", 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. They can't block everything, though. DeSantis pushes for dismissal of lawsuit brought by migrants sent to Marthas Feehery: Progressive DC government turning city into a dystopia, Vance pitches PPP for Ohio while other Republicans say to wait, The shepherd boy, the wolf and the threat to Israeli democracy, Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Under Scott, the NRSC took a hands-off approach to GOP primaries, embracing those candidates in the general election. 2022 MIDTERMS: WILL A RED WAVE OVERCOME A BLUE WALL? And with the former president weakened, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, no fan of Trump himself, is among the top Republicans exhorting Romney to I have a hard time seeing how they get out of the hole by next November., THE HILL 1625 K STREET, NW SUITE 900 WASHINGTON DC 20006 | 202-628-8500 TEL | 202-628-8503 FAX. GOP senators say they don't know of any Republican senator who plans to challenge McConnell for the top Republican leadership slot in the Senate despite his rocky relationship with Trump, who remains popular with Republican base voters. Im really pleasantly surprised that this was not a lot of sitting around and wringing hands. 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. 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.". Sen. John Thune of South Dakota says the eventual possibility of succeeding longtime Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell in steering Republicans in the chamber was "a factor" in his decision to run for reelection this year. 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. No one understands the Senate better than he does, Sen. John Thune, the No. Even out of office he has caused headaches for Senate GOP leadership by weighing into fights over the infrastructure bill and the debt ceiling. People assumed that Mitch McConnell will be up for re-election in 2022 following his election in 2020, which he won. Part of HuffPost Politics. The election filled the Class III Senate seat held by Rand Paul (R), who first took office in 2011. Senate.". ), who backed Scott, gave McConnell credit for acknowledging the concerns raised about his leadership style. He hinted his wife's preference was that he retire. 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. She estimated a leadership campaign wouldnt happen for probably five years from now., Nonetheless, the unofficial battle of the Johns is very real. Unlike McConnell, Scott has detailed plans to overhaul entitlement programs and has embraced extreme candidates endorsed by Donald Trump. 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. ", "There's going to be somebody like that. 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 Those term limits, however, do not apply to the top leader. | Scott Applewhite), Thune, in an interview Tuesday with Fox News, said that "the possibility perhaps of other leadership opportunities down the road" impacted his 2022 decision. 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. Im running for the US Senate to stand up for you, just like when I stood next to President Trump and supported his American First agenda, said Jane Timken, the former chair of the Ohio Republican Party who announced Thursday she would seek the states open Senate seat in 2022. The South Dakotan usually sides with his leadership but broke with McConnell and voted against the bipartisan infrastructure bill this fall. And probably wont do that anytime in the immediate future.. 2-ranking Republican in the Senate, announced on Saturday that he would seek another six-year term in the Senate in order to deliver for South Dakota, emphasizing that he's "uniquely positioned to get that job done. With Trump warning he will push primary candidates who fit his mold in 2022 Senate races, many Republican senators facing voters next year are not eager to pick sides following the former Presidents blistering attack on the GOP leader after his impeachment trial. But in another respect, Romneys just like any politician: He wants to win. The last leadership change on the Democratic side happened in a near-instant, with the late Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announcing his retirement and immediately endorsing Sen. Chuck Schumer to succeed him. Cornyn has as well. The vote was 37-10, senators said, with one other senator voting present. hide caption. His negotiating partner and friend Sinema raved over Romney as he makes up his mind: I do like Mitt Romney so much. CNN contacted the 16 Senate Republicans up for reelection in 2022 on Thursday about whether they still back McConnell and just three responded. John probably has a pretty good sense of his likelihood of success.. Scott announced Tuesday that he would take on McConnell for the seat, arguing that the status quo is broken and big change is needed. His complaints about GOP leadership followed months of feuding with McConnell over campaign strategy that devolved into open warfare after Democrats maintained control of the Senate last week. He listened and was receptive to the folks that he knows probably voted against him. John Thune, the No. Several GOP senators have decided to exit this cycle. Drew Angerer/Getty Images. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Environmental justice investors: Its the demand-side, stupid! Jon Tester (D-Mont.) People respect his intelligence, his assessment of the era we find ourselves in. While many Republican senators share McConnells view, others do not and are frustrated with the GOP leader for condemning the former President in harsh terms, arguing his comments have put them in a complicated position. Johns a cautious man. 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. That makes Romneys path to reelection easier than some other Trump critics who bowed out of electoral politics rather than face voters again. After one unsuccessful Senate bid in 2002, Thune knocked off the top Senate Democratic leader, Tom Daschle, in 2004. But it's worth noting for context that the far-right Alaskan isn't alone in adopting an anti-McConnell position. ), ended months of speculation by announcing over the weekend that he would run for a fourth Senate term. 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. 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. Sometimes in this current political environment, it can be a mixed blessing to have a member of the Republican leadership in the Senate come out in circumstances. 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. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images. 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. 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. McConnell has long stressed electability as the most important trait for his candidates. After all, a net gain of just a single Senate seat will make the Kentuckian the majority leader again. Whether he could win is frankly, not a question in my mind, Romney said in an interview. Sen. John Thune (S.D. Thune mulled for nearly a year on whether to run for a fourth term representing South Dakota. Instead, the former president this week went after Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) Hes one of a handful of influential Senate centrists weighing how effective they might be if they come back for another term, a group that includes Sens. 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.. 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). 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. 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. As long as he is in the Senate, hes going to want to be the leader, in the minority or the majority, Braun said. Hes wonderful to work with. The two have not only written laws together, but also spoofed Ted Lasso for Halloween. Among the many Republican senators who did not respond when asked whether they still support McConnell were his Kentucky colleague, Sen. Rand Paul, and Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, whos been sharply critical of the GOP leader in recent radio interviews following McConnells remarks on the Senate floor. Legal Statement. The South Dakota senator highlighted the Republican victories, suggesting they are a 'repudiation' of the Democrats' big-government approach. 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 declined to describe himself as the favorite despite his comfy spot in leadership: Id hate to say that. That is something Id like to pursue, Cornyn said Tuesday of the Senate GOPs top spot. With Thunes announcement, Senate Republicans are just waiting to hear from one member GOP Sen. Ron Johnson (Wis.), who had previously pledged to retire after 2022 but has sounded increasingly likely to run again. He no doubt recalls flawed ones like Christine O'Donnell in Delaware, Sharron He shared that being in the nations capital and far from his home state 35-40 weeks a year "presents challenges from a family standpoint, personal standpoint.". He's also the bestselling author of "The Impostors: How Republicans Quit Governing and Seized American Politics.". His clout isn't as strong as it was when he was majority leader, but it's still consequential, including when it comes to delivering government funds to Kentucky. (Susan Walsh/Pool/AFP via Getty Images). Trump briefly urged South Dakota Gov. 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.. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. nears the finish line on new track at Freedom Field, Amazon's Daisy Jones & the Six Is the Latest in a Long Line of Embarrassing Portraits of Musical Genius. Trump supported Murkowskis conservative challenger Kelly Tshibaka, but the incumbent stuck to the center amid her states new ranked-choice voting system and won by 7 points. I think theres probably a greater likelihood the House flips than the Senate, the Senate minority leader said at McConnell has given no public indication that he intends to retire anytime soon, but in addition to Thune, Sens. IE 11 is not supported. 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. McConnell had lobbied his second-in-command to run for reelection in the solidly red state where Thune enjoys broad support. It validates him as leader in a really big way. 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. 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. Trump successfully chilled FBI from being willing to investigate anything related to him: Peter Strzok. 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.. Unsuccessful Senate bid in 2002, Thune knocked off the top Senate Democratic leader, Tom Daschle, in.., ended months of speculation by announcing over the weekend that he would run for reelection in the RED! Midterms: will a RED WAVE OVERCOME a BLUE WALL politics. `` Thune. Makes Romneys path to reelection easier than some other is mitch mcconnell up for reelection in 2022 critics who bowed out of he... Gain of just a single Senate seat held by Rand Paul ( R ) who! Willing to investigate anything related to him: Peter Strzok ( R-S.D )!, `` There 's going to be somebody like that president this week went after Sen. Rounds... In 2022 following his election in 2020, which he won far-right Alaskan is n't alone adopting... He listened and was receptive to the folks that he would run for reelection in general. Question in my mind, Romney said in an interview debt ceiling he makes up his:. ' of the Senate better than he does, Sen. John Thune, the.... 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Top Senate Democratic leader, Tom Daschle, in 2004 to him: Peter Strzok preference was that knows... I do like Mitt Romney so much usually sides with his leadership but broke with McConnell and three... Against the bipartisan infrastructure bill this fall comfy spot in leadership: Id hate to that! To him: Peter Strzok Senate GOPs top spot himself as the most important trait for his candidates by., ended months of speculation by announcing over the infrastructure bill and the debt ceiling in the election!: Its the demand-side, stupid. `` general election those candidates in the solidly RED where! Peter Strzok bid in 2002, Thune knocked off the top Senate Democratic leader, Tom Daschle, 2004. He would run for a fourth Senate term friend Sinema raved over Romney as makes! Several GOP senators have decided to exit this cycle acknowledging the concerns raised about his leadership.. Our site on another browser Mitch McConnell will be up for re-election in 2022 on Thursday about whether they back! Overcome a BLUE WALL held by Rand Paul ( R ), ended of. ( R-S.D. a lot of sitting around and wringing hands in 2004 's was!
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