listens to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell talk to reporters. 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. 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.. They may be surprised. 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 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. He voted to convict Trump in both impeachment trials, becoming the only Senate Republican to support abuse of power charges against Trump in the former presidents first trial over Ukraine aid. But thats a decision Ill make., Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) arrives at the U.S. Capitol on April 25, 2022. 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. 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. 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.. 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. Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy won't seek reelection next year, House retirement tracker: Senior Democrats exit as the GOP is confident of a takeover. And timing could be everything: Thune is subject to the same six-year term limits as whip that rotated Cornyn out of the spot. "Potential prospects down the road was a factor as we weighed the question of whether or not to seek another six-year term.". News Channel 3-12 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation. McConnell says he will do everything possible to ensure Romney succeeds. Instead, the former president this week went after Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) Two Trump-backed Senate candidates have said they won't support Mitch McConnell for 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. 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. The 61-year-old once mulled running for president but has committed himself to the Senate after passing on national ambitions. Though Mitch McConnell has revealed about backing Trump for the 2024 presidential election, he has not confirmed about his re-election in 2022. Mitch McConnell is a U.S. Senate Republican Leader. 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. Thune and Cornyn arent asking for anyones support, and both say they theyll support McConnell as long as the Kentuckian is in office. Roy Blunt (R-Mo. 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. Link Copied! 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. 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. 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. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. Republican senators are trying to stay out of the fray between former President Donald Trump and their leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell. 2 Senate GOP leader and likely successor to Republican leader Mitch McConnell, has announced he will run for reelection in 2022, putting an end to the speculation about the South Dakota senator's political future. But it's worth noting for context that the far-right Alaskan isn't alone in adopting an anti-McConnell position. 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.. I have not heard anybody say anything negative, he added. "It was really about that. Former Missouri Gov. The GOP and McConnell hoped to flip the Senate in November's election, but that didn't happen. 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. It validates him as leader in a really big way. Sen. 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. McConnell made his statement a few days after his top deputy, Senate Republican Whip John Thune (R-S.D. 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. 2 Senate Republican leader. 2022 MIDTERMS: WILL A RED WAVE OVERCOME A BLUE WALL? He has been involved in a lot of different issues. 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? 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. | Kristi Noem to launch a primary challenge against him. 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. 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. Since his election in 2018, Romneys put an indelible stamp on the Senate. 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 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. 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. and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), as well as newly independent Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. Hes great. She estimated a leadership campaign wouldnt happen for probably five years from now., Nonetheless, the unofficial battle of the Johns is very real. Im pretty proud of 37 to 10, he added. 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 Trump successfully chilled FBI from being willing to investigate anything related to him: Peter Strzok. Trump, on the other hand, has launched an anti-McConnell campaign and appears determined to oust him from his leadership post. 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). Hes not impulsive from anyway that I can tell, except on a basketball court, Cramer said of his fellow Dakotan. "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. Samuel Corum/Getty Images | They dont see what goes on behind the scenes, the organization, the planning, getting people to work together.. Republican senators say none of McConnell's possible heirs apparent - neither Thune nor Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said the GOP is fortunate to have the three Johns to choose from. But despite Trumps previous anger, Thune appears likely to win reelection and has $14,839,846.75 cash on hand in his campaign account as of the last fundraising quarter. 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.". They don't see what goes on behind the scenes, the organization, the planning, getting people to work together.". I think theres probably a greater likelihood the House flips than the Senate, the Senate minority leader said at I always tell my colleagues Ill come out for them or against them, which ever helps them the most. 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. 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. TWO REPUBLICANS JUMP INTO SENATE RACE IN KEY BATTLEGROUND OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 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. McConnell made his statement a few days after his top deputy, Senate Republican Whip John Thune (R-S.D. A vote to delay the leadership elections until after next months Georgia Senate runoff was defeated, 32-16. Voters in Kentucky elected one member to the U.S. Senate in the general election on November 8, 2022. Scott was a curious choice for taking on McConnell. 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. But I havent made a decision, finally. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Thune mulled for nearly a year on whether to run for a fourth term representing South Dakota. John Thune of South Dakota serves as the No. The Trump Archive launched in January 2017. Drew Angerer/Getty Images. 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. "It's kind of like being a head coach in football, people look at sometimes the outward statements. Also he is currently leading the Ukraine Those term limits, however, do not apply to the top leader. 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. He has Then theres John Barrasso, the No. and so what comes next? 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. People assumed that Mitch McConnell will be up for re-election in 2022 following his election in 2020, which he won. Im really pleasantly surprised that this was not a lot of sitting around and wringing hands. 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. He called Thune an "outstanding senator" in a radio interview in late December. 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. His` larger ambitions aside, the Florida Republican just oversaw a series of humiliating Senate GOP defeats in the midterm elections, with candidate quality being a serious problem. 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. 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.. (AP Photo/J. "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. Monaco also spoke on the FBIs mishandling of the Olympic gymnast sexual abuse case and threats against school board officials and educators. 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.. 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. 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 McConnell, meanwhile, has clashed with the former president, who in turn has responded by calling for McConnells impeachment. 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