Rick Santorum

WASHINGTON — Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum will be in Butler on May 27 to announce his decision on a potential 2016 presidential campaign.

The Republican on Wednesday told the Fox News Channel he will make the announcement that day in Butler where he was raised.

Santorum was born in Virginia but he lived in Butler for 10 years during his youth while his parents worked at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facility in Butler Township.

While living in Butler, he attended Butler Catholic School and Butler High School.

“It’s exciting to have him back in Butler,” said Ed Natali, chairman of the Butler County Republican Committee, this morning. “We always consider him a hometown boy.”

Santorum, who served as a U.S. senator from 1995 to 2007, ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, and surprised many by winning the leadoff Iowa caucuses. But his strong support among social conservatives was eventually no match for the organization and fundraising prowess of eventual GOP nominee Mitt Romney.

Santorum won 11 state primaries before he announced the suspension of his campaign that year.

Santorum said on Fox News he was “clearly the underdog” in the 2012 race, and acknowledges he would be in the same position in 2016. But he said he is “very comfortable there.”

Natali said this morning he was not aware of Santorum’s decision to announce in Butler, but said it was exciting news for the county.

“It keeps Butler County on the map,” he said.

Santorum in February spoke at Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School in Cranberry Township. He also spoke at Grove City College last year.

Before becoming a U.S. senator, Santorum served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991 to 1995.

Republicans Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul and Marco Rubio have announced their candidacies for president, while others are contemplating the decision.