Kentucky Sports Radio host Matt Jones is forming an exploratory committee for a potential U.S. Senate bid against Mitch McConnell in 2020.

Jones, a Democrat, told the Courier Journal he expects to come to a final decision on such a run after the election for statewide offices this November.

He said he will file the paperwork for the committee in the coming days. Forming the committee will allow him to raise money to conduct polling and research on a potential run but not engage in any overt campaign activities to ask for votes.

"I did want to move the ball forward, because I am very interested in the race," said Jones, who has been considering a run for this seat since the beginning of the year. "And it's important for me to sort of take the next step."

Jones said he previously had a deadline imposed on him by WLEX to come to a final decision on a run by the end of August but that station's move to pull him off the "Hey Kentucky!" show he hosted and fire him freed him up to slow down and make a more informed choice.

Having recently signed a deal with publisher Simon & Schuster to co-author a book that is critical of McConnell, he plans to spend the next two months traveling to all 120 counties in the state on an unconventional book tour, where he'll listen to Kentuckians and use what he hears to write the book — as well as learn whether a Senate bid would be viable for him.

On Kentucky politics:Could a Kentucky Sports Radio host unseat McConnell?

"It makes a lot more sense for me to make the final decision after I've done that, after I've listened to Kentuckians and talked to Kentuckians about what they want in a senator and whether or not I'm the right person going against McConnell," Jones said. "So rather than me just sort of declaring that I'm the best candidate, I'd like to talk to people and hear what they have to say."

Alluding to "some outside influence" that caused WLEX to fire him, Jones said that move may turn out to be "a blessing in disguise," as he's no longer forced to rush a decision before an artificial deadline.

Jones also said he wants to wait another two months before making a final decision because he doesn't want to be a distraction from this fall's governor race, echoing the same rationale recently shared by Kentucky House Minority Leader Rocky Adkins, who is also considering a bid for McConnell's seat.

"After the last four years, these next eight weeks are crucial for the future of Kentucky," said Jones, who is supporting Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andy Beshear over Republican Gov. Matt Bevin. "The Senate race has got so much attention, there's already been so much advertising, that a lot of people have forgotten there's a very important governor's race coming up in two months."

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As for why he is considering a run, Jones mentioned his love of the state and belief that both McConnell and national Democrats have not given a voice to average Kentuckians. He added that he continues to hear from a large number of Democrats who are not sold on the current front-runner for the party's nomination — retired Marine Lt. Col. Amy McGrath — and have urged him to consider joining the race.

"I was in Powell County on Saturday speaking at a Democratic event ... and the amount of people sort of asking me to do it was overwhelming," Jones said. "It sort of confirmed to me that there is this sort of desire to find another potential candidate. And what I need to see is, is that desire, potentially, for me?"

McGrath's campaign raised a record $2.5 million in the first 24 hours after announcing her candidacy in July, but she made questionable choices in the following days, including telling the Courier Journal she would have supported controversial Judge Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court only to reverse course hours later.

Jones has publicly stated that he believes a complaint by the McGrath campaign played a role in WLEX's decision to pull him from his show.

McGrath also formed an exploratory committee when she ran for Congress in 2018, making her candidacy official two months later.

A spokesman for the McGrath campaign had no comment on Jones' exploratory committee, and a McConnell campaign spokesman did not immediately return a request for comment.

His decision to form an exploratory committee will not affect his radio show in the near term, Jones said, adding that he has clearance from his bosses at iHeartRadio to continue to host the show while on his book tour.

Also:Matt Jones says McGrath’s interview with Samantha Bee mocks Kentuckians

"They're aware of my decision, and the one thing they requested is that I not use the radio to advocate for it," Jones said. "And I won't do that."

Jones declined to discuss specific government policy positions, saying "there will be plenty of time to talk about all the policy positions if I end up announcing." He said he would answer any questions from the people he meets over the next two months as he travels the state on his tour.

Other Democrats to have announced a Senate run are retired Marine Mike Broihier and health care professional Steve Cox, while state Rep. Charles Booker of Louisville is also considering entering the race.

An hour after the Courier Journal broke the story about the exploratory committee, Jones shared his thoughts about the decision with his radio listeners.

Jones said it would be "an uphill slog" and "an amazingly difficult thing" to first beat the Democratic "establishment" candidate McGrath in the primary and then defeat "the second-most powerful person" in American politics in the general election, as he is "just a guy with a radio show."

See also:McGrath's campaign denies role in Matt Jones' firing from TV show

Reach reporter Joe Sonka at jsonka@courierjournal.com or 502-582-4472 and follow him on Twitter at @joesonka. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courierjournal.com/subscribe.