There’s a civil war going on within the heart of the Republican Party and it’s hard to say which direction the party will go.
Following the Midterms, America First politicians are putting establishment leaders in the hot seat and trying to gain as much influence as possible.
But Mitch McConnell held onto power by the skin of his teeth and made one major promise that infuriated conservatives.
Mitch McConnell is reelected after challenge from Florida Senator Rick Scott
Mitch McConnell was reelected as Republican Senate leader in a 37-10 vote after facing a challenge for the first time in 15 years from Senator Rick Scott from Florida.
Scott argued that “the status quo is broken and a big change is needed.”
He thinks that “it’s time for new leadership in the Senate that unites Republicans” and truly ends “reckless government spending and the devastating inflation it has caused.”
Scott believes the current leadership was leading to poor messaging with voters.
He said that no voters knew what Republicans would do and that was the problem with the Midterm elections.
Scott explained the results of the Midterms “weren’t what we hoped for . . . (and) this is far from the end of our fight to Make Washington Work.”
Despite leadership challenge, McConnell promises that he’s “not going anywhere”
According to reports, the vote was done behind closed doors and under a secret ballot.
Upon reelection, McConnell made the promise that he’s “not going anywhere.”
McConnell disagreed with Scott’s takeaway from the Midterms and argued that “candidate quality” from the Trump wing of the party was the problem.
He said that America First candidates “frightened” undecided voters and ultimately pushed away moderate and independent voters.
McConnell claims that the party was “not dealing with the issues in a responsible way and . . . were spending too much time on negativity and attacks and chaos.”
Ted Cruz tried to delay the vote until after Georgia run-off
There were attempts to delay the vote until after the December 6 run-off in Georgia.
Senator Ted Cruz was hoping that instead of focusing on Senate leadership, Republicans could work together and focus on the crucial Herschel Walker race.
Cruz claims that there was a “cordial . . . but a serious discussion” that ultimately ended with McConnell’s reelection after he couldn’t garner the votes to stop it.
Senator Josh Hawley backed Cruz’s attempts, saying “I just don’t understand why we would say to Herschel Walker, ‘Please, please, please, please, please go win the Senate seat,’ but we are not interested in what you have to say, we don’t want you to have a voice in our elections,” adding that he thinks it’s just “wrong.”
McConnell hit back saying that “everybody in our conference agrees we want to give it our best shot to finish the job in Georgia and concentrate on that for the next month.”
Republican Senators left questioning the fate of the GOP
Senator Hawley thinks the party is heading in the wrong direction.
He believes the reason for the lack of substantial gain in the Midterms was due to poor leadership.
But, for now, he acknowledged “the conference didn’t want to change course.”
Echoing Hawley’s sentiment, Scott said “we have continued to elect leadership who refuses” to recognize that it isn’t one person that is responsible for the party’s performance. He says the current direction of the party is “not working and it’s time for bold change. The voters are demanding it.”
Now it’s up to the voters to put pressure on McConnell.
He needs to keep America First a priority.
US Political Daily will keep you up-to-date on any developments to this ongoing story.
