McConnell wins Senate leadership election, overcomes Scott challenge

Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell Wednesday gained re-election as Senate GOP chief, keeping off a problem from Sen. Rick Scott and setting himself as much as turn out to be the longest-serving occasion chief within the historical past of the Senate.

McConnell, R-Ky., gained a vote that broke 37-10, with one senator abstaining, in accordance with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. 

Cruz and a number of other different GOP senators had known as for the vote to be postponed till after the Dec. 6 Georgia Senate runoffs. However a movement to try this from Cruz failed 32-16 forward of the GOP chief vote. 

“I am not going anyplace,” McConnell stated after the vote, when requested if he would take into account stepping apart after breaking the document of the longest-serving occasion chief in Senate historical past, late Sen. Mike Mansfield, D-Mont.

Scott introduced his candidacy for Republican chief in a Tuesday caucus lunch, and pitched himself as a candidate to vary how Senate Republicans function. 

“For those who merely wish to follow the established order, don’t vote for me,” he stated in a letter to senators. 

Scott did not win the election. However Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., who was one among his most vocal backers, stated he believed Scott’s candidacy might have modified how Republican function going ahead. 

“I informed chief McConnell this has been the healthiest enterprise since I have been right here by way of caucus dialogue,” Braun stated. “And Rick in my thoughts introduced it out to the place we made it a dialogue.” 

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., above, challenged Minority Chief Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., for Senate GOP management.
(Joseph A. Wulfsohn/Fox Information Digital)

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Braun added: “I believe he is gonna most likely make it possible for 50 members, relying on the place we’re at, all of us really feel like we’re a part of the method. And I believe that is wholesome.” 

“Are we going to proceed caving in to Democrats? I hope the reply isn’t any. And I hope management will assume twice about it after this,” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., added. 

The management election comes at a tense time for Republicans, who’re reeling from weak midterm elections. Regardless of a poor economic system and favorable historic developments, they took only a miniscule majority within the Home and did not win the Senate. 

RICK SCOTT ANNOUNCES PLAN TO UNSEAT MITCH MCCONNELL AS TOP REPUBLICAN IN THE SENATE

Former President Donald Trump additionally introduced his 2024 presidential run Tuesday night time, which can arrange loads of uncomfortable questions for Republicans for months to come back. Trump has repeatedly known as for McConnell’s ousting.

Outdoors of McConnell, the GOP management crew for the following Congress can be Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., as whip; Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., as convention chair; Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, as coverage chair; Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., as convention vice chair; and Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., because the Nationwide Republican Senatorial Committee chair.

The brand new Congress begins on Jan. 3. The Georgia runoff will determine whether or not the chamber stays 50-50 evenly break up, or whether or not Democrats could have a 51-49 majority.

Fox Information’ Chad Pergram, Kelly Phares and Caroline McKee contributed to this report.