP in that 2020 cycle.

Zeigler, who announced he had formed an exploratory campaign in anticipation of a possible 2020 run two weeks ago, explained to host Don Dailey why two of the perceived front-runners for the GOP nod, Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Fairhope) and State Senate Pro Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston), might think twice about running in 2020.

According to Zeigler, Byrne would have to give up his first congressional district post, which could be a deterrent.

“Congressman Byrne would have to give up his seat – would have to give up a safe seat – in order to run for this, unlike the special election of ’17 when Congressman Brooks did not have to give up his seat to try for the U.S. Senate seat. That’s a difficult choice.”

As for Marsh, Zeigler said the Calhoun County Republican was the “second-most-powerful” politician in Alabama, and that as well might prevent Marsh running.

“Del Marsh may be the second-most-powerful political figure in Alabama,” he added. “So, why should he step down to take a U.S. Senate seat? That’s just something to weigh.”

@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and is the editor of Breitbart TV.