And timing could be everything: Thune is subject to the same six-year term limits as whip that rotated Cornyn out of the spot. It was unclear what the outcome of the Nov. 8 election would mean for control of the Senate for several days as the vote tallies of close races across the country were counted. "Once McConnell would make his mind up one way or the other, I'm sure there would be a jockeying for that would become quite apparent," he said. Thats the nature of Utah politics, said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) of the states strange dynamics. 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. He voted to convict Trump in both impeachment trials, becoming the only Senate Republican to support abuse of power charges against Trump in the former presidents first trial over Ukraine aid. Then theres John Barrasso, the No. Theyre all named John, arent they? said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.). But despite Trumps previous anger, Thune appears likely to win reelection and has $14,839,846.75 cash on hand in his campaign account as of the last fundraising quarter. Its a unique sort of a race because you know who the voters are, and its not really influenced by outside influences. Tuberville said he thinks McConnell as compiled a good record over the past year and doesn't know of anyone looking to usurp his leadership. 2022 MIDTERMS: WILL A RED WAVE OVERCOME A BLUE WALL? Senate Democrats can keep approving President Joe Biden's nominees to the federal judiciary even without any Republican colleagues' support, for example, because those nominations can advance with just 51 votes. 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. McConnell has given no public indication that he intends to retire anytime soon, but in addition to Thune, Sens. Environmental justice investors: Its the demand-side, stupid! "It's kind of like being a head coach in football, people look at sometimes the outward statements. Two Trump-backed Senate candidates have said they won't support Mitch McConnell for majority leader, which has the potential to make a real difference. Tuberville said he thinks McConnell as compiled a good record over the past year and doesnt know of anyone looking to usurp his leadership. I think theres probably a greater likelihood the House flips than the Senate, the Senate minority leader said at Trump is flirting with running again in 2024 and continues to maintain a fierce grip on the party. And with the former president weakened, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, no fan of Trump himself, is among the top Republicans exhorting Romney to seek another six-year term in 2024. They don't see what goes on behind the scenes, the organization, the planning, getting people to work together.". "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. Mitt Romney said he needs to see how that feels in the coming months as he considers whether to test his brand of politics one more time. In terms of his wrestling match with President Trump, thats an issue that I guess will sort itself out over time., Asked if anyone is jockeying behind the scenes for McConnells job, Braun said, theres none of that been exhibited that Ive observed.. Reach reporter Morgan Watkins at mwatkins@courierjournal.com. Theres Thune the South Dakotan, McConnells current deputy, as well as former whip John Cornyn of Texas, the two favorites to succeed the GOP leader. CNN contacted the 16 Senate Republicans up for reelection in 2022 on Thursday about whether they still back McConnell and just three responded. ", 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. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close ally of Trumps, said last month that a Republican leader in Congress needs to have a working relationship with Donald Trump or you cannot be effective.. 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. Those term limits, however, do not apply to the top leader. McConnell's successful reelection bid in 2020 centered on how he helps his home state "punch above its weight" compared with heavy-hitters like California. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) talks with Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) outside the U.S. Capitol, Aug. 4, 2022. 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 briefly considered a run for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination before deciding not to launch a campaign. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here. 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. Thune is allowed to serve two more years as the Republican whip before he will be required to step down from the post at the end of 2024 because of the Senate Republican Conference's term-limit rules for leadership posts. The election filled the Class III Senate seat held by Rand Paul (R), who first took office in 2011. She said the support she got from other teams was 'overwhelming. "I have not heard anybody say anything negative," he added. Trump successfully chilled FBI from being willing to investigate anything related to him: Peter Strzok. 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. 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. The blue-state governor turned GOP presidential nominee turned Senate elder statesman also doesnt need the job, thanks to personal wealth that frees him to look beyond the Senates permanent reelection cycle. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images). Thanks to the filibuster a 60-vote threshold senators must meet to advance most bills Democrats need support from several Republicans, at least, to pass plenty of proposals. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Barrasso has spent several years using his messaging operation to ingratiate himself with more junior Republicans, lining up lengthy press conferences and helping ease his path to become the next whip the same perch thats helped Cornyn and Thune position themselves to succeed McConnell. McConnell, 80, had the support of 37 senators, while Scott got 10 votes and one senator voted present, CNN reported, citing two members of the GOP conference. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close ally of Trump's, said last month that a Republican leader in Congress needs to have "a working relationship with Donald Trump" or "you cannot be effective.". 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. SENATE REPUBLICAN REELECTION ARM HAULS IN A RECORD $104 MILLION LAST YEAR McConnell confirmed on Tuesday that hell seek to remain GOP Senate leader after Novembers midterms. In theory, this could prove to be trivial, especially if far-right candidates balking at McConnell come up short in primaries or in general elections. The senator predicted that Trump's baseless challenge of the results in Congress would go down like "a shot dog." He hinted his wife's preference was that he retire. 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. 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. Legal Statement. They can't block everything, though. Both Cornyn and Barrasso said they congratulated Thune this week for his decision to run again, with the Wyomingite saying hes delighted and declining to address a future leadership race. Lee is expected to remain similarly neutral in a primary if Romney runs again, according to a person familiar with his plans. Whether he could win is frankly, not a question in my mind, Romney said in an interview. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Once McConnell would make his mind up one way or the other, Im sure there would be a jockeying for that would become quite apparent, he said. Republican senators say none of McConnells possible heirs apparent neither Thune nor Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) Thune earned Trumps ire a year ago for publicly dismissing his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks during a press conference at the US Capitol on September 28, 2022. Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) 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 Roy Blunt (R-Mo. Monaco also spoke on the FBIs mishandling of the Olympic gymnast sexual abuse case and threats against school board officials and educators. TWO REPUBLICANS JUMP INTO SENATE RACE IN KEY BATTLEGROUND OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. Senate.". And I think his running for reelection would be very important, McConnell said. Thune rose quickly through the ranks in the chamber and has held multiple leadership posts. Maura Healey unveils state budget proposal highlighted by free community college. Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo, Thune agonized for nearly a year over running again, a choice complicated by former President Donald Trumps attacks on him for dismissing Trumps efforts to challenge Joe Bidens win. Republican senators are trying to stay out of the fray between former President Donald Trump and their leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell. Its also a boost to McConnell, who has seen a number ofhis closest alliesexitthe Senate in recent cycles. McConnell, meanwhile, has clashed with the former president, who in turn has responded by calling for McConnells impeachment. Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.) on Wednesday easily won reelection as Senate GOP leader, fending off a conservative challenge led by Sen. Rick Scott (Fla.). 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. So in the end, whether or not [Trump] was going to be involved in my race wasnt an issue in whether or not to run," Thune told Fox News. Part of HuffPost Politics. Chicago Mayor Lightfoot ousted; Vallas, Johnson in runoff, King asks Duke and Duchess of Sussex to move out of Frogmore so Prince Andrew can move in, Biden Mocks Marjorie Taylor Greene With 1 Simple Hand Gesture, A Nebraska high-school cheerleader competed on her own after the rest of her squad quit. When he had that job from January 2015 through January 2021, McConnell used that power to block bills. 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"I've always promised that I would do the work, even when it was hard, uncomfortable, or unpopular," Thune said in a statement posted on Twitter. Ive spent 25 years now in public service. Trump, on the other hand, has launched an anti-McConnell campaign and appears determined to oust him from his leadership post. So Im not in any way offended by having an opponent or having a few votes in opposition.. Here's what that means for the kind of power he'll be able to wield. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) Theres no sign McConnell would give a Reid-style boost to either Cornyn or Thune, though he publicly encouraged Thune to run again. 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 McConnell was elected to a seventh Senate term in 2020 by a nearly 20-point margin over Democrat Amy McGrath and won't be up for reelection until 2026. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images. IE 11 is not supported. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Mitch McConnell won't become Senate majority leader. Legal Statement. Contests & Promotions, Highway 154 has reopened in both directions following brief closure due to snow, Santa Barbara County School Districts and Unions call for affordable housing in letter to Board of Supervisors, Large trees topple in the wind closing Highway 101 and taking out power lines in several areas, Twelve non-profits awarded new grants to expand access to state parks for fourth graders and their families, Biden says Labor nominee Julie Su is the American dream, US imposes sanctions on three companies and two individuals for illicitly generating income for North Korea, Bipartisan group of senators to introduce new bill aimed at rail safety in wake of East Palestine crash, Biden administration embraces tough border measures it once rejected. ", SENATE REPUBLICAN REELECTION ARM HAULS IN A RECORD $104 MILLION LAST YEAR. And it frightened independent and moderate Republican voters, McConnell said of the midterm election losses on Tuesday. | That gives McConnell and his team influence over what bills succeed and which ones fail. CNN contacted the 16 Senate Republicans up for reelection in 2022 on Thursday about whether they still back McConnell and just three responded. But that doesnt mean theyll get the sort of traction they did with Democratic majorities in Congress that generally facilitated centrists work, while usually just a minority of Senate Republicans voted for any bipartisan deals. John Thune of South Dakota serves as the No. And Im Scandinavian, so the glass is always half empty. He downplayed any conflict with Cornyn, whom he said is his friend. on Tuesday said no ones making a move to replace McConnell. John Thune (@johnthune) January 8, 2022. HuffPost's top politics stories, straight to your inbox. The remarks sparked Trumps ire and the former president fired back that Thune was Mitchs boy. Trump tried toconvince South Dakota Gov. Ive always promised that I would do the work, even when it was hard, uncomfortable, or unpopular, Thune said in the statement. 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. 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. 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. 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