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. When Mitch McConnell steps down as Senate GOP leader, which wont happen anytime soon, John is sure to replace him. 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.. CNN On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell went public with what has long been suspected: He has no plans to leave the Senate even if his party loses its majority in November. Kristi Noem (R) to challenge Thune in a primary but she declined and is running for reelection to the states top office. And it frightened independent and moderate Republican voters, McConnell said of the midterm election losses on Tuesday. 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. Hes a key player in the Senates centrist negotiating groups that have helped craft new laws on infrastructure, gun safety and marriage equality and he wants to continue that style of work as long as hes a senator. CNN contacted the 16 Senate Republicans up for reelection in 2022 on Thursday about whether they still back McConnell and just three responded. Its a unique sort of a race because you know who the voters are, and its not really influenced by outside influences. Yet Murkowski points Romney down the path to running and winning as an anti-Trump Republican, for reasons beyond her backing from McConnell. Noem said on Twitter shortly after that Thune was a friend and she would not run against him. Just because McConnell can still lead filibusters of legislation doesn't mean he'll stymie everything. Its also a boost to McConnell, who has seen a number ofhis closest alliesexitthe Senate in recent cycles. 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.. on Tuesday said no one's making a move to replace McConnell. "It's time for new, America First leadership in the Senate.". He's also the bestselling author of "The Impostors: How Republicans Quit Governing and Seized American Politics.". 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. Senate Republicans, who are close allies of the former president, urged Thune to run and not to worry about a Trump-field primary challenge. 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. Hes not impulsive from anyway that I can tell, except on a basketball court, Cramer said of his fellow Dakotan. 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. 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. 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. 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). I think thats the healthiest weve been since Ive been here, Braun told HuffPost. Hes been a really important part of our conference. 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. McConnell has also been the target of Trumps wrath after voting for a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill and a proposal to allow Democrats to raise the debt ceiling by themselves with a simple majority vote. 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.. Market data provided by Factset. Under Scott, the NRSC took a hands-off approach to GOP primaries, embracing those candidates in the general election. 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. 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. But over the past year hes also found himself at odds with former President Trump because of the former presidents push for GOP lawmakers to try to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which Trump and some of his closest allies have falsely claimed was rigged or stolen., Thune warned that a long-shot effort to throw out the Electoral College results in Congress would go down like a shot dog.. 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. "In terms of his wrestling match with President Trump, that's an issue that I guess will sort itself out over time. 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. But thats a decision Ill make., Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) arrives at the U.S. Capitol on April 25, 2022. Former President Trump speaks at a rally on Sept. 25, 2021, in Perry, Georgia. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said the GOP is fortunate to have the three Johns to choose from. And timing could be everything: Thune is subject to the same six-year term limits as whip that rotated Cornyn out of the spot. 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. Daily News Update Its kind of like being a head coach in football, people look at sometimes the outward statements. Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in New Hampshire. 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. If Trump mounts another run for president, the shine of being Senate GOP leader might dull a bit. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The GOP and McConnell hoped to flip the Senate in November's election, but that didn't happen. 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. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. 2022 MIDTERMS: WILL A RED WAVE OVERCOME A BLUE WALL? Anybody who wants to run for it can feel free to do so. ), the No. ", Former President Trump speaks at a rally on Sept. 25, 2021, in Perry, Georgia. Drew Angerer/Getty Images. The 61-year-old once mulled running for president but has committed himself to the Senate after passing on national ambitions. Follow her on Twitter: @morganwatkins26. nor former Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) appear to be actively jockeying to replace McConnell. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) Sen. John Thune (S.D. "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. 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. Heres how. ', 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. McConnell said in an interview that hes absolutely willing to do the same for Romney, and is pushing his colleague for another bid. "I have not heard anybody say anything negative," he added. McConnell says he will do everything possible to ensure Romney succeeds. And I think his running for reelection would be very important, McConnell said. For months, Thune, 61, had said he was undecided about whether he would run for a fourth term. 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. CNN contacted the 16 Senate Republicans up for reelection in 2022 on Thursday about whether they still back McConnell and just three responded. Theres no sign McConnell would give a Reid-style boost to either Cornyn or Thune, though he publicly encouraged Thune to run again. Thune and Cornyn are best-positioned to become the next Senate GOP leader but Barrasso is in the mix too. 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. And, what can be accomplished?. McConnell has also been the target of Trump's wrath after voting for a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill and a proposal to allow Democrats to raise the debt ceiling by themselves with a simple majority vote. 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. And with the former president weakened, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, no fan of Trump himself, is among the top Republicans exhorting Romney to seek another six-year term in 2024. 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.. People respect his intelligence, his assessment of the era we find ourselves in. "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. Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.) on Wednesday easily won reelection as Senate GOP leader, fending off a conservative challenge led by Sen. Rick Scott (Fla.). The final vote was 37-10, with one Republican voting present. While the lack of response from GOP senators over McConnell underscores the awkward spot Republicans find themselves in, some made clear they are behind the Senate Republican leader. Thune briefly considered a run for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination before deciding not to launch a campaign. Trump successfully chilled FBI from being willing to investigate anything What Bidens FHA mortgage fee cut means for buyers. He likes winners and John Thune is a winner, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) told The New York Times. 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 Conferences term-limit rules for leadership posts. 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. 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. McConnell faces increased opposition from 2022 GOP Senate hopefuls. Ive faced long odds: Getting the nomination in 2012 was a long shot, becoming a Republican governor in one of the most liberal states in America, Massachusetts. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) questions U.S. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco as she testifies on renewing and strengthening the Violence Against Women Act during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on October 05, 2021 in Washington, DC. Thats the nature of Utah politics, said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) of the states strange dynamics. "I think he does a good job," he said. "It's kind of like being a head coach in football, people look at sometimes the outward statements. 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. We must start saying what we are for, not just what we are against.. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. I do, Scott said when asked if he stands by supporting McConnell as leader. Former Missouri Gov. 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. Sens. I have not heard anybody say anything negative, he added. ), the No. Legal Statement. They don't see what goes on behind the scenes, the organization, the planning, getting people to work together.". for saying the 2020 elections were fairly won, which some Republicans said Tuesday was helpful to Thune. ', Greece's worst-ever rail crash kills dozens, crushes cars, Westown Association announces Milwaukee Night Market dates, FlyDubai announces record profit as Gulf air travel booms, Southeast's S.P.A.C.E. Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.) on Wednesday easily won reelection as Senate GOP leader, fending off a conservative challenge led by Sen. Rick Scott (Fla.). Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. | As long as he is in the Senate, hes going to want to be the leader, in the minority or the majority, Braun said. He listened and was receptive to the folks that he knows probably voted against him. John Cornyn (Texas), the former GOP whip, and Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) Reach reporter Morgan Watkins at mwatkins@courierjournal.com. Two Trump-backed Senate candidates have said they won't support Mitch McConnell for "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. Tuberville said he thinks McConnell as compiled a good record over the past year and doesnt know of anyone looking to usurp his leadership. I look forward to earning the support of all South Dakotans in the 2022 election for Senate, he continued. News Channel 3-12 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation. Both senators said their most important election right now is this November, when they have a real shot at taking back the majority. The question confronting Senate Republicans now is: Which John? 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. Its like, what should I do in the time I have left? 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. 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