Scoop: McConnell's power play over vote for his replacement
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Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) speaks to reporters as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) looks on in 2022. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in a closed-door meeting rejected an effort from conservatives to delay the timeline for picking his replacement, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: It's the latest sign of the race to succeed the longest-serving congressional party leader finally heating up with Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) as top contenders.
- It's an early discussion, but McConnell is unlikely to get outflanked by his GOP critics who want to replace him with a more conservative leader.
- With McConnell's announcement to step down in February, it's already been a long leadership election.
Driving the news: Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) used a Wednesday lunch to try to convince their colleagues to delay the vote potentially into December.
- A delay of even a few weeks could leave more time for former President Trump to weigh in or for a last-minute, dark-horse candidate to rise. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) has already launched a long-shot bid.
- "We need adequate time to meet as a conference — probably on multiple occasions — between the general election and the leadership election," Sen. Lee, who hosted the lunch as steering committee chair, told Axios.
- Lee did not give any specific timeline to Axios, but said he thinks senators and senators-elect need enough time to deliberate but added that he did not think the two sides of the discussion were "irreconcilable."
State of play: McConnell dismissed Lee's suggestion.
- He was supported by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Shelly Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) according to three sources familiar with what was said at lunch.
- Recent leadership elections have taken place a week and some change after the general election.
- McConnell has also shot down conservatives' push to impose term limits on the next leader.
The intrigue: The idea of delaying the vote is being floated by some of the same senators who backed Scott's failed bid to unseat McConnell last time around.
- There was also an effort to delay the leadership vote in 2022, which McConnell handily won.
What to watch: Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) as conference chair will be a key decision maker on when the election is ultimately held.
- He is running unopposed for the No. 2 slot after deciding against a leadership run that many had initially expected him to make.
- Barrasso described the Wednesday lunch as a "good discussion."
