Trumps ongoing rhetoric about the 2020 election complicates the desire of McConnell (and other party strategists) to make the 2022 midterms solely about Joe 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. She said the support she got from other teams was 'overwhelming. "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. 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 "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. But thats a decision Ill make., Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) arrives at the U.S. Capitol on April 25, 2022. No one understands the Senate better than he does, Sen. John Thune, the No. But some Republicans have raised questions about whether he can effectively serve as leader while his relationship with the former president remains strained. Thune declined to describe himself as the favorite despite his comfy spot in leadership: Id hate to say that. 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]. The South Dakotan usually sides with his leadership but broke with McConnell and voted against the bipartisan infrastructure bill this fall. 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. 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. We got a lot of legislation of significant nature through, Romney said in the interview. 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. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images. For months, Thune, 61, had said he was undecided about whether he would run for a fourth term. He listened and was receptive to the folks that he knows probably voted against him. 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. Those term limits, however, do not apply to the top leader. 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. Senate.". What do I want to accomplish? McConnell says he will do everything possible to ensure Romney succeeds. 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. She said the support she got from other teams was 'overwhelming. "In terms of his wrestling match with President Trump, that's an issue that I guess will sort itself out over time. All rights reserved. Trump is flirting with running again in 2024 and continues to maintain a fierce grip on the party. 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. Severe Weather 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). 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. Thune and Cornyn are best-positioned to become the next Senate GOP leader but Barrasso is in the mix too. Asked if hell be crisscrossing the country this year, helping fellow Republicans in Senate elections, Thune said "if its helpful. Two Trump-backed Senate candidates have said they won't support Mitch McConnell for TWO REPUBLICANS JUMP INTO SENATE RACE IN KEY BATTLEGROUND OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 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. She estimated a leadership campaign wouldnt happen for probably five years from now., Nonetheless, the unofficial battle of the Johns is very real. In theory, this could prove to be trivial, especially if far-right candidates balking at McConnell come up short in primaries or in general elections. The other GOP senators who did not respond: Sens. 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. 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. Republican senators are trying to stay out of the fray between former President Donald Trump and their leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell. McConnell is poised to become the Senates longest-serving leader when the new Congress convenes next year. or redistributed. 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. I always tell my colleagues Ill come out for them or against them, which ever helps them the most. Republican senators say none of McConnell's possible heirs apparent - neither Thune nor Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) "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. Feb. But he made clear that Trump still has deep support among the party faithful. 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. Legal Statement. 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. People respect his intelligence, his assessment of the era we find ourselves in. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Noem said on Twitter shortly after that Thune was a friend and she would not run against him. When Mitch McConnell steps down as Senate GOP leader, which wont happen anytime soon, John is sure to replace him. Maura Healey unveils state budget proposal highlighted by free community college. They dont see what goes on behind the scenes, the organization, the planning, getting people to work together.. The longtime party leader fended off a challenge from Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), a Trump ally who led a conservative effort to unseat him. If Trump mounts another run for president, the shine of being Senate GOP leader might dull a bit. That makes Romneys path to reelection easier than some other Trump critics who bowed out of electoral politics rather than face voters again. are also viewed as jockeying for the top spot. Anybody who wants to run for it can feel free to do so. James Lankford of Oklahoma; Mike Lee of Utah; John Kennedy of Louisiana; John Boozman of Arkansas; Mike Crapo of Idaho; Chuck Grassley of Iowa; Lisa Murkowski of Alaska; John Hoeven of North Dakota; and Marco Rubio of Florida. 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. And timing could be everything: Thune is subject to the same six-year term limits as whip that rotated Cornyn out of the spot. McConnell made his statement a few days after his top deputy, Senate Republican Whip John Thune (R-S.D. And probably wont do that anytime in the immediate future.. Under Scott, the NRSC took a hands-off approach to GOP primaries, embracing those candidates in the general election. A vote to delay the leadership elections until after next months Georgia Senate runoff was defeated, 32-16. Still, even with McConnells term not over until 2026, Republicans know that things can always change and change quickly. Weather Forecast ", But he stressed that "I want to help the team. After one unsuccessful Senate bid in 2002, Thune knocked off the top Senate Democratic leader, Tom Daschle, in 2004. Theres a very simple answer: Yes. "I have not heard anybody say anything negative," he added. The remarks sparked Trumps ire and the former president fired back that Thune was Mitchs boy. Trump tried toconvince South Dakota Gov. Incoming National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Steve Daines (R-Mont.) listens to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell talk to reporters. The gender pay gap has stayed largely unchanged for 20 years. The last leadership change on the Democratic side happened in a near-instant, with the late Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announcing his retirement and immediately endorsing Sen. Chuck Schumer to succeed him. 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. Follow her on Twitter: @morganwatkins26. Many of Mitt Romneys fellow senators assume his willingness to break from his party and Donald Trump means hes planning for only one term. The South Dakota senator highlighted the Republican victories, suggesting they are a 'repudiation' of the Democrats' big-government approach. Ive always promised that I would do the work, even when it was hard, uncomfortable, or unpopular, Thune said in the statement. Cornyn said Thune is a very important part of our conference and has a lot to offer, while underscoring that a reelection run is a separate question than who succeeds McConnell. But it's worth noting for context that the far-right Alaskan isn't alone in adopting an anti-McConnell position. Theres no sign McConnell would give a Reid-style boost to either Cornyn or Thune, though he publicly encouraged Thune to run again. 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. McConnell confirmed on Tuesday that hell seek to remain GOP Senate leader after Novembers midterms. 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. Since his election in 2018, Romneys put an indelible stamp on the Senate. ", SENATE REPUBLICAN REELECTION ARM HAULS IN A RECORD $104 MILLION LAST YEAR. McConnell has long stressed electability as the most important trait for his candidates. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Mitch McConnell won't become Senate majority leader. Hes a deliberate person. What that means, Morgan Watkins, Louisville Courier Journal, Mitch McConnell won't become Senate majority leader. That means McConnell, whom Senate Republicans kept as their top official, remains Senate minority leader a leadership role he got demoted to in January 2021 after Democrats won a razor-thin majority. 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