The jockeying is also playing out in House races, with Trump campaign adviser Katrina Pierson having been approached about running to replace the late Rep. Ron Wright
Republicans say the maneuvering among Trump’s allies is indicative of the former president’s continuing popularity with grassroots conservatives who are eager for the next wave of leaders to take up his mantle.
“It’s still Trump’s party and he may actually have gained in popularity [with the GOP base] since impeachment,” said former Rep. Lou Barletta
In deep-red Alabama, the race to replace Shelby could turn on which candidate is seen as the closest to Trump.
Former Trump officials eye bids for political office
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Former Trump officials eye bids for political office
msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) saw the largest decline in his approval rating among GOP voters, dipping 29 points, to 41%.
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who is up for re-election next year, saw his approval rating fall 16 points among Republican voters, and just 22% are “strongly” in his corner.
Intraparty declines for retiring Pennsylvania, Ohio senators illustrate the challenges of simultaneously satisfying both the base and the broader electorate in the Trump era ahead of contested primaries.
Retaking control of the Senate chamber next year is within the GOP’s reach, but first the party’s senators will need to cure the collective political hangover brought on by the ignominious exit of former President Donald Trump and come to grips with his continued influence with their voting base.