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. nor former Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) - appear to be actively jockeying to replace McConnell. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. But it's worth noting for context that the far-right Alaskan isn't alone in adopting an anti-McConnell position. 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. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. People respect his intelligence, his assessment of the era we find ourselves in. Johns a cautious man. 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. CNN contacted the 16 Senate Republicans up for reelection in 2022 on Thursday about whether they still back McConnell and just three responded. Severe Weather Romney stayed neutral during his colleague Sen. Mike Lees (R-Utah) reelection campaign, as his friend Evan McMullin ran against Lee as an independent. 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. 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.". Drew Angerer/Getty Images. 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. Also he is currently leading the Ukraine 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. He no doubt recalls flawed ones like Christine O'Donnell in Delaware, Sharron The South Dakota senator highlighted the Republican victories, suggesting they are a 'repudiation' of the Democrats' big-government approach. 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. Romneys ultimate decision on reelection will say far more about the state of the Republican Party than any other safe red seat. McConnell has given no public indication that he intends to retire anytime soon, but in addition to Thune, Sens. While the lack of response from GOP senators over McConnell underscores the awkward spot Republicans find themselves in, some made clear they are behind the Senate Republican leader. Kristi Noem to launch a primary challenge against him. 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.. 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.. and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), as well as newly independent Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. Democrats didn't win a 60-seat Senate majority, so McConnell and other Republican senators retain their ability to block most legislation. When Mitch McConnell steps down as Senate GOP leader, which wont happen anytime soon, John is sure to replace him. "It's time for new, America First leadership in the Senate.". He called Thune an "outstanding senator" in a radio interview in late December. Yet Murkowski points Romney down the path to running and winning as an anti-Trump Republican, for reasons beyond her backing from McConnell. Those term limits, however, do not apply to the top leader. McConnell has long stressed electability as the most important trait for his candidates. 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. 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. We must start saying what we are for, not just what we are against.. Thune rose quickly through the ranks in the chamber and has held multiple leadership posts. John probably has a pretty good sense of his likelihood of success.. And it frightened independent and moderate Republican voters, McConnell said of the midterm election losses on Tuesday. He has ", Former President Trump speaks at a rally on Sept. 25, 2021, in Perry, Georgia. His negotiating partner and friend Sinema raved over Romney as he makes up his mind: I do like Mitt Romney so much. 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 Conferences term-limit rules for leadership posts. 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. 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. 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.". Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images. 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. But Noem dismissed any bid for Senate and is running for reelection as governor. For months, Thune, 61, had said he was undecided about whether he would run for a fourth term. 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.. Lee is expected to remain similarly neutral in a primary if Romney runs again, according to a person familiar with his plans. 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. The question confronting Senate Republicans now is: Which John? No. But he caught flack from former President Donald Trump after the 2020 election. Still, even with McConnells term not over until 2026, Republicans know that things can always change and change quickly. Where Thune can be low-key, Cornyn brings a more pugnacious style that leads some other Republicans to see him as a natural successor to McConnell. Hes worked with Democrats frequently, yet just as easily takes a hard conservative line on issues like the debt ceiling. 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. Legal Statement. "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. 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. Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.) on Wednesday easily won reelection as Senate GOP leader, fending off a conservative challenge led by Sen. Rick Scott (Fla.). That's why he was criticized for the "legislative graveyard" of proposals that died on his desk. "I think he does a good job," he said. And though Utah is a red state, its a Trump-skeptical one. Sen. John Thune speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 7, 2021. Thune briefly considered a run for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination before deciding not to launch a campaign. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. 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. The Trump Archive launched in January 2017. Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in New Hampshire. He was elected to the House in 1996 and served three terms there. | Drew Angerer/Getty Images. 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. President Trump is well liked up here, Clary said. Then senator said, "I never rule anything out" but quickly added that "it's not something at this point that I aspire to. Thune declined to describe himself as the favorite despite his comfy spot in leadership: Id hate to say that. Trumps ongoing rhetoric about the 2020 election complicates the desire of McConnell (and other party strategists) to make the 2022 midterms solely about Joe 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]. I think theres probably a greater likelihood the House flips than the Senate, the Senate minority leader said at I dont own this job, McConnell said afterward. That gives McConnell and his team influence over what bills succeed and which ones fail. 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. GOP senators say they dont 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. ", 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. 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.. Heres how. 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. and so what comes next? 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. What will it take to close it? I dont see Mitch McConnell relinquishing his leadership post prior to some future decision not to run for reelection, Collins said. The 61-year-old once mulled running for president but has committed himself to the Senate after passing on national ambitions. Its really more of a matter of relationships and trust.. John Thune of South Dakota serves as the No. Plus, McConnell remains one of Congress'top four leaders. 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. "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. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. All rights reserved. Theyre all named John, arent they? said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.). McConnell made his statement a few days after his top deputy, Senate Republican Whip John Thune (R-S.D. People assumed that Mitch McConnell will be up for re-election in 2022 following his election in 2020, which he won. The primary was scheduled for May 17, 2022. But it's not as if Barack Obama was actively involved in a campaign to destroy Schumer. 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. 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. If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. 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. What that means, Morgan Watkins, Louisville Courier Journal, Mitch McConnell won't become Senate majority leader. Instead, the former president this week went after Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) That makes Romneys path to reelection easier than some other Trump critics who bowed out of electoral politics rather than face voters again. It validates him as leader in a really big way. Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) 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. 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. The gender pay gap has stayed largely unchanged for 20 years. I have not heard anybody say anything negative, he added. 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.". You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Thune, who as minority whip is the No. CNN contacted the 16 Senate Republicans up for reelection in 2022 on Thursday about whether they still back McConnell and just three responded. The other GOP senators who did not respond: Sens. 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. Leadership post prior to some future decision not to run for the `` graveyard. Will be up for reelection in 2022 on Thursday about whether he run... Not as if Barack Obama was actively involved in a radio interview in late December Whip. 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