Plus, McConnell remains one of Congress'top four leaders. Trump is flirting with running again in 2024 and continues to maintain a fierce grip on the party. Still, even with McConnells term not over until 2026, Republicans know that things can always change and change quickly. Follow her on Twitter: @morganwatkins26. 2 Senate Republican and a close ally of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), on Saturday announced he will run for Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost? "It's time for new, America First leadership in the Senate.". 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The conference members then voted for McConnell to lead them again, which will make him the longest-serving Senate party leader when the new Congress convenes in January. 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. 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. Noem said on Twitter shortly after that Thune was a friend and she would not run against him. Since his election in 2018, Romneys put an indelible stamp on the Senate. But in another respect, Romneys just like any politician: He wants to win. Asked if hell be crisscrossing the country this year, helping fellow Republicans in Senate elections, Thune said "if its helpful. 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. McConnell has also been the target of Trump's wrath after voting for a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill and a proposal to allow Democrats to raise the debt ceiling by themselves with a simple majority vote. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. Voters in Kentucky elected one member to the U.S. Senate in the general election on November 8, 2022. Thats the nature of Utah politics, said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) of the states strange dynamics. You know, Im 75, Romney said. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Its really more of a matter of relationships and trust.. Roy Blunt of Missouri, Rob Portman of Ohio, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, Richard Burr of North Carolina and Richard Shelby of Alabama are opting to step down rather than run again in 2022. Sens. We must start saying what we are for, not just what we are against.. Breaking News 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. We got a lot of legislation of significant nature through, Romney said in the interview. Cornyn said Thune is a very important part of our conference and has a lot to offer, while underscoring that a reelection run is a separate question than who succeeds McConnell. Wow.. McConnell said it "would be real setback for the party and for the country if he retired and I certainly hope he won't.". Even Sen. Mike Braun (Ind. McConnell had lobbied his second-in-command to run for reelection in the solidly red state where Thune enjoys broad support. 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. McConnell made his statement a few days after his top deputy, Senate Republican Whip John Thune (R-S.D. Trump successfully chilled FBI from being willing to investigate anything related to him: Peter Strzok. Sen. McConnell, during a recent interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, predicted that Republicans have a great cycle with a good chance of getting the majority back., The atmosphere is terrible [for Democrats], he added. And probably wont do that anytime in the immediate future.. 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 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. 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. And McConnell is willing to put money behind it. Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in New Hampshire. Hes a deliberate person. I dont own this job, McConnell said afterward. 2 Senate Republican leader. HuffPost's top politics stories, straight to your inbox. Thunes pursuit of a fourth term, however, has left the Senate GOP newly abuzz over who might take the reins post-McConnell, since political trajectories can change in an instant in the Senate. With polls showing the wind at Republicans' backs, and with Democrats holding onto barely existent majorities in both chambers on Capitol Hill, folks like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have reason to be optimistic about the 2022 midterms. But it's not as if Barack Obama was actively involved in a campaign to destroy Schumer. Im pretty proud of 37 to 10, he added. The final vote was 37-10, with one Republican voting present.. Thunes decision,which he had held off announcing after going past his end-of-year timeline, will likely bring a sigh of relief to Senate Republicans, who had grown increasingly alarmed that the 61-year-old senator would retire after 2022. Republican senators say none of McConnell's possible heirs apparent - neither Thune nor Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) But Trump remains very popular with Republican voters and extremely influential with many GOP politicians as he continues to play a kingmakers role in party politics and repeatedly flirts with making another White House run in 2024. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here. That makes Romneys path to reelection easier than some other Trump critics who bowed out of electoral politics rather than face voters again. Part of HuffPost Politics. Theyre all named John, arent they? said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.). He's also focused on agriculture issues during his tenure on Capitol Hill. CNN In August, Mitch McConnell told a hard truth . But Noem dismissed any bid for Senate and is running for reelection as governor. 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. And Im Scandinavian, so the glass is always half empty. He downplayed any conflict with Cornyn, whom he said is his friend. All rights reserved. The South Dakotan usually sides with his leadership but broke with McConnell and voted against the bipartisan infrastructure bill this fall. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday said he will run for another term as the chambers top GOP leader at the end of the year, shutting down 2 Senate Republican leader. 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. 3 Senate GOP leader whom Republicans believe is likely to ascend to the whip job first as Cornyn and Thune compete to succeed McConnell. The Utahn was the first senator in history to vote to remove a president of the same party from office, in Trumps first impeachment trial. No. Link Copied! Roy Blunt (R-Mo. 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. Though GOP senators expressed confidence earlier this year that he would run, Thune set off alarm bells within the caucus when he told a South Dakota publication that his wife was ready for him to call it quits. Samuel Corum/Getty Images John Thune presents a great image for our party. Its a unique sort of a race because you know who the voters are, and its not really influenced by outside influences. 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. In August, Mitch McConnell told a hard truth . But it's worth noting for context that the far-right Alaskan isn't alone in adopting an anti-McConnell position. Sen. John Thune (S.D. But theres no more prominent GOP Trump foil these days than Romney. 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. But McConnells position was never seriously in question going into Wednesdays election. 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.. Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) They don't see what goes on behind the scenes, the organization, the planning, getting people to work together.". The primary was scheduled for May 17, 2022. 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. McConnell has given no public indication that he intends to retire anytime soon, but in addition to Thune, Sens. I look forward to earning the support of all South Dakotans in the 2022 election for Senate, he continued. 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. He has consistently avoided answering questions about his relationship with Trump by saying he's focused on fighting President Biden's multi-trillion-dollar agenda in Congress and helping Republicans win back the Senate majority in 2022. or redistributed. Kentucky generally receives a disproportionate share of federal dollars compared with other states partly because of its significant poverty levels, Voss said. 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. listens to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell talk to reporters. McConnell says he will do everything possible to ensure Romney succeeds. So Im convinced that if I run, I win. Senate.". ), the No. That is something Id like to pursue, Cornyn said Tuesday of the Senate GOPs top spot. Still, should he run, Romney cant expect unified backing from the Senate Republican conference. Feb. 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. 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. 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.". The question confronting Senate Republicans now is: Which John? "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. (Susan Walsh/Pool/AFP via Getty Images). By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. 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. I always tell my colleagues Ill come out for them or against them, which ever helps them the most. CNN On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell went public with what has long been suspected: He has no plans to leave the Senate even if his party loses its majority in November. 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. McConnell has also been the target of Trumps wrath after voting for a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill and a proposal to allow Democrats to raise the debt ceiling by themselves with a simple majority vote. on Tuesday said no ones making a move to replace McConnell. Glenn Clary, the state party chairman, told CNN that some people are angry and upset and some people say she voted her conscience.. Thune and Cornyn are best-positioned to become the next Senate GOP leader but Barrasso is in the mix too. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. Reach reporter Morgan Watkins at mwatkins@courierjournal.com. 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. Romney stayed neutral during his colleague Sen. Mike Lees (R-Utah) reelection campaign, as his friend Evan McMullin ran against Lee as an independent. Cornyn has as well. 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. McConnell said in an interview that hes absolutely willing to do the same for Romney, and is pushing his colleague for another bid. Im really pleasantly surprised that this was not a lot of sitting around and wringing hands. And it frightened independent and moderate Republican voters, McConnell said of the midterm election losses on Tuesday. 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. Its kind of like being a head coach in football, people look at sometimes the outward statements. Environmental justice investors: Its the demand-side, stupid! I have not heard anybody say anything negative, he added. "As long as he is in the Senate, he's going to want to be the leader, in the minority or the majority," Braun said. Ive faced long odds: Getting the nomination in 2012 was a long shot, becoming a Republican governor in one of the most liberal states in America, Massachusetts. The gender pay gap has stayed largely unchanged for 20 years. It was the most uncharacteristic move for McConnell, said one GOP source close to the Senate Republican leader. "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. 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. For instance, he backed two particularly notable bipartisan laws since 2021: The $1.2 trillionbipartisan infrastructure law, which is expected to sendat least $4.6 billion to Kentucky. McConnell made his statement a few days after his top deputy, Senate Republican Whip John Thune (R-S.D. 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. And though she said Cornyn and Barrasso would do a very good job, shes one of the few GOP senators willing to weigh in on the shadow leadership race. Monaco also spoke on the FBIs mishandling of the Olympic gymnast sexual abuse case and threats against school board officials and educators. | Eric Greitens, another Republican Senate hopeful in 2022, also said a few months ago that he wouldn't support McConnell, either. 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. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks during a press conference at the US Capitol on September 28, 2022. 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. Could a White House race be in his political future? 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. "I have not heard anybody say anything negative," he added. Trumps ongoing rhetoric about the 2020 election complicates the desire of McConnell (and other party strategists) to make the 2022 midterms solely about Joe 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. One of Congress'top four leaders anything negative, he added midterm election losses on Tuesday said no making! Gap has stayed largely unchanged for 20 years Rights Reserved said Sen. Thom Tillis ( R-N.C. ) the. 'S not as if Barack Obama was actively involved in a campaign to destroy Schumer his second-in-command run! His colleague for another bid said `` if its helpful it frightened independent and moderate Republican,! He added paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in new Hampshire sort of a because... 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