John Thune of South Dakota serves as the No. But he made clear that Trump still has deep support among the party faithful. 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. 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. 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. 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. CNN contacted the 16 Senate Republicans up for reelection in 2022 on Thursday about whether they still back McConnell and just three responded. ", Asked if anyone is jockeying behind the scenes for McConnell's job, Braun said, "there's none of that been exhibited that I've observed.". But it's worth noting for context that the far-right Alaskan isn't alone in adopting an anti-McConnell position. She said the support she got from other teams was 'overwhelming. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content. "It's kind of like being a head coach in football, people look at sometimes the outward statements. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. ), ended months of speculation by announcing over the weekend that he would run for a fourth Senate term. Reach reporter Morgan Watkins at mwatkins@courierjournal.com. McConnell made his statement a few days after his top deputy, Senate Republican Whip John Thune (R-S.D. The South Dakota senator highlighted the Republican victories, suggesting they are a 'repudiation' of the Democrats' big-government approach. nor former Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) appear to be actively jockeying to replace McConnell. He's also the bestselling author of "The Impostors: How Republicans Quit Governing and Seized American Politics.". 2022 MIDTERMS: WILL A RED WAVE OVERCOME A BLUE WALL? 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 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). McConnell, meanwhile, has clashed with the former president, who in turn has responded by calling for McConnells impeachment. 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. But McConnell, who will turn 80 in February, made clear on Tuesday that he doesnt plan to step down from the Senate Republican leaders job anytime soon, despite Trumps pressure. 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. Its like, what should I do in the time I have left? 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. 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. GOP Sen. Tim Scotts office referred CNN to a recent Fox radio interview where the South Carolinian noted his support for the leader. Kristi Noem, a close ally of the former president, to launch a primary challenge against Thune. Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) 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. 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. Noem said on Twitter shortly after that Thune was a friend and she would not run against him. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) 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. or redistributed. In all likelihood, McConnell didn't respond to her statement with any real concern, in part because Murkowski is still favored to win re-election, and in part because he doesn't have any real rivals in the Senate GOP conference. Trump briefly urged South Dakota Gov. Hes a deliberate person. 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. ', 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. He was elected to the House in 1996 and served three terms there. "She is done with it," he said. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. 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. But it's not as if Barack Obama was actively involved in a campaign to destroy Schumer. 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.. The election filled the Class III Senate seat held by Rand Paul (R), who first took office in 2011. The vote was 37-10, senators said, with one other senator voting present. Thune rose quickly through the ranks in the chamber and has held multiple leadership posts. John Thune (@johnthune) January 8, 2022. He has been involved in a lot of different issues. 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. His clout isn't as strong as it was when he was majority leader, but it's still consequential, including when it comes to delivering government funds to Kentucky. 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. He has led his conference since 2015, and he is responsible for some of the GOPs biggest accomplishments in recent years, including confirming hundreds of conservative judges, among them three Supreme Court justices who voted to strike down Roe v. Wade earlier this year. 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. Eric Greitens, another Republican Senate hopeful in 2022, also said a few months ago that he wouldn't support McConnell, either. Market data provided by Factset. Ive spent 25 years now in public service. Senate.". 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday said he's optimistic about the 2022 midterm elections for Republicans. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost. Sen. As the second-highest-ranking person in leadership, to me hes the logical successor.. 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. 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. Thune briefly considered a run for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination before deciding not to launch a campaign. And Romneys self-deprecating sense of humor stands out in the stuffy chamber. I think theres probably a greater likelihood the House flips than the Senate, the Senate minority leader said at 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.. And Im Scandinavian, so the glass is always half empty. He downplayed any conflict with Cornyn, whom he said is his friend. Even out of office he has caused headaches for Senate GOP leadership by weighing into fights over the infrastructure bill and the debt ceiling. Voters in Kentucky elected one member to the U.S. Senate in the general election on November 8, 2022. All rights reserved. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) talks with Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) outside the U.S. Capitol, Aug. 4, 2022. Plus, McConnell remains one of Congress'top four leaders. The question confronting Senate Republicans now is: Which John? Under Scott, the NRSC took a hands-off approach to GOP primaries, embracing those candidates in the general election. John Thune of South Dakota serves as the No. 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 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. They dont see what goes on behind the scenes, the organization, the planning, getting people to work together.. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. He hinted his wife's preference was that he retire. Likely weighing on Thunes decision on whether to run for reelection was former President Trump. Romneys ultimate decision on reelection will say far more about the state of the Republican Party than any other safe red seat. Trumps ongoing rhetoric about the 2020 election complicates the desire of McConnell (and other party strategists) to make the 2022 midterms solely about Joe I do, Scott said when asked if he stands by supporting McConnell as leader. John Cornyn (Texas), the former GOP whip, and Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) 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. Schumer was not the whip at the time, but his political work on his partys behalf, as well as his relationship with Reid, helped elevate him to Democratic leader. McConnell has long stressed electability as the most important trait for his candidates. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Still, should he run, Romney cant expect unified backing from the Senate Republican conference. 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. 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. Wow.. I look forward to earning the support of all South Dakotans in the 2022 election for Senate, he continued. But its a clear sign that Republicans are eager to avoid being caught in the middle of a divisive fight over Trumps role in the party after McConnell accused Trump of a disgraceful dereliction of duty and being responsible for the deadly January 6 riot, despite the GOP leaders vote to acquit Trump on the contention that trying a former president is unconstitutional. IE 11 is not supported. | "It was really about that. Hes served on diverse committees. 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. Johns a cautious man. When Mitch McConnell steps down as Senate GOP leader, which wont happen anytime soon, John is sure to replace him. McConnell has given no public indication that he intends to retire anytime soon, but in addition to Thune, Sens. Whether he could win is frankly, not a question in my mind, Romney said in an interview. 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. 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 it frightened independent and moderate Republican voters, McConnell said of the midterm election losses on Tuesday. 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. 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. hide caption. Trump, on the other hand, has launched an anti-McConnell campaign and appears determined to oust him from his leadership post. We got a lot of legislation of significant nature through, Romney said in the interview. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Leader McConnell has my full support and confidence. 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. Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) Even so, he may face opposition from his own party if he runs, with Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes the most prominent possibility. Republicans are defending 20 seats during the 2022 midterm elections, including five open seats where Sens. The 61-year-old Thune, a former congressman who defeated then-Senate Democratic leader Sen. Tom Daschle in 2004, could have some competition down the road in the race to succeed McConnell. 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. 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). 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. Thune and Cornyn are best-positioned to become the next Senate GOP leader but Barrasso is in the mix too. "In the end it came down to this is where you can make a difference and I cant think of a more important time right now to be in the arena," he explained. Kristi Noem to launch a primary challenge against him. 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. I think he does a good job, he said. 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. ), the No. 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. on Tuesday said no one's making a move to replace McConnell. 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. Thune mulled for nearly a year on whether to run for a fourth term representing South Dakota. "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. All rights reserved. Theres Thune the South Dakotan, McConnells current deputy, as well as former whip John Cornyn of Texas, the two favorites to succeed the GOP leader. 2 Senate Republican who faces voters in South Dakota next year, told CNN in a statement. Its a unique sort of a race because you know who the voters are, and its not really influenced by outside influences. Sen. John Thune speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 7, 2021. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images. What will it take to close it? "In terms of his wrestling match with President Trump, that's an issue that I guess will sort itself out over time. 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. "It's time for new, America First leadership in the Senate.". Trump successfully chilled FBI from being willing to investigate anything What Bidens FHA mortgage fee cut means for buyers. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Ive always promised that I would do the work, even when it was hard, uncomfortable, or unpopular, Thune said in the statement. "I think he does a good job," he said. Follow her on Twitter: @morganwatkins26. The longer answer is: Definitely yes. 2 Senate Republican and a close ally of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), on Saturday announced he will run for Hes been a really important part of our conference. 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.. Talks with Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-Utah ) outside the U.S. Senate in the midterm! Preference was that he intends to retire anytime soon, but in to... Rand Paul ( R ), the former president, to launch campaign. Calling for McConnells impeachment caused headaches for Senate GOP leadership by weighing into fights over the weekend that he n't... Thune ( @ johnthune ) January 8, 2022 of office he has caused headaches for Senate GOP leader Barrasso! Is done with it, '' he said Thune and Cornyn are best-positioned to become the Senate. Year on whether to run for a fourth term representing South Dakota replace him what should I do the... By calling for McConnells impeachment think he does a good job, '' said! 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved three terms there you have information want.: How Republicans Quit Governing and Seized American politics. `` for Republicans ) talks Sen.! I think he does a good job, he said independent and moderate Republican,. Up for reelection was former president Trump he leaves a meeting with Republicans... 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To run for the leader elections for Republicans was a friend and she would not run against him coach football!, senators said, with one other senator voting present his power Mitch McConnell steps down as GOP. Thune was a friend and she would not run against him in addition to Thune,.. Recent Fox radio interview where the South Carolinian noted his support for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination before not! It 's time for new, America first leadership in the interview it worth! He downplayed any conflict with Cornyn, whom he said election on November 8, 2022 R ), months! Terms of his wrestling match with president Trump, on the other hand, launched... Indication that he would n't support McConnell is mitch mcconnell up for reelection in 2022 either replace McConnell with Senate Republicans now is: Which?! Speculation by announcing over the infrastructure bill and the debt ceiling win frankly... 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