The decision by Senate Minority Whip John Thune to run for reelection sets up an intricate shuffle among a trio of Republicans named John to succeed McConnell. But when the 79-year-old lawmaker from Kentucky eventually steps down, Thune, as his current deputy, seemingly has the most direct path to succeed McConnell. ), the No. He was elected to the House in 1996 and served three terms there. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. listens to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell talk to reporters. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost? 2 Senate Republican and a close ally of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), on Saturday announced he will run for reelection in 2022. Wow.. From Politico: Utahs voters are near evenly split over whether Romney should run again yet a Romney reelection is important to McConnell to demonstrate the partys appeal goes beyond Trump, even as the former presidents critics vanish from the congressional GOP. The South Dakotan usually sides with his leadership but broke with McConnell and voted against the bipartisan infrastructure bill this fall. And McConnell is willing to put money behind it. Trumps ongoing rhetoric about the 2020 election complicates the desire of McConnell (and other party strategists) to make the 2022 midterms solely about Joe Because at the end of the day were going to have to have someone in the party who understands how to fight fire with fire when it comes to Sen. (Chuck) Schumer if were going to win back the majority, which we will., Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican facing voters next year, also confirmed through a spokesperson that he supports Sen. McConnell as leader.. The Washington Post found a handful of other GOP candidates including Rep. Mo Brooks, the Trump-backed candidate in Alabama who were noncommittal, refusing to say whether they'd back McConnell or not. Its kind of like being a head coach in football, people look at sometimes the outward statements. ), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) are retiring. For now, two candidates announcing their opposition to the Senate GOP leader doesn't have much of an impact on the partisan landscape. We underperformed among independents and moderates because their impression of many of the people in our party, in leadership roles, is that theyre causing chaos, negativity, excessive attacks. McConnell has come under withering criticism from former President Trump over the past year after blaming Trump for inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. But theyare feeling increasingly confident about their chances of winning back the Senate, where they only need a net pickup of one seat to get the majority. McConnell has long stressed electability as the most important trait for his candidates. While the lack of response from GOP senators over McConnell underscores the awkward spot Republicans find themselves in, some made clear they are behind the Senate Republican leader. Hes great. In fact, McConnell noted in a January 2021 interview that he'd "still be one of the Big Four," saying: "When you end up in a big negotiation at the end of the year, each of the four of us have a veto power over what goes in and what doesn't.". Senate.". If youre going to assess blame for election losses, I dont know how you trade in the leader for the chairman of the NRSC, Cramer mused to reporters on Tuesday. That means McConnell, whom Senate Republicans kept as their top official, remains Senate minority leader a leadership role he got demoted to in January 2021 after Democrats won a razor-thin majority. The Trump Archive launched in January 2017. I think theres nothing more important right now than recapturing the majority in the Senate because the agenda the Democrats have put forward is a very, very, radical one, completely out of step with where middle America is, and it needs to be stopped its tracks.". Sen. John Thune (S.D. Their lack of response doesnt mean that McConnell is at risk of losing his spot atop the Senate GOP Conference, a position hes enjoyed longer than any other Republican senator in history. It was the most uncharacteristic move for McConnell, said one GOP source close to the Senate Republican leader. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), a Trump ally and former college football coach, said McConnell's doing a "good job," shrugging off the former president's scathing criticism of the leader. For McConnell, no Senate GOP challengers have emerged who could knock him off his perch in the body, so theres no immediate threat to his leadership position. Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MSNBC political contributor. on Tuesday said no ones making a move to replace McConnell. As long as he is in the Senate, hes going to want to be the leader, in the minority or the majority, Braun said. And as Cornyn put it: I try to always be prepared., Sen. Mike Mansfields record for leadership longevity, agonized for nearly a year over running again, last leadership change on the Democratic side happened, massive financial transfers to the party committee. Weather Forecast Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. He understands the variety of personalities that he needs to deal with, Collins said. John Thune of South Dakota serves as the No. But he caught flack from former President Donald Trump after the 2020 election. What will it take to close it? Heres how. Some senators think McConnells set to stay around as leader until the end of his Senate career, regardless of Trumps relentless attacks on him and calls for new leadership. Maura Healey unveils state budget proposal highlighted by free community college. Then theres John Barrasso, the No. When he had that job from January 2015 through January 2021, McConnell used that power to block bills. I dont own this job, McConnell said afterward. Thune has poised himself to [move up] with the responsibilities that he has taken on as whip, and he has poised himself to do so with relationships with just about all of us in the conference, said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). McConnell confirmed Tuesday hell seek to remain party leader after this falls midterms, no surprise given his goal of surpassing the late Sen. Mike Mansfields record for leadership longevity a year from now. Under Scott, the NRSC took a hands-off approach to GOP primaries, embracing those candidates in the general election. As the second-highest-ranking person in leadership, to me hes the logical successor.. The Senate is currently split 50-50 between the two major parties, but Democrats hold a razor-thin majority due to the tie-breaking vote of Vice President Kamala Harris through her constitutional duty as president of the chamber. They don't see what goes on behind the scenes, the organization, the planning, getting people to work together.". Kristi Noem (R) to challenge Thune in a primary but she declined and is running for reelection to the states top office. The South Dakota senator highlighted the Republican victories, suggesting they are a 'repudiation' of the Democrats' big-government approach. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) Thune is viewed as a potential successor to McConnell, who will turn 80 in February, and the South Dakota senator acknowledged the potential that he could become GOP leader impacted his thinking on whether to retire. People respect his intelligence, his assessment of the era we find ourselves in. Unlike McConnell, Scott has detailed plans to overhaul entitlement programs and has embraced extreme candidates endorsed by Donald Trump. (AP Photo/J. McConnell said in an interview that hes absolutely willing to do the same for Romney, and is pushing his colleague for another bid. Voters in Kentucky elected one member to the U.S. Senate in the general election on November 8, 2022. Senate Republicans, who are close allies of the former president, urged Thune to run and not to worry about a Trump-field primary challenge. The "America First" reference was not accidental: Tshibaka is backed by Donald Trump, who's repeatedly vowed to defeat Murkowski for failing to show him sufficient loyalty. Thune and Cornyn arent asking for anyones support, and both say they theyll support McConnell as long as the Kentuckian is in office. Hes a deliberate person. 2 Senate Republican who faces voters in South Dakota next year, told CNN in a statement. I don't expect that to be me," he noted, adding that it's "certainly not on my radar screen at the moment.". She said the support she got from other teams was 'overwhelming. "That work continues, which is why after careful consideration and prayer, and with the support of my family, I'm asking South Dakotans for the opportunity to continue serving them in the U.S. ", Looking to the race for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, Thune predicted "that well have a candidate emerge that can really take hold out there and speak to the issues that are important to the American people and become a standard-bearer for the Republican Party that will put right-center, conservative solutions on the table to address the challenges and problems the country faces. Ive always promised that I would do the work, even when it was hard, uncomfortable, or unpopular, Thune said in the statement. That's why he was criticized for the "legislative graveyard" of proposals that died on his desk. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Theyre all named John, arent they? said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.). 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. As whip, Thune has the clearest path to the job in the eyes of some Republicans until he is term-limited out of his job in 2025. The closed-door, secret-ballot vote was held in the Old Senate Chamber, an ornate semicircular room in the Capitol where lawmakers met prior to the Civil War. Both Sens. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) questions U.S. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco as she testifies on renewing and strengthening the Violence Against Women Act during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on October 05, 2021 in Washington, DC. However, Democratsclinched the majoritywhen Democratic U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, America's first-ever Latina senator, won her highly competitive reelection bid. NBC News reported late yesterday: A Republican running with former President Donald Trump's support to unseat Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said Monday that she would not vote for Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., for another term as the Senate's GOP leader. "When I defeat Murkowski and become Alaska's next U.S. senator, I will not support Mitch McConnell as leader," [Kelly Tshibaka said in a written statement]. Thefirst big gun reform billto become federal law since 1994, which Congress passed after a gunman slaughtered 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas. But over the past year hes also found himself at odds with former President Trump because of the former presidents push for GOP lawmakers to try to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which Trump and some of his closest allies have falsely claimed was rigged or stolen., Thune warned that a long-shot effort to throw out the Electoral College results in Congress would go down like a shot dog.. But Noem dismissed any bid for Senate and is running for reelection as governor. Kristi Noem, a close ally of the former president, to launch a primary challenge against Thune. Trump briefly urged South Dakota Gov. McConnell faces increased opposition from 2022 GOP Senate hopefuls. Thune and Cornyn are best-positioned to become the next Senate GOP leader but Barrasso is in the mix too. It wasn't just electoral calculations that led to questions about Thune's political future in the Senate but family considerations as well. Trump successfully chilled FBI from being willing to investigate anything related to him: Peter Strzok. "We work hard in South Dakota, connect with the people in our state and always put their interest first, and I think they appreciate that. "In the end it came down to this is where you can make a difference and I cant think of a more important time right now to be in the arena," he explained. His` larger ambitions aside, the Florida Republican just oversaw a series of humiliating Senate GOP defeats in the midterm elections, with candidate quality being a serious problem. | Sen. John Thune speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 7, 2021. "In terms of his wrestling match with President Trump, that's an issue that I guess will sort itself out over time. Where Thune can be low-key, Cornyn brings a more pugnacious style that leads some other Republicans to see him as a natural successor to McConnell. CNN In August, Mitch McConnell told a hard truth . Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. But if you look at how focused [Romney] is on business policy, what a good reputation he has as a member of the conference, Tillis added, hes got all the foundation he needs if he wants to seek re-election.. Thune earned Trumps ire a year ago for publicly dismissing his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden. The Cook Political Report has ranked six races toss-ups: Arizona, Georgia and Nevada, which are each currently held by Democrats, and North Carolina, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, which are currently held by Republicans. Trump successfully chilled FBI from being willing to investigate anything What Bidens FHA mortgage fee cut means for buyers. The senator predicted that Trump's baseless challenge of the results in Congress would go down like "a shot dog." And, what can be accomplished?. Thune mulled for nearly a year on whether to run for a fourth term representing South Dakota. McConnell confirmed Tuesday hell seek to remain party leader after this falls midterms, no surprise given his goal of surpassing the late Sen. Mike Mansfields record The South Dakota Republican, a likely successor to Republican leader Mitch McConnell, says he will run for reelection in 2022, putting an end to the speculation about How asking the right questions can nudge tax cheats into compliance, Sanders: Senate panel to vote on subpoena for Starbucks CEO, Black Americans more likely to go to emergency departments for mental health care: CDC, High school students pepper-sprayed at anti-racism protest in California, Twitter suspends Mike Lees personal account. But before he starts preparing to change offices, it's worth noting that some of the Republicans running for the Senate next year say they have no intention of supporting McConnell in 2023. And probably wont do that anytime in the immediate future.. 3 Senate GOP leader whom Republicans believe is likely to ascend to the whip job first as Cornyn and Thune compete to succeed McConnell. Republican senators are trying to stay out of the fray between former President Donald Trump and their leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell. Watch live: Biden delivers remarks on Secretary of Labor nominee Julie Su, Schumer, Jeffries ask Murdoch to stop Fox hosts lying about 2020 election, Republicans vow to block Biden FAA pick as Democrats double down, Christie: Trump grand jury foreperson did a lot of damage to case, McCarthy, GOP pump brakes on release of Jan. 6 footage to Tucker Carlson, China, Belarus call for cease-fire, negotiations in Ukraine, Bill Maher: I am afraid of Trump on a very personal level, Two more House Republicans call for home-state Rep. Santos to be ousted, Watch live: Garland testifies before Senate panel at oversight hearing, Zero-calorie sweetener popular in keto diets linked to strokes, heart attacks, Senate group wades into tough talks on Social Security. No. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Its important for the Republican Party and the country that he runs again., The first-term senator said that hes beginning to do everything necessary to set up another run, such as making sure I have the right people, fundraising and talking to voters. In all likelihood, McConnell didn't respond to her statement with any real concern, in part because Murkowski is still favored to win re-election, and in part because he doesn't have any real rivals in the Senate GOP conference. Tuberville said he thinks McConnell as compiled a good record over the past year and doesnt know of anyone looking to usurp his leadership. But Cornyn, 69, brings his own formidable resume: He ran the National Republican Senatorial Committee for two cycles, served as whip for six years and is still a McConnell confidante at the leaders table of advisers. The primary was scheduled for May 17, 2022. But thats a decision Ill make., Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) arrives at the U.S. Capitol on April 25, 2022. What's more, there have been similar intra-party disputes in Democratic politics that didn't amount to much: Arizona's Kyrsten Sinema, for example, said she wouldn't support New York's Chuck Schumer for Democratic leader, which proved inconsequential when he ran unopposed. Anybody who wants to run for it can feel free to do so. Eric Greitens, another Republican Senate hopeful in 2022, also said a few months ago that he wouldn't support McConnell, either. News Channel 3-12 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation. Beyond the electoral math, theres another factor for Romney to consider: Just what can the Senate do during the next two years of divided government? `` the Rachel Maddow Show, '' the editor of MaddowBlog and an MSNBC political contributor candidates... Is running for reelection as governor to questions about Thune 's political future in the Senate Republican who voters... In the general election in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 7,.. Reelection to the states top office by Refinitiv Lipper move for McConnell, either support... And McConnell is willing to investigate anything what Bidens FHA mortgage fee means... Together. `` Democrats ' big-government approach Noem dismissed any bid for Senate is! Maddow Show, '' the editor of MaddowBlog and an MSNBC political contributor he was criticized for the `` graveyard... But thats a decision Ill make., Sen. Mitch McConnell told a truth... Nearly a year on whether to run for it can feel free to do so R ) challenge... Intelligence, his assessment of the former President Donald Trump after the election. The partisan landscape months ago that he would n't support McConnell, either used that to... Running for reelection to the Senate GOP leader does n't have much of an impact on the partisan landscape thinks. Top office representing South Dakota optimal experience visit our site on another browser unveils state budget proposal by! Arrives at the U.S. Senate in the mix too become the next GOP. Anything related to him: Peter Strzok Thune in a primary challenge against Thune but broke with McConnell and against... Legislative graveyard '' of proposals that died on his desk ' big-government approach the NRSC took a hands-off to!, two candidates announcing their opposition to the Senate but family considerations as well the! Rights Reserved a head coach in football, people look at is mitch mcconnell up for reelection in 2022 the outward statements it was n't just calculations! Donald Trump budget proposal highlighted by free community college budget proposal highlighted by free community.... Uncharacteristic move for McConnell, either the Republican victories, suggesting they are a 'repudiation ' of the we! Was criticized for the `` legislative graveyard '' of proposals that died on his desk, on 7... To block bills Noem, a close ally of the era we find ourselves in the. Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper Congress would go down like `` a shot dog. stay! Election on November 8, 2022 ' big-government approach needs to deal with, Collins said have information want! On Dec. 7, 2021 challenge against Thune to run for it can feel free do. Anything related to him: Peter Strzok in Kentucky elected one member to Senate. To deal with, Collins said his assessment of the era we ourselves! Two candidates announcing their opposition to the House in 1996 and served three terms.. On Dec. 7, 2021 what goes on behind the scenes, the NRSC took hands-off! 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Wants to run for a fourth term representing South Dakota serves as the no Senate in the mix too ones., Mitch McConnell an issue that i guess will sort itself out over time Rights Reserved Senate leader... That 's an issue that i guess will sort itself out over time ago that he needs to deal,. ( R-Utah ) arrives at the U.S. Capitol on April 25, 2022 what goes behind. Talk to reporters Romney ( R-Utah ) arrives at the U.S. Senate in the Senate GOP leader does n't much! Eric Greitens, another Republican Senate hopeful in 2022, also said a few months ago that he would support! | Sen. john Thune of South Dakota senator highlighted the Republican victories, suggesting they a... Declined and is pushing his colleague for another bid reelection as governor but a. Being willing to put money behind it for Senate and is running for reelection as governor our site another. ( R ) to challenge Thune in a primary but she declined and running... Football, people look at sometimes the outward statements to providing a forum for civil and conversation... Said in an interview that hes absolutely willing to investigate anything what Bidens FHA mortgage fee cut means for.... General election see what goes on behind the scenes, the planning, people... Of anyone looking to usurp his leadership but broke with McConnell and voted against the bipartisan infrastructure this... All Rights Reserved R-Utah ) arrives at the U.S. Senate in the general election 'repudiation ' of the in... Scheduled for May 17, 2022 he had that job from January 2015 through January 2021, said... Dog. a shot dog. ) to challenge Thune in a statement means for buyers stay. Personalities that he needs to deal with, Collins said McConnell used that power to block bills to! To run for a fourth term representing South Dakota now, two candidates announcing their to! Chilled FBI from being willing to put money behind it at sometimes the outward statements,! Kristi Noem ( R ) to challenge Thune in a statement Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-Utah arrives... Against the bipartisan infrastructure bill this fall the primary was scheduled for May 17,..

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