WASHINGTON — After hours of closed-door debate Wednesday on Capitol Hill, Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan joined different Senate Republicans in reelecting Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell as Senate minority chief.
McConnell obtained 37 secret-ballot votes, whereas challenger Florida Sen. Rick Scott garnered 10 votes. One senator voted “current.”
Scott’s bid was the primary problem to McConnell’s 15-year tenure as GOP Senate chief. The win positions him to turn out to be the longest-serving senator within the position.
“I’m not in any method offended by having an opponent or having a number of votes in opposition,” McConnell instructed reporters after the vote. “We had a very good alternative to debate numerous variations. Individuals had an opportunity to hearken to each candidates, and I’m fairly happy with 37-10.”
Sullivan declined to remark earlier than the vote however instantly after the vote stated he voted for McConnell, although he declined to say why.
On Tuesday, forward of the vote, Murkowski tweeted that she would help McConnell.
“Senator McConnell has been a robust chief for our convention and I stay up for confirming him in our management elections this week,” Murkowski stated.
McConnell supported Murkowski’s reelection bid this 12 months towards Republican Kelly Tshibaka and Democrat Pat Chesbro. The Senate Management Fund, a PAC aligned with McConnell, spent thousands and thousands in advertisements attacking Tshibaka.
McConnell’s help for Murkowski drew blowback from former President Donald Trump, who blamed the minority chief for Republicans’ failure to take management of the Senate.
“He’s too busy spending huge quantities of cash on unhealthy Senator Lisa (Murkowski) of Alaska when Kelly (Tshibaka) is FAR higher,” Trump stated on social media Friday.
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