Republican senators are preparing for a possible leadership vote if Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announces his retirement. There’s no official confirmation of his retirement yet, but the possibility of a leadership change has sparked discussions among political observers.
North Dakota’s John Barrasso, Texas’ John Cornyn, and South Dakota’s John Thune are making preparations for a leadership vote. They are reaching out to fellow Republican senators to gather support for a potential vote.
McConnell was discharged from the hospital on March 13th following a fall and injuries sustained at a private function the previous week. He suffered from a concussion and a minor rib fracture. His office reported that he is currently undergoing inpatient rehabilitation and physical therapy to regain his strength, which is a normal recovery process that usually takes a week or two after a hospital stay. McConnell is 81 years old.
BREAKING: Republican Senators are actively preparing for the retirement of Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) April 13, 2023
The Spectator reported,
One source says that Cornyn has been particularly active in his preparations, taking fellow senators with whom he has little in common to lunch in attempts to court them.
Requests are being targeted at a plethora of conservative senators, including the sixteen who voted to delay the leadership election earlier this year, a proxy for opposition to McConnell’s leadership. Rick Scott, the Florida senator and former NRSC head who challenged McConnell, ultimately received ten protest votes. These members could prove key to determining the next Republican leader. Queries are also being made internally about the rules regarding replacement, and how the contest would be structured given the lack of an obvious heir apparent.
McConnell is a prominent figure in American politics. He has been a senator for almost 40 years and is an important Republican leader in the Senate. He is known for his strategic abilities and is considered a proficient negotiator. If he retires, it would significantly alter the balance of power within the GOP. The fact that some Republican senators are getting ready for a potential leadership vote underlines the high stakes involved and the intense competition for power within the party.
McConnell, a member of the Republican Party, served as the senior United States Senator from Kentucky from 1985 until his retirement from the Senate in December 2022. He was the Senate Majority Leader from 2015 to 2021, and then the Senate Minority Leader from 2021.