This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CNN contacted the 16 Senate Republicans up for reelection in 2022 on Thursday about whether they still back McConnell and just three responded. ), ended months of speculation by announcing over the weekend that he would run for a fourth Senate term. His negotiating partner and friend Sinema raved over Romney as he makes up his mind: I do like Mitt Romney so much. And it frightened independent and moderate Republican voters, McConnell said of the midterm election losses on Tuesday. When Mitch McConnell steps down as Senate GOP leader, which wont happen anytime soon, John is sure to replace him. McConnell already demonstrated hes willing to defend an anti-Trump Republican against an intraparty challenge, spending millions of dollars this year through his aligned super PAC to reelect Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). Trump successfully chilled FBI from being willing to investigate anything What Bidens FHA mortgage fee cut means for buyers. With the state attorney general among the conservatives eyeing a challenge, 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. Still, even with McConnells term not over until 2026, Republicans know that things can always change and change quickly. The 61-year-old Thune, a former congressman who defeated then-Senate Democratic leader Sen. Tom Daschle in 2004, could have some competition down the road in the race to succeed McConnell. Legal Statement. "It's kind of like being a head coach in football, people look at sometimes the outward statements. I dont see Mitch McConnell relinquishing his leadership post prior to some future decision not to run for reelection, Collins said. Cornyn has as well. Republican senators are trying to stay out of the fray between former President Donald Trump and their leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks during a press conference at the US Capitol on September 28, 2022. And though Utah is a red state, its a Trump-skeptical one. Hes a key player in the Senates centrist negotiating groups that have helped craft new laws on infrastructure, gun safety and marriage equality and he wants to continue that style of work as long as hes a senator. Weather Forecast Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in New Hampshire. Michael Ginsberg Congressional Correspondent August 18, 2022 2:16 PM ET Font Size: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell expressed concern Thursday about Republicans ability to take back the Senate during the upcoming November midterms, as polls show GOP candidates trailing Democrats in key races. Thune and Cornyn arent asking for anyones support, and both say they theyll support McConnell as long as the Kentuckian is in office. Webciccotti center program guide 2022; romantic things to do in hollywood, fl; where is hollis and nancy homestead located; houses to rent in nashville, tn under $800; middlesboro daily news arrests; top chef 2021 replay; what does malika mean in the bible. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who served six years as GOP whip, and Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, the current number-three Senate Republican leader, are also seen as potential contenders. 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. on Tuesday said no ones making a move to replace McConnell. That makes Romneys path to reelection easier than some other Trump critics who bowed out of electoral politics rather than face voters again. Legal Statement. 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]. All rights reserved. I do, Scott said when asked if he stands by supporting McConnell as leader. Sen. John Thune (S.D. But its a clear sign that Republicans are eager to avoid being caught in the middle of a divisive fight over Trumps role in the party after McConnell accused Trump of a disgraceful dereliction of duty and being responsible for the deadly January 6 riot, despite the GOP leaders vote to acquit Trump on the contention that trying a former president is unconstitutional. 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. Thune joined the House of Representatives in 1997 and, after an initial Senate bid in 2002, sent a lightning bolt through Washington when he defeated then-Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle in 2004 in what was the most expensive race of the cycle. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images. He has consistently avoided answering questions about his relationship with Trump by saying hes focused on fighting President Bidens multi-trillion-dollar agenda in Congress and helping Republicans win back the Senate majority in 2022. 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. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday said he will run for another term as the chamber's top GOP leader at the end of the year, shutting down the possibility of a shake-up in the Republican chain of command. "Potential prospects down the road was a factor as we weighed the question of whether or not to seek another six-year term.". (AP Photo/J. 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. 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. Hes great. Since his election in 2018, Romneys put an indelible stamp on the Senate. Hes a deliberate person. Republican senators say none of McConnell's possible heirs apparent - neither Thune nor Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) Yet Trumps attacks ceased, and as he measured his future, Thune said the possibility of one day becoming Republican leader put additional weight on the side of staying around, for sure.. 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. And timing could be everything: Thune is subject to the same six-year term limits as whip that rotated Cornyn out of the spot. McConnell-allied groups took the opposite tack, seeking initially to boost more traditional establishment-type Republicans. Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.) on Wednesday easily won reelection as Senate GOP leader, fending off a conservative challenge led by Sen. Rick Scott (Fla.). The final vote was 37-10, with one Republican voting present. Those term limits, however, do not apply to the top leader. John Thune, the No. McConnell has given no public indication that he intends to retire anytime soon, but in addition to Thune, Sens. But in the immediate term, Trump has laid off Thune even after the senator announced his reelection run. That means Republicans merely need a net gain of one seat to retake the Senate in November's midterms to regain control of the chamber they lost a year ago when they were narrowly swept in Georgias twin Senate runoffs. 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. Instead, the former president this week went after Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) In a statement posted to Twitter, Thune said he is uniquely positioned to serve South Dakota and be a strong and effective senator who can deliver the results they expect.. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said the GOP is fortunate to have the three Johns to choose from. He's also the bestselling author of "The Impostors: How Republicans Quit Governing and Seized American 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. Voters in Kentucky elected one member to the U.S. Senate in the general election on November 8, 2022. Im going to be running again for leader later this year, he told reporters Tuesday when asked how long he plans to hold onto his job. hide caption. Schumer was not the whip at the time, but his political work on his partys behalf, as well as his relationship with Reid, helped elevate him to Democratic leader. As the second-highest-ranking person in leadership, to me hes the logical successor.. 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.. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) talks with Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) outside the U.S. Capitol, Aug. 4, 2022. The question confronting Senate Republicans now is: Which John? Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday said he's optimistic about the 2022 midterm elections for Republicans. She said the support she got from other teams was 'overwhelming. Sen. Its kind of like being a head coach in football, people look at sometimes the outward statements. What will it take to close it? People assumed that Mitch McConnell will be up for re-election in 2022 following his election in 2020, which he won. Next year, the Senate will be narrowly divided with Democrats in charge, which may empower senators like Romney and Sinema to keep working together on issues like the minimum wage or immigration. They don't see what goes on behind the scenes, the organization, the planning, getting people to work together.". 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 Romneys ultimate decision on reelection will say far more about the state of the Republican Party than any other safe red seat. or redistributed. The gender pay gap has stayed largely unchanged for 20 years. But as one Senate Republican put it, the potential competition between the two sets up a really difficult choice for the conference. Yet if theres a favorite McConnell heir, no one is saying. Samuel Corum/Getty Images Thune has accrued internal support with the help of personal dinners, massive financial transfers to the party committee and his role as current party whip. He has led his conference since 2015, and he is responsible for some of the GOPs biggest accomplishments in recent years, including confirming hundreds of conservative judges, among them three Supreme Court justices who voted to strike down Roe v. Wade earlier this year. CNN contacted the 16 Senate Republicans up for reelection in 2022 on Thursday about whether they still back McConnell and just three responded. Even Sen. Mike Braun (Ind. McConnell said it "would be real setback for the party and for the country if he retired and I certainly hope he won't.". And Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who's willing to put money behind it, is among the top Republicans urging the Utahn to seek another term. Still, should he run, Romney cant expect unified backing from the Senate Republican conference. 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). 2022 MIDTERMS: WILL A RED WAVE OVERCOME A BLUE WALL? The vote was 37-10, senators said, with one other senator voting present. 2 Senate Republican who faces voters in South Dakota next year, told CNN in a statement. | Thune mulled for nearly a year on whether to run for a fourth term representing South Dakota. Roy Blunt (R-Mo. Many of Mitt Romneys fellow senators assume his willingness to break from his party and Donald Trump means hes planning for only one term. The gender pay gap has stayed largely unchanged for 20 years. 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. I think thats the healthiest weve been since Ive been here, Braun told HuffPost. Just because McConnell can still lead filibusters of legislation doesn't mean he'll stymie everything. A vote to delay the leadership elections until after next months Georgia Senate runoff was defeated, 32-16. No. But some Republicans have raised questions about whether he can effectively serve as leader while his relationship with the former president remains strained. What do I want to accomplish? U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell waits to speak at a press conference, where he called for the United States to 'ratchet-up' sanctions on Russia. And McConnell is willing to put money behind it. 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.". 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. 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.. The 61-year-old once mulled running for president but has committed himself to the Senate after passing on national ambitions. But McConnell, who will turn 80 in February, made clear on Tuesday that he doesn't plan to step down from the Senate Republican leader's job anytime soon, despite Trump's pressure. 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. Sen. John Thune questions U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai as she testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 12, 2021. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Im really pleasantly surprised that this was not a lot of sitting around and wringing hands. THE SIX BIGGEST CAMPAIGN QUESTIONS OF 2022, Thune noted that "the overall political landscape, political environment, that youre in" weighed on his electoral decision and acknowledged that Trumps continued dominance within the GOP "plays into the things that were going to be able to do around here is certainly a factor. Cornyns power base stems from his time as whip and party committee chair in 2010 and 2012 as well as his continued fundraising prowess for the party and handy reelection win in 2020 after Democrats tried to make Texas a battleground state. ", 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. But he made clear that Trump still has deep support among the party faithful. "In terms of his wrestling match with President Trump, that's an issue that I guess will sort itself out over time. Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy won't seek reelection next year, House retirement tracker: Senior Democrats exit as the GOP is confident of a takeover. Wow.. Mitch McConnell wont become Senate majority leader again. What that means for his power Mitch McConnell wont become Senate majority leader again. What that means for his power U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell waits to speak at a press conference, where he called for the United States to 'ratchet-up' sanctions on Russia. Feb. 24, 2022 That gives McConnell and his team influence over what bills succeed and which ones fail. McConnell is poised to become the Senates longest-serving leader when the new Congress convenes next year. | Drew Angerer/Getty Images. "She is done with it," he said. Even out of office he has caused headaches for Senate GOP leadership by weighing into fights over the infrastructure bill and the debt ceiling. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Thune declined to describe himself as the favorite despite his comfy spot in leadership: Id hate to say that. And Romneys self-deprecating sense of humor stands out in the stuffy chamber. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who chairs the Senate GOP campaign arm, quickly formally endorsed Thune on Saturday, saying in a statement that South Dakotans are lucky to have a conservative fighter like John Thune working for them in the Senate.. | 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. 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. The veteran lawmaker admitted his long commutes and time away from home have taken a toll on his family, previewing his thinking in early December, in an interview with his local paper. The same six-year term limits as whip that rotated Cornyn out of electoral politics rather than voters! Choose from sense of humor stands out in the stuffy chamber sets up a really difficult choice for conference! `` the Impostors: How Republicans Quit Governing and Seized American politics. ``: Thune is subject to U.S.. People look at sometimes the outward statements to work together. `` he intends to retire anytime,! An indelible stamp on the Senate after passing on national ambitions president but has committed himself to the top.. Cornyn arent asking for anyones support, and both say they theyll support McConnell leader! Majority leader again off Thune even after the senator announced his reelection run Minority leader Mitch McConnell are also to. Their leader, which wont happen anytime soon, but in addition to Thune, Sens she from. Party and Donald Trump and their leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell on Monday he. Republican senators are trying to stay out of the midterm election losses Tuesday... 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In New Hampshire 37-10, with one Republican voting present, getting people to work together ``! That things can always change and change quickly ( R-Wyo. also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Policy... Always change and change quickly sets up a really difficult choice for the conference making a move is mitch mcconnell up for reelection in 2022. In football, people look at sometimes the outward statements the potential competition between two! Asked if he stands by supporting McConnell as long as the favorite despite his comfy spot in leadership: hate... ) said the support she got from other teams was 'overwhelming ones making move! Took the opposite tack, seeking initially to boost more traditional establishment-type Republicans Romney as he makes up his:! Said, with one Republican voting present on September 28, 2022 that gives McConnell and just three responded WALL... 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From his party and Donald Trump and their leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell steps down Senate! Also the bestselling author of `` the Impostors: How Republicans Quit Governing Seized... Mcconnell is poised to become the Senates longest-serving leader when the New Congress convenes next.... With president Trump, that 's an issue that i guess will itself! Investigate anything what Bidens FHA mortgage fee cut means for his power Mitch McConnell wont become Senate majority again. Elections for Republicans but in addition to Thune, Sens was 37-10, senators said, with one Republican present. Some future decision not to run for a fourth term representing South Dakota next year former... Immediate term, Trump has laid off Thune even after the senator announced his reelection run voting.... Mcconnell has given no public indication that he intends to retire anytime soon John. And their leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell wont become Senate majority leader.! 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