Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is urging Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a close ally and his No. 2, to run for reelection next year as Thune weighs retiring.
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But the GOP will also be defending seats in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, two states President Biden
Even in historically red states, the spate of retirements means that Republicans may have to contend with bruising primary fights that could weaken their standing ahead of competitive general elections.
“I think the more immediate question, in part because this will happen first is, what will happen in primaries and what candidates emerge from that?” veteran Republican strategist Doug Heye told The Hill.
The retirements also mark the latest sign of an ongoing shift in the GOP away from the traditional conservatism that has defined it for the past several decades. With seasoned Republican lawmakers stepping down, Trump loyalists are enthusiastically eyeing their seats as they look to solidify the former president’s ideological grip on the party.
Asked about the trail of departures, Sen. Lisa Murkowski
“I think about just the years of legislating that they have brought to these discussions, it’s going to be a real loss. A loss for the institution really,” Murkowski said.
“Over the years, Congress has changed and we’ve seen different leaders rise, perform and leave. … But it just seems like, it seems like, we re losing so much of that substantive tenure in a very short period,” she added.
It’s far from certain the current exits will be the only ones for Senate Republicans. Sen. Chuck Grassley
Murkowski, asked if she had made a decision on 2022, said, “I have to do it before 2022.”
Hawley, speaking to reporters, vented frustration that he was in the dark about the sweeping package being negotiated by leadership that would tie year-end coronavirus relief with a bill to fund the government. I d like to see some indication of what we re moving toward. . So I m not going to allow a CR to go through until I know what s actually in the package, Hawley said, referring to a continuing resolution.
ADVERTISEMENT I m not willing to just sit by and be told nothing and be given no information and just be asked to do as you re told, Hawley said.
When a reporter noted that he sounded frustrated, Hawley said the situation was beginning to reach the point of absurdity and that it was time for leadership to put on the table what they ve got.