Rick Santorum To Announce 2016 Decision On May 27

Former Pennyslvania Sen. Rick Santorum said he will announce on May 27 whether he will run a second time for president in 2016. Santorum told Fox News on Wednesday that he would make his decision public in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania is his home state.

Santorum described the upcoming event as a “big announcement” on Twitter, and on his website, www.ricksantorum.com, he is asking supporters to RSVP for free to the “special announcement.” Santorum is a devout Christian who became a polarizing figure during his 2012 bid for the Republican nomination due to his unapologetic faith-based stances against gay marriage and abortions. Many fellow Christians applauded him, but others attacked him for what they said were backward views.

If he does run, he joins a crowded Republican field that already has six confirmed candidates running and could have a handful more by the time Santorum jumps in. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was the first candidate to throw his hat into the field when he announced in late March on Twitter. He was joined shortly after by fellow senators Rand Paul and Marco Rubio, of Kentucky and Florida, respectively.

The senators were joined by two non-politicians, pediatric neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who announced on Sunday night, and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, who announced on Monday. Former Kentucky Gov. Mike Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully in 2008, joined the race on Tuesday. Huckabee and Santorum are expected to compete heavily for the evangelical vote. Michigan’s Republican governor, Rick Snyder, will not run, according to Politico. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina are expected to announce a bid, but none have hinted at when their announcements will come.

The Democrats got their first potential nominee on April 12, when former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made her long-awaited announcement in a campaign YouTube video. She remained the only Democrat to officially announce her bid until last week, when Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) made a low-key announcement in an email to those who subscribe to his campaign website. Sanders caucuses with the Democrats in the Senate and has said he will not run as an Independent if he fails to win the Democratic nomination.