You know, Im 75, Romney said. Romney stayed neutral during his colleague Sen. Mike Lees (R-Utah) reelection campaign, as his friend Evan McMullin ran against Lee as an independent. Its like, what should I do in the time I have left? ), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) are retiring. "I have not heard anybody say anything negative," he added. ", Former President Trump speaks at a rally on Sept. 25, 2021, in Perry, Georgia. But some Republicans have raised questions about whether he can effectively serve as leader while his relationship with the former president remains strained. ", 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. Im running for the US Senate to stand up for you, just like when I stood next to President Trump and supported his American First agenda, said Jane Timken, the former chair of the Ohio Republican Party who announced Thursday she would seek the states open Senate seat in 2022. CNN contacted the 16 Senate Republicans up for reelection in 2022 on Thursday about whether they still back McConnell and just three responded. 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 before he starts preparing to change offices, it's worth noting that some of the Republicans running for the Senate next year say they have no intention of supporting McConnell in 2023. What will it take to close it? 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. 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. Its a unique sort of a race because you know who the voters are, and its not really influenced by outside influences. I have not heard anybody say anything negative, he added. 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. Eric Greitens, another Republican Senate hopeful in 2022, also said a few months ago that he wouldn't support McConnell, either. 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. ), the No. 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. "It was really about that. 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. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content. Trump successfully chilled FBI from being willing to investigate anything related to him: Peter Strzok. "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. listens to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell talk to reporters. 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. Monaco also spoke on the FBIs mishandling of the Olympic gymnast sexual abuse case and threats against school board officials and educators. Trump briefly urged South Dakota Gov. 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. Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MSNBC political contributor. 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. IE 11 is not supported. 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. | Drew Angerer/Getty Images. Yet if theres a favorite McConnell heir, no one is saying. Weather Forecast The 61-year-old once mulled running for president but has committed himself to the Senate after passing on national ambitions. CNN In August, Mitch McConnell told a hard truth . While many Republican senators share McConnells view, others do not and are frustrated with the GOP leader for condemning the former President in harsh terms, arguing his comments have put them in a complicated position. I do, Scott said when asked if he stands by supporting McConnell as leader. Just because McConnell can still lead filibusters of legislation doesn't mean he'll stymie everything. Part of HuffPost Politics. What that means, Morgan Watkins, Louisville Courier Journal, Mitch McConnell won't become Senate majority leader. The South Dakota senator highlighted the Republican victories, suggesting they are a 'repudiation' of the Democrats' big-government approach. And probably wont do that anytime in the immediate future.. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. McConnell said in an interview that hes absolutely willing to do the same for Romney, and is pushing his colleague for another bid. Legal Statement. for saying the 2020 elections were fairly won, which some Republicans said Tuesday was helpful to Thune. The Trump Archive launched in January 2017. 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. John Thune (@johnthune) January 8, 2022. He called Thune an "outstanding senator" in a radio interview in late December. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks during a press conference at the US Capitol on September 28, 2022. 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.. 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 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 Daily News Update But it's worth noting for context that the far-right Alaskan isn't alone in adopting an anti-McConnell position. nor former Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) appear to be actively jockeying to replace McConnell. He was elected to the House in 1996 and served three terms there. Thune and Cornyn are best-positioned to become the next Senate GOP leader but Barrasso is in the mix too. Reach reporter Morgan Watkins at mwatkins@courierjournal.com. 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.. All rights reserved. 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. 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. McConnell-allied groups took the opposite tack, seeking initially to boost more traditional establishment-type Republicans. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. DeSantis pushes for dismissal of lawsuit brought by migrants sent to Marthas Feehery: Progressive DC government turning city into a dystopia, Vance pitches PPP for Ohio while other Republicans say to wait, The shepherd boy, the wolf and the threat to Israeli democracy, Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The question confronting Senate Republicans now is: Which John? John probably has a pretty good sense of his likelihood of success.. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here. "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. Voters in Kentucky elected one member to the U.S. Senate in the general election on November 8, 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. ), who backed Scott, gave McConnell credit for acknowledging the concerns raised about his leadership style. Trump is flirting with running again in 2024 and continues to maintain a fierce grip on the party. Even Sen. Mike Braun (Ind. ", 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.". 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. Sens. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday said he's optimistic about the 2022 midterm elections for Republicans. "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. But in another respect, Romneys just like any politician: He wants to win. and so what comes next? 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 And Romneys self-deprecating sense of humor stands out in the stuffy chamber. CNN contacted the 16 Senate Republicans up for reelection in 2022 on Thursday about whether they still back McConnell and just three responded. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. I don't expect that to be me," he noted, adding that it's "certainly not on my radar screen at the moment.". are also viewed as jockeying for the top spot. Anybody who wants to run for it can feel free to do so. 2 Senate Republican and a close ally of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), on Saturday announced he will run for Once McConnell would make his mind up one way or the other, Im sure there would be a jockeying for that would become quite apparent, he said. 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. Legal Statement. DeSantis pushes for dismissal of lawsuit brought by migrants sent to Marthas Feehery: Progressive DC government turning city into a dystopia, Vance pitches PPP for Ohio while other Republicans say to wait, The shepherd boy, the wolf and the threat to Israeli democracy, Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 2022 MIDTERMS: WILL A RED WAVE OVERCOME A BLUE WALL? While Trump has seemingly moved on from Thune, hes kept up a long-running, largely one-sided, feud with McConnell. 2 Senate Republican leader. Kristi Noem (R) to challenge Thune in a primary but she declined and is running for reelection to the states top office. But he made clear that Trump still has deep support among the party faithful. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Mitch McConnell won't become Senate majority leader. Mitt 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. 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. 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. Scott announced Tuesday that he would take on McConnell for the seat, arguing that the status quo is broken and big change is needed. His complaints about GOP leadership followed months of feuding with McConnell over campaign strategy that devolved into open warfare after Democrats maintained control of the Senate last week. Thats the nature of Utah politics, said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) of the states strange dynamics. 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 Utahn was the first senator in history to vote to remove a president of the same party from office, in Trumps first impeachment trial. The senator predicted that Trump's baseless challenge of the results in Congress would go down like "a shot dog." But he caught flack from former President Donald Trump after the 2020 election. McConnell confirmed on Tuesday that hell seek to remain GOP Senate leader after Novembers midterms. 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. 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. Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.) on Wednesday easily won reelection as Senate GOP leader, fending off a conservative challenge led by Sen. Rick Scott (Fla.). Ive spent 25 years now in public service. 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. 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 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. John Cornyn (Texas), the former GOP whip, and Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) "In terms of his wrestling match with President Trump, that's an issue that I guess will sort itself out over time. Market data provided by Factset. He's also focused on agriculture issues during his tenure on Capitol Hill. They dont see what goes on behind the scenes, the organization, the planning, getting people to work together.. It was the most uncharacteristic move for McConnell, said one GOP source close to the Senate Republican leader. Its kind of like being a head coach in football, people look at sometimes the outward statements. Those term limits, however, do not apply to the top leader. "It's time for new, America First leadership in the Senate.". Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who chairs the Senate GOP campaign arm, quickly formally endorsed Thune on Saturday, saying in a statement that South Dakotans are lucky to have a conservative fighter like John Thune working for them in the Senate.. For months, Thune, 61, had said he was undecided about whether he would run for a fourth term. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) "I think he does a good job," he said. Its also a boost to McConnell, who has seen a number ofhis closest alliesexitthe Senate in recent cycles. Hopefully we get the majority back and at some point nobody knows when exactly that might be in the future there probably will be some opportunities. 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. 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. Feb. 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. THE SIX BIGGEST CAMPAIGN QUESTIONS OF 2022, Thune noted that "the overall political landscape, political environment, that youre in" weighed on his electoral decision and acknowledged that Trumps continued dominance within the GOP "plays into the things that were going to be able to do around here is certainly a factor. Follow her on Twitter: @morganwatkins26. 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 Sen. John Thune speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 7, 2021. 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. 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. And as Cornyn put it: I try to always be prepared., Sen. Mike Mansfields record for leadership longevity, agonized for nearly a year over running again, last leadership change on the Democratic side happened, massive financial transfers to the party committee. Unlike the other three, however, Romneys biggest threat is more likely to come in a primary than in the general election. We must start saying what we are for, not just what we are against.. But theyare feeling increasingly confident about their chances of winning back the Senate, where they only need a net pickup of one seat to get the majority. People assumed that Mitch McConnell will be up for re-election in 2022 following his election in 2020, which he won. Noem said on Twitter shortly after that Thune was a friend and she would not run against him. ', 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. When Mitch McConnell steps down as Senate GOP leader, which wont happen anytime soon, John is sure to replace him. Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) Sen. John Thune (S.D. 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. 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