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Republican senators say Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has strong odds of keeping his post atop the conference despite simmering discontent among some members and a push to delay leadership elections.
“Heavens, yes. Yes,” Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo. – who supports moving back Republican leadership elections – said when asked if McConnell, R-Ky., has the votes to remain Senate GOP leader.
Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, meanwhile, predicted that McConnell will get “all the votes.” He also vocally opposed moving back the elections.
“We didn’t delay the leadership election two years ago when there was a runoff for actually two Republican senators in Georgia, so there’s no reason to delay now,” Romney said.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., could face a challenge for his post from NRSC Chair Rick Scott, R-Fla.
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
FREEDOM CAUCUS SAYS THERE WILL BE AN ‘ALTERNATIVE CHALLENGER’ TO KEVIN MCCARTHY FOR HOUSE SPEAKER
McConnell, who will be the longest-serving Senate party leader ever if he is re-elected as Senate GOP leader Wednesday, is generally seen as likely to remain on top of the conference. He has many political allies from his 38 years in the chamber, and he has faced no opposition in several past elections.
But after disappointing midterms, eight GOP senators are calling for leadership elections to be delayed, with some of them apparently making McConnell the target of their criticism.
“The leadership in the Republican Senate says, ‘No, you cannot have a plan, we’re just going to run against how bad the Democrats are.’ And actually then they cave into the Democrats,” said Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., on “Sunday Morning Futures. “Now they want to rush through an election. … They don’t want to do any assessment of what we’ve done wrong.”
Scott last week circulated a letter with Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Ron Johnson, R-Wis., on delaying leadership elections. Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Josh Hawley, R-Mo.,…
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