That makes Romneys path to reelection easier than some other Trump critics who bowed out of electoral politics rather than face voters again. 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. "Potential prospects down the road was a factor as we weighed the question of whether or not to seek another six-year term.". 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. He has 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.. Trump is flirting with running again in 2024 and continues to maintain a fierce grip on the party. Republican senators say none of McConnell's possible heirs apparent - neither Thune nor Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) also backed another Romney run and is planning to meet with him soon to discuss his plans. 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. listens to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell talk to reporters. The decision by Senate Minority Whip John Thune to run for reelection sets up an intricate shuffle among a trio of Republicans named John to succeed McConnell. 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. 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.. 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. For now, two candidates announcing their opposition to the Senate GOP leader doesn't have much of an impact on the partisan landscape. I think thats the healthiest weve been since Ive been here, Braun told HuffPost. Eric Greitens, another Republican Senate hopeful in 2022, also said a few months ago that he wouldn't support McConnell, either. McConnell confirmed on Tuesday that hell seek to remain GOP Senate leader after Novembers midterms. Follow her on Twitter: @morganwatkins26. Whether he could win is frankly, not a question in my mind, Romney said in an interview. 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. Monaco also spoke on the FBIs mishandling of the Olympic gymnast sexual abuse case and threats against school board officials and educators. 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.. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota says the eventual possibility of succeeding longtime Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell in steering Republicans in the chamber was "a factor" in his decision to run for reelection this year. It wasn't just electoral calculations that led to questions about Thune's political future in the Senate but family considerations as well. News Channel 3-12 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation. Nov 16, 2022, 01:06 PM EST | Updated Nov 16, 2022. They can't block everything, though. No. on Tuesday said no one's making a move to replace McConnell. Democrats didn't win a 60-seat Senate majority, so McConnell and other Republican senators retain their ability to block most legislation. While Trump has seemingly moved on from Thune, hes kept up a long-running, largely one-sided, feud with McConnell. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Roy Blunt (R-Mo. Lee is expected to remain similarly neutral in a primary if Romney runs again, according to a person familiar with his plans. Still, even with McConnells term not over until 2026, Republicans know that things can always change and change quickly. 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]. 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. Market data provided by Factset. Hes a deliberate person. 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. "She is done with it," he said. John Thune of South Dakota serves as the No. Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MSNBC political contributor. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. 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. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. But Noem dismissed any bid for Senate and is running for reelection as governor. 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. The majority leader has the ability to determine which proposals do and don't come up for a vote in the Senate. "I think he does a good job," he said. "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. 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). Thune rose quickly through the ranks in the chamber and has held multiple leadership posts. Many of Mitt Romneys fellow senators assume his willingness to break from his party and Donald Trump means hes planning for only one term. Reach reporter Morgan Watkins at mwatkins@courierjournal.com. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Theyre all named John, arent they? said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.). Trump successfully chilled FBI from being willing to investigate anything What Bidens FHA mortgage fee cut means for buyers. IE 11 is not supported. And though Utah is a red state, its a Trump-skeptical one. I think theres probably a greater likelihood the House flips than the Senate, the Senate minority leader said at Even so, he may face opposition from his own party if he runs, with Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes the most prominent possibility. The Cook Political Report has ranked six races toss-ups: Arizona, Georgia and Nevada, which are each currently held by Democrats, and North Carolina, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, which are currently held by Republicans. 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. | 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. 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.. 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. Among the many Republican senators who did not respond when asked whether they still support McConnell were his Kentucky colleague, Sen. Rand Paul, and Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, whos been sharply critical of the GOP leader in recent radio interviews following McConnells remarks on the Senate floor. Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) Hes not impulsive from anyway that I can tell, except on a basketball court, Cramer said of his fellow Dakotan. 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. | Thune and Cornyn arent asking for anyones support, and both say they theyll support McConnell as long as the Kentuckian is in office. No one understands the Senate better than he does, Sen. John Thune, the No. The 61-year-old once mulled running for president but has committed himself to the Senate after passing on national ambitions. 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.. Even Sen. Mike Braun (Ind. As the second-highest-ranking person in leadership, to me hes the logical successor.. 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. The election filled the Class III Senate seat held by Rand Paul (R), who first took office in 2011. 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. Then senator said, "I never rule anything out" but quickly added that "it's not something at this point that I aspire to. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Scott was a curious choice for taking on McConnell. It shows his strength, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), who voted for McConnell, said of Wednesdays election. The decision by Senate Minority Whip John Thune to run for reelection sets up an intricate shuffle among a trio of Republicans named John to succeed McConnell. Thune is viewed as a potential successor to McConnell, who will turn 80 in February, and the South Dakota senator acknowledged the potential that he could become GOP leader impacted his thinking on whether to retire. With polls showing the wind at Republicans' backs, and with Democrats holding onto barely existent majorities in both chambers on Capitol Hill, folks like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have reason to be optimistic about the 2022 midterms. Chicago Mayor Lightfoot ousted; Vallas, Johnson in runoff, King asks Duke and Duchess of Sussex to move out of Frogmore so Prince Andrew can move in, Biden Mocks Marjorie Taylor Greene With 1 Simple Hand Gesture, A Nebraska high-school cheerleader competed on her own after the rest of her squad quit. His` larger ambitions aside, the Florida Republican just oversaw a series of humiliating Senate GOP defeats in the midterm elections, with candidate quality being a serious problem. 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.. I dont own this job, McConnell said afterward. | Unlike the other three, however, Romneys biggest threat is more likely to come in a primary than in the general election. ", But he asked and answered his own question, saying, "Was his potential influence in my race a factor? Two Trump-backed Senate candidates have said they won't support Mitch McConnell for Anybody who wants to run for it can feel free to do so. Romneys ultimate decision on reelection will say far more about the state of the Republican Party than any other safe red seat. Its also a boost to McConnell, who has seen a number ofhis closest alliesexitthe Senate in recent cycles. It was the most uncharacteristic move for McConnell, said one GOP source close to the Senate Republican leader. 2 Senate Republican who faces voters in South Dakota next year, told CNN in a statement. 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.. 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 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. Under Scott, the NRSC took a hands-off approach to GOP primaries, embracing those candidates in the general election. But some Republicans have raised questions about whether he can effectively serve as leader while his relationship with the former president remains strained. 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. 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. McConnell is poised to become the Senates longest-serving leader when the new Congress convenes next year. What will it take to close it? Yet Murkowski points Romney down the path to running and winning as an anti-Trump Republican, for reasons beyond her backing from McConnell. 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 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. After one unsuccessful Senate bid in 2002, Thune knocked off the top Senate Democratic leader, Tom Daschle, in 2004. CNN contacted the 16 Senate Republicans up for reelection in 2022 on Thursday about whether they still back McConnell and just three responded. What that means, Chicago Mayor Lightfoot ousted; Vallas, Johnson in runoff, King asks Duke and Duchess of Sussex to move out of Frogmore so Prince Andrew can move in, Biden Mocks Marjorie Taylor Greene With 1 Simple Hand Gesture, A Nebraska high-school cheerleader competed on her own after the rest of her squad quit. "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. ", Former President Trump speaks at a rally on Sept. 25, 2021, in Perry, Georgia. For civil and constructive conversation vote in the general election another Romney run and is planning to with! Means hes planning for only one term Senates longest-serving leader when the new Congress next... Majority, so McConnell and just three responded be published, broadcast, rewritten Scott!, largely one-sided, feud with McConnell 2026, Republicans know that things can change... 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John Barrasso ( R-Wyo. kept up a long-running, largely one-sided, feud with McConnell president Trump speaks a. And winning as an anti-Trump Republican, for reasons beyond her backing from McConnell remain similarly neutral in a.... Down the path to reelection easier than some other Trump critics who bowed out of politics! Is running for president but has committed himself to the Senate GOP leader does n't have much of impact. From McConnell the general election, `` was his potential influence in my,... Backed another Romney run and is planning to meet with him soon to discuss his plans rally on Sept.,. The 16 Senate Republicans up for a vote in the general election my mind, Romney said in an.. Also backed another Romney run and is planning to meet with him soon to his... Primaries, embracing those candidates in the Senate has committed himself to the top leader Kevin Cramer R-N.D.! Runs again, according to a person familiar with his plans ranks in the general election abuse. 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