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. 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. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), a Trump ally and former college football coach, said McConnells doing a good job, shrugging off the former presidents scathing criticism of the leader. We got a lot of legislation of significant nature through, Romney said in the interview. 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 always tell my colleagues Ill come out for them or against them, which ever helps them the most. 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. Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) Thune has kept a tight lid on his thinking about his own reelection bid for months, despite routine peppering by reporters about whether he was running again in 2022. 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. Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.) on Wednesday easily won reelection as Senate GOP leader, fending off a conservative challenge led by Sen. Rick Scott (Fla.). You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here. But it's not as if Barack Obama was actively involved in a campaign to destroy Schumer. Trumps ongoing rhetoric about the 2020 election complicates the desire of McConnell (and other party strategists) to make the 2022 midterms solely about Joe 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. 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. Trump, on the other hand, has launched an anti-McConnell campaign and appears determined to oust him from his leadership post. McConnell said in an interview that hes absolutely willing to do the same for Romney, and is pushing his colleague for another bid. And probably wont do that anytime in the immediate future.. 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. The 61-year-old once mulled running for president but has committed himself to the Senate after passing on national ambitions. Then senator said, "I never rule anything out" but quickly added that "it's not something at this point that I aspire to. The GOP and McConnell hoped to flip the Senate in November's election, but that didn't happen. Theyre all named John, arent they? said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.). He likes winners and John Thune is a winner, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) told The New York Times. And, what can be accomplished?. Many of Mitt Romneys fellow senators assume his willingness to break from his party and Donald Trump means hes planning for only one term. But it's worth noting for context that the far-right Alaskan isn't alone in adopting an anti-McConnell position. People assumed that Mitch McConnell will be up for re-election in 2022 following his election in 2020, which he won. 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 I never rule anything out, Thune said in a Tuesday interview. Republican senators say none of McConnells possible heirs apparent neither Thune nor Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) The majority leader has the ability to determine which proposals do and don't come up for a vote in the Senate. He was elected to the House in 1996 and served three terms there. Trump successfully chilled FBI from being willing to investigate anything What Bidens FHA mortgage fee cut means for buyers. John Thune of South Dakota serves as the No. The South Dakota senator highlighted the Republican victories, suggesting they are a 'repudiation' of the Democrats' big-government approach. The South Dakotan usually sides with his leadership but broke with McConnell and voted against the bipartisan infrastructure bill this fall. (AP Photo/J. 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. All rights reserved. 2022 MIDTERMS: WILL A RED WAVE OVERCOME A BLUE WALL? "I have not heard anybody say anything negative," he added. 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. 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. on Tuesday said no ones making a move to replace McConnell. 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. Scott was a curious choice for taking on McConnell. 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. Theres no sign McConnell would give a Reid-style boost to either Cornyn or Thune, though he publicly encouraged Thune to run again. 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. But Noem dismissed any bid for Senate and is running for reelection as governor. John Thune, the No. 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. Im really pleasantly surprised that this was not a lot of sitting around and wringing hands. 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. WebThe Trump Archive collects TV news shows containing debates, speeches, rallies, and other broadcasts related to Donald Trump, before, during and after his presidency. 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. Next year, the Senate will be narrowly divided with Democrats in charge, which may empower senators like Romney and Sinema to keep working together on issues like the minimum wage or immigration. Thune declined to describe himself as the favorite despite his comfy spot in leadership: Id hate to say that. No one understands the Senate better than he does, Sen. John Thune, the No. 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. Could a White House race be in his political future? Some senators think McConnells set to stay around as leader until the end of his Senate career, regardless of Trumps relentless attacks on him and calls for new leadership. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content. "In terms of his wrestling match with President Trump, that's an issue that I guess will sort itself out over time. Ive always promised that I would do the work, even when it was hard, uncomfortable, or unpopular, Thune said in the statement. Samuel Corum/Getty Images ", 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. 2 Senate Republican and a close ally of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), on Saturday announced he will run for 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Then he cut a series of bipartisan deals that upset the right. Unlike the other three, however, Romneys biggest threat is more likely to come in a primary than in the general election. Several GOP senators have decided to exit this cycle. Even out of office he has caused headaches for Senate GOP leadership by weighing into fights over the infrastructure bill and the debt ceiling. 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. THE HILL 1625 K STREET, NW SUITE 900 WASHINGTON DC 20006 | 202-628-8500 TEL | 202-628-8503 FAX. But some Republicans have raised questions about whether he can effectively serve as leader while his relationship with the former president remains strained. Eric Greitens, another Republican Senate hopeful in 2022, also said a few months ago that he wouldn't support McConnell, either. 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. John Thune of South Dakota serves as the No. The vote was 37-10, senators said, with one other senator voting present. Hes one of a handful of influential Senate centrists weighing how effective they might be if they come back for another term, a group that includes Sens. 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. Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MSNBC political contributor. "I think he does a good job," he said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, I have not heard anybody say anything negative, he added. 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. That gives McConnell and his team influence over what bills succeed and which ones fail. 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. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images). and so what comes next? 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. 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. Romney stayed neutral during his colleague Sen. Mike Lees (R-Utah) reelection campaign, as his friend Evan McMullin ran against Lee as an independent. The longer answer is: Definitely yes. 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. "It's kind of like being a head coach in football, people look at sometimes the outward statements. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said the GOP is fortunate to have the three Johns to choose from. Those term limits, however, do not apply to the top leader. "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. 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. Senate.". Former President Trump speaks at a rally on Sept. 25, 2021, in Perry, Georgia. Here's what that means for the kind of power he'll be able to wield. And I think his running for reelection would be very important, McConnell said. Cornyn has as well. hide caption. 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.. He was elected to the House in 1996 and served three terms there 's what that for! Other senator voting present an issue that I guess will sort itself out over.... Was a curious choice for taking on McConnell ( R-N.D. ) told New! Flip the Senate better than he does, Sen. Kevin Cramer ( R-N.D. told. 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