"Potential prospects down the road was a factor as we weighed the question of whether or not to seek another six-year term.". Thune rose quickly through the ranks in the chamber and has held multiple leadership posts. 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. Im really pleasantly surprised that this was not a lot of sitting around and wringing hands. 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. Its like, what should I do in the time I have left? Reach reporter Morgan Watkins at mwatkins@courierjournal.com. John probably has a pretty good sense of his likelihood of success.. 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. 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. Cornyn has as well. McConnell has given no public indication that he intends to retire anytime soon, but in addition to Thune, Sens. 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). People assumed that Mitch McConnell will be up for re-election in 2022 following his election in 2020, which he won. 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. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images. Now House Republicans are taking over, a potential roadblock to bipartisan legislation hatched by centrists that passes the Senate but divides Republicans. ", 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.". | Drew Angerer/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. Voters in Kentucky elected one member to the U.S. Senate in the general election on November 8, 2022. 2 Senate Republican leader. Environmental justice investors: Its the demand-side, stupid! ), ended months of speculation by announcing over the weekend that he would run for a fourth Senate term. ), ended months of speculation by announcing over the weekend that he would run for a fourth Senate term. 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. GOP Sen. Tim Scotts office referred CNN to a recent Fox radio interview where the South Carolinian noted his support for the leader. He was elected to the House in 1996 and served three terms there. I always tell my colleagues Ill come out for them or against them, which ever helps them the most. I look forward to earning the support of all South Dakotans in the 2022 election for Senate, he continued. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. And Romneys self-deprecating sense of humor stands out in the stuffy chamber. McConnell confirmed on Tuesday that hell seek to remain GOP Senate leader after Novembers midterms. If Trump mounts another run for president, the shine of being Senate GOP leader might dull a bit. nor former Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) appear to be actively jockeying to replace McConnell. The majority leader has the ability to determine which proposals do and don't come up for a vote in the Senate. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) 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. When McConnell lost the majority leadership, University of Kentucky political science professor Stephen Voss said that didn't put the commonwealth in danger of seeing a big drop in federal assistance. 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. Market data provided by Factset. 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. Glenn Clary, the state party chairman, told CNN that some people are angry and upset and some people say she voted her conscience.. Legal Statement. The election filled the Class III Senate seat held by Rand Paul (R), who first took office in 2011. Its a unique sort of a race because you know who the voters are, and its not really influenced by outside influences. But it's not as if Barack Obama was actively involved in a campaign to destroy Schumer. Hes wonderful to work with. The two have not only written laws together, but also spoofed Ted Lasso for Halloween. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Leader McConnell has my full support and confidence. He likes winners and John Thune is a winner, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) told The New York Times. 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. But as one Senate Republican put it, the potential competition between the two sets up a really difficult choice for the conference. 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. 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. Plus, McConnell remains one of Congress'top four leaders. and so what comes next? 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. But in another respect, Romneys just like any politician: He wants to win. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell gives a thumbs-up as he leaves a meeting with Senate Republicans at the Capitol on Nov. 16, 2022. 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. In August, Mitch McConnell told a hard truth . Theres a very simple answer: Yes. What will it take to close it? He listened and was receptive to the folks that he knows probably voted against him. 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. All rights reserved. Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.) on Wednesday easily won reelection as Senate GOP leader, fending off a Trump successfully chilled FBI from being willing to investigate anything related to him: Peter Strzok. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Ive spent 25 years now in public service. IE 11 is not supported. listens to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell talk to reporters. The remarks sparked Trumps ire and the former president fired back that Thune was Mitchs boy. Trump tried toconvince South Dakota Gov. Republican senators say none of McConnells possible heirs apparent neither Thune nor Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) "We work hard in South Dakota, connect with the people in our state and always put their interest first, and I think they appreciate that. CNN In August, Mitch McConnell told a hard truth . Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. That gives McConnell and his team influence over what bills succeed and which ones fail. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell joined at left by Minority Whip John Thune, speaks to reporters after a Republican strategy meeting at the Capitol in Washington, Oct. 19, 2021. It was the most uncharacteristic move for McConnell, said one GOP source close to the Senate Republican leader. Thune mulled for nearly a year on whether to run for a fourth term representing South Dakota. 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. Feb. But his attack on Trump and Trumps scathing response could reverberate in Senate primaries where candidates are largely aligning themselves with the former President in an attempt to court his base, even as McConnell has vowed to employ his political operation to push candidates he views as most electable. McConnell has long stressed electability as the most important trait for his candidates. That makes Romneys path to reelection easier than some other Trump critics who bowed out of electoral politics rather than face voters again. 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. Samuel Corum/Getty Images 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. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. 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. Kristi Noem to launch a primary challenge against him. Since his election in 2018, Romneys put an indelible stamp on the Senate. 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. 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 Scott was a curious choice for taking on McConnell. | Todd Young of Indiana and Roy Blunt of Missouri, who are close with the GOP leader, did not respond to inquiries and may be wary themselves of inviting a possible primary challenger if they anger the former President. for saying the 2020 elections were fairly won, which some Republicans said Tuesday was helpful to Thune. "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. "I think he does a good job," he said. 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. 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.". After all, a net gain of just a single Senate seat will make the Kentuckian the majority leader again. 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. That's why he was criticized for the "legislative graveyard" of proposals that died on his desk. Hes not impulsive from anyway that I can tell, except on a basketball court, Cramer said of his fellow Dakotan. Former Missouri Gov. 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.. I think theres probably a greater likelihood the House flips than the Senate, the Senate minority leader said at 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. Whether he could win is frankly, not a question in my mind, Romney said in an interview. And though Utah is a red state, its a Trump-skeptical one. And, what can be accomplished?. 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). 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. 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