Anybody who wants to run for it can feel free to do so. Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in New Hampshire. But some Republicans have raised questions about whether he can effectively serve as leader while his relationship with the former president remains strained. Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell won't get his old job as Senate majority leader back in January after voters decided to let Democrats keep control of Congress' upper chamber. 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. 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 Utahn was the first senator in history to vote to remove a president of the same party from office, in Trumps first impeachment trial. He likes winners and John Thune is a winner, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) told The New York Times. She estimated a leadership campaign wouldnt happen for probably five years from now., Nonetheless, the unofficial battle of the Johns is very real. The final vote was 37-10, with one Republican voting present.. 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. Just because McConnell can still lead filibusters of legislation doesn't mean he'll stymie everything. They can't block everything, though. But it's worth noting for context that the far-right Alaskan isn't alone in adopting an anti-McConnell position. All rights reserved. Thune, who as minority whip is the No. Then he cut a series of bipartisan deals that upset the right. I hope by the time Mitt really gets into full swing on the campaign, were not talking about the influence of Donald Trump, said Murkowski, who is encouraging Romney to run again. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) "It's time for new, America First leadership in the Senate.". 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. He's also the bestselling author of "The Impostors: How Republicans Quit Governing and Seized American Politics.". | Drew Angerer/Getty Images. Those term limits, however, do not apply to the top leader. Drew Angerer/Getty Images. The primary was scheduled for May 17, 2022. Theres no sign McConnell would give a Reid-style boost to either Cornyn or Thune, though he publicly encouraged Thune to run again. 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. The senator predicted that Trump's baseless challenge of the results in Congress would go down like "a shot dog." nor former Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) appear to be actively jockeying to replace McConnell. 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. Senate Republicans, who are close allies of the former president, urged Thune to run and not to worry about a Trump-field primary challenge. ", And the senator noted that "my wife is a trooper and believes in what we do, and we came to the conclusion it was the right thing to give the people of South Dakota an opportunity to let us keep going.". Many of Mitt Romneys fellow senators assume his willingness to break from his party and Donald Trump means hes planning for only one term. McConnell had lobbied his second-in-command to run for reelection in the solidly red state where Thune enjoys broad support. | It was the most uncharacteristic move for McConnell, said one GOP source close to the Senate Republican leader. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said the GOP is fortunate to have the three Johns to choose from. If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. Its kind of like being a head coach in football, people look at sometimes the outward statements. Scott, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which oversees the Senate GOPs campaigns, argued in a letter to colleagues that they need to start being far more bold and resolute than we have been in the past. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images). The majority leader has the ability to determine which proposals do and don't come up for a vote in the Senate. The senator, who remains very popular in the deep red state of South Dakota, said that Trumps past criticism wasnt a factor in his decision. 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. 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. The question confronting Senate Republicans now is: Which John? Kristi Noem to launch a primary challenge against him. Hes not impulsive from anyway that I can tell, except on a basketball court, Cramer said of his fellow Dakotan. Republican senators say none of McConnells possible heirs apparent neither Thune nor Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) 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. I dont see Mitch McConnell relinquishing his leadership post prior to some future decision not to run for reelection, Collins said. 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. But it's not as if Barack Obama was actively involved in a campaign to destroy Schumer. Voters in Kentucky elected one member to the U.S. Senate in the general election on November 8, 2022. 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. CNN contacted the 16 Senate Republicans up for reelection in 2022 on Thursday about whether they still back McConnell and just three responded. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. ), who backed Scott, gave McConnell credit for acknowledging the concerns raised about his leadership style. For now, two candidates announcing their opposition to the Senate GOP leader doesn't have much of an impact on the partisan landscape. 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. That work continues, which is why after careful consideration and prayer, and with the support of my family, Im asking South Dakotans for the opportunity to continue serving them in the U.S. Senate.. 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.. "I'm 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. 2 Senate Republican and a close ally of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), on Saturday announced he will run for for saying the 2020 elections were fairly won, which some Republicans said Tuesday was helpful to Thune. 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. It validates him as leader in a really big way. 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 the possibility of a shake-up in the Republican chain of command. No one understands the Senate better than he does, Sen. John Thune, the No. Instead, the former president this week went after Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) If Trump mounts another run for president, the shine of being Senate GOP leader might dull a bit. The election filled the Class III Senate seat held by Rand Paul (R), who first took office in 2011. 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. Thanks to Democrats' victory, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is lined up to keep setting the agenda instead. 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. 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. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images. 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 Now House Republicans are taking over, a potential roadblock to bipartisan legislation hatched by centrists that passes the Senate but divides Republicans. 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. His negotiating partner and friend Sinema raved over Romney as he makes up his mind: I do like Mitt Romney so much. Part of HuffPost Politics. James Lankford of Oklahoma; Mike Lee of Utah; John Kennedy of Louisiana; John Boozman of Arkansas; Mike Crapo of Idaho; Chuck Grassley of Iowa; Lisa Murkowski of Alaska; John Hoeven of North Dakota; and Marco Rubio of Florida. 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. CNN contacted the 16 Senate Republicans up for reelection in 2022 on Thursday about whether they still back McConnell and just three responded. 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. But thats a decision Ill make., Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) arrives at the U.S. Capitol on April 25, 2022. The GOP and McConnell hoped to flip the Senate in November's election, but that didn't happen. But don't be surprised if the former president tries to secure related commitments from other candidates, which might start to make a difference in 2022. 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 faces increased opposition from 2022 GOP Senate hopefuls. Murkowski is the lone GOP senator up for reelection who voted to convict Trump something she has defended since joining six of her GOP colleagues and 50 Senate Democrats to find the former President guilty of inciting the Capitol insurrection. But some Republicans have raised questions about whether he can effectively serve as leader while his relationship with the former president remains strained. "She is done with it," he said. That gives McConnell and his team influence over what bills succeed and which ones fail. Since his election in 2018, Romneys put an indelible stamp on the Senate. "I have not heard anybody say anything negative," he added. Daily News Update HuffPost's top politics stories, straight to your inbox. Kentucky generally receives a disproportionate share of federal dollars compared with other states partly because of its significant poverty levels, Voss said. Ive spent 25 years now in public service. I do, Scott said when asked if he stands by supporting McConnell as leader. He has What that means, 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. What that means, Morgan Watkins, Louisville Courier Journal, Mitch McConnell won't become Senate majority leader. Those term limits, however, do not apply to the top leader. 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. Breaking News 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. McConnell is poised to become the Senates longest-serving leader when the new Congress convenes next year. Kristi Noem, a close ally of the former president, to launch a primary challenge against Thune. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) I don't expect that to be me," he noted, adding that it's "certainly not on my radar screen at the moment.". 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. Im really pleasantly surprised that this was not a lot of sitting around and wringing hands. John Cornyn (Texas), the former GOP whip, and Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) Murkowski herself may face punishment herself when the state party meets March 13, where it is expected to discuss her vote to convict Trump and debate any GOP effort to censure her. I have not heard anybody say anything negative, he added. 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.". 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. Romneys ultimate decision on reelection will say far more about the state of the Republican Party than any other safe red seat. It shows his strength, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), who voted for McConnell, said of Wednesdays election. Sen. John Thune (S.D. Thats the nature of Utah politics, said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) of the states strange dynamics. 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. 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. 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. McConnell was elected to a seventh Senate term in 2020 by a nearly 20-point margin over Democrat Amy McGrath and wont be up for reelection until 2026. 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.. The 61-year-old once mulled running for president but has committed himself to the Senate after passing on national ambitions. 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. Here's what that means for the kind of power he'll be able to wield. Its not like anybody figured wed have a new leader, but someone had to step up and make the statement that there were more than 10 of us that are probably not generally happy with the amount of input any one senator has.. In August, Mitch McConnell told a hard truth . When he had that job from January 2015 through January 2021, McConnell used that power to block bills. The great thing for us is, you have a couple of really exceptional individuals that can step up if McConnell decides to step out.. As the second-highest-ranking person in leadership, to me hes the logical successor.. John Thune presents a great image for our party. Johns a cautious man. ), the No. 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. Democrats didn't win a 60-seat Senate majority, so McConnell and other Republican senators retain their ability to block most legislation. McConnell who will lose two members of his leadership team after 2022 to retirement publicly urged Thune to run for reelection in a recent interview, warning that stepping down would be a real setback from the country and our party.. McConnell-allied groups took the opposite tack, seeking initially to boost more traditional establishment-type Republicans. Several GOP senators have decided to exit this cycle. 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. Hopefully we get the majority back and at some point nobody knows when exactly that might be in the future there probably will be some opportunities. And McConnell is willing to put money behind it. 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. I look forward to earning the support of all South Dakotans in the 2022 election for Senate, he continued. 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. I dont own this job, McConnell said afterward. 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. 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. Hes great. Sens. and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), as well as newly independent Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. THE HILL 1625 K STREET, NW SUITE 900 WASHINGTON DC 20006 | 202-628-8500 TEL | 202-628-8503 FAX. Hes wonderful to work with. The two have not only written laws together, but also spoofed Ted Lasso for Halloween. Maura Healey unveils state budget proposal highlighted by free community college. Weather Forecast 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. Trump, on the other hand, has launched an anti-McConnell campaign and appears determined to oust him from his leadership post. Could a White House race be in his political future? 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. Hes worked with Democrats frequently, yet just as easily takes a hard conservative line on issues like the debt ceiling. Likely weighing on Thunes decision on whether to run for reelection was former President Trump. 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). Hes served on diverse committees. I think thats the healthiest weve been since Ive been here, Braun told HuffPost. 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. 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. All rights reserved. Sen. John Thune touts GOP victories as 'response to the Biden agenda', New Orleans mayor recall organizers score deal that could lower signature requirement, Jeffries warns against 'xenophobic activity' from 'MAGA Republicans' as House China Select Committee kicks off, Sen. Mike Lee suspended by Twitter, 'seeking answers', Massachusetts Gov. He's also focused on agriculture issues during his tenure on Capitol Hill. McConnell said it "would be real setback for the party and for the country if he retired and I certainly hope he won't.". 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. Nov 16, 2022, 01:06 PM EST | Updated Nov 16, 2022. Thune briefly considered a run for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination before deciding not to launch a campaign. And it frightened independent and moderate Republican voters, McConnell said of the midterm election losses on Tuesday. 2 Senate Republican leader. 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. 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. "I think he does a good job," he said. Even so, he may face opposition from his own party if he runs, with Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes the most prominent possibility. Its like, what should I do in the time I have left? But theres no more prominent GOP Trump foil these days than Romney. Trump is flirting with running again in 2024 and continues to maintain a fierce grip on the party. The gender pay gap has stayed largely unchanged for 20 years. Hes a deliberate person. President Trump is well liked up here, Clary said. 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. 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. 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 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. And Romneys self-deprecating sense of humor stands out in the stuffy chamber. "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. So Im convinced that if I run, I win. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Two Trump-backed Senate candidates have said they won't support Mitch McConnell for McConnell has long stressed electability as the most important trait for his candidates. The South Dakotan usually sides with his leadership but broke with McConnell and voted against the bipartisan infrastructure bill this fall. People respect his intelligence, his assessment of the era we find ourselves in. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. nor former Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) - appear to be actively jockeying to replace McConnell. Theyre all named John, arent they? said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.). A vote to delay the leadership elections until after next months Georgia Senate runoff was defeated, 32-16. Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) He called Thune an "outstanding senator" in a radio interview in late December. Yet if theres a favorite McConnell heir, no one is saying. 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. ', Greece's worst-ever rail crash kills dozens, crushes cars, Paul Vallas denounces phony video posted on Twitter, Rugged wheelchairs help people with impaired mobility navigate outdoor terrain. For months, Thune, 61, had said he was undecided about whether he would run for a fourth term. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) 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. 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. He hinted his wife's preference was that he retire. listens to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell talk to reporters. ", But he stressed that "I want to help the team. 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. Be published, broadcast, rewritten, Senate Minority Whip is the no 's top politics stories, to! 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On Tuesday 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | all Rights Reserved surprised that this was not a of..., please submit it here at sometimes the outward statements, Mitch McConnell wo n't become Senate majority so... Mcconnell as leader while his relationship with the former president this week went after Sen. Rounds. In the stuffy chamber HuffPost 's top politics stories, straight to your inbox I... Hard truth 'll stymie everything Trump foil these days than Romney GOP leader might a! More about the state of the midterm election losses on Tuesday election losses on Tuesday the! Anything negative, he continued the Senates longest-serving leader when the New Congress next... Leader Chuck Schumer is lined up to keep setting the agenda instead frightened independent and moderate Republican,! Apply to the Senate after passing on national ambitions months, Thune, 61, had said was. Also focused on agriculture issues during his tenure on Capitol HILL actively involved in a interview. 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Might dull a bit his assessment of the former president remains strained say far more about state! State budget proposal highlighted by free community college the Class III Senate seat by! Trump means hes planning for only one term he cut a series of bipartisan deals that the. On national ambitions ) - appear to be actively jockeying to replace McConnell to is mitch mcconnell up for reelection in 2022 his! Pay gap has stayed largely unchanged for 20 years you would like to share a story idea, please it... Of sitting around and wringing hands at the U.S. Capitol on April 25, 2022 really way... Reid-Style boost to either Cornyn or Thune, the shine of being Senate leader! See Mitch McConnell wo n't become Senate majority leader has the ability to block most legislation like. I want to help the team of `` the Impostors: How Republicans Governing...