While there are a variety of reasons why Republicans did not perform as well as expected in the midterms this week, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy are taking a portion of the blame from grassroots conservatives and some elected Republicans.
Both leaders have taken flack for shifting resources away from Republican candidates in competitive races towards helping moderates beat challengers to their right in the primaries and in Alaska, where incumbent Lisa Murkowski received $9 million from the Senate Leadership Fund to ward off a challenge from Trump-endorsed Kelly Tshibaka.
The money that Murkowski received was allegedly pulled from the Arizona Senate race, where Blake Masters could still win or lose by a slim margin.
Mitch McConnell dumping $9 million into Alaska so pro-abortion RINO Lisa Murkowski could beat an America First Republican instead of spending it in Arizona for Blake Masters, whose race is going down to the wire, should be the nail in the coffin for his time as Leader.
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) November 10, 2022
A number of Republican Senators have already voiced support for delaying votes for Republican leadership until the Georgia Senate race is decided next month, in what is already a sign that McConnell may face some pushback in his bid for re-election as Senate Minority or Majority leader.
One was Florida’s, Marco Rubio.
The Senate GOP leadership vote next week should be postponed
First we need to make sure that those who want to lead us are genuinely committed to fighting for the priorities & values of the working Americans (of every background) who gave us big wins in states like #Florida
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) November 11, 2022
“The Senate GOP leadership vote next week should be postponed,” Rubio tweeted Friday. “First, we need to make sure that those who want to lead us are genuinely committed to fighting for the priorities & values of the working Americans (of every background) who gave us big wins in states like #Florida.”
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Senator Josh Hawley, R-Mo. who has often found common cause with Rubio, agreed with him on delaying the Senate leadership vote.
“Exactly right. I don’t know why Senate GOP would hold a leadership vote for the next Congress before this election is finished,” Hawley said. “We have a runoff in #GASenate – are they saying that doesn’t matter? Don’t disenfranchise @HerschelWalker.”
Exactly right. I don’t know why Senate GOP would hold a leadership vote for the next Congress before this election is finished. We have a runoff in #GASenate – are they saying that doesn’t matter? Don’t disenfranchise @HerschelWalker https://t.co/atIETyoCKY
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) November 11, 2022
Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., also backed up Rubio, saying, “Second,” in response to his post.
Second. https://t.co/GhwY9iiVQh
— Cynthia Lummis 🦬 (@CynthiaMLummis) November 11, 2022
Representative Matt Gaetz, R-FL, has also expressed his discontent with Republican leadership.
He is one of Trump’s top allies in the House and was quick to blame underwhelming midterm election results on House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
“Kevin is FLIGHT over FIGHT when the chips are down,” he said in a Tweet on Friday morning.
Kevin McCarthy:
Defended Liz Cheney when @jdanbishop first sought her ouster
Told GOP Leadership Trump should resign after J6
Kevin is FLIGHT over FIGHT when the chips are down
He is not a Speaker for these times
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) November 11, 2022
Senator Rick Scott, R-FL, would also be a potential dissenting vote against McConnell’s re-election for leadership after the two got into multiple public arguments over this year’s crop of Senate candidates.
McConnell publicly criticized the candidates while Scott stood firmly behind them as Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC).
Scott reportedly has intentions to run against McConnell if Republicans get a majority, something that may not be determined until the Georgia Senate runoff election.
Woah… @jmart reports that Rick "Scott had cut an announcement video declaring his intentions" to run against McConnell for Senate Majority Leader.https://t.co/bZtOokRTz7
— Jacob Rubashkin (@JacobRubashkin) November 11, 2022
Additional stories you may want to read:
Rick Scott blasts TX GOP for not being ‘inclusive’
Sen. Rick Scott Reams McConnell ‘Treasonous to the Conservative Cause’
