Mitch McConnell Confident GOP Senators Will Reelect Him as Leader

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Monday said he is confident Republican senators will reelect him as GOP Senate leader on Wednesday after failing to reclaim the Senate from Democrats.

“Of course,” McConnell responded to Capitol Hill reporters.

McConnell only needs a simple majority of the Republican conference votes to remain the GOP leader. The vote will take place by secret ballot and behind closed doors. No Republican appears to be challenging McConnell.

If McConnell receives enough votes, he will be the longest serving party Senate leader in history, surpassing Mike Mansfield.

About eight Senate Republicans have tried to delay Wednesday’s vote, citing the undecided Georgia Senate race. But after Sen. Mark Kelly’s (D-AZ) victory over Republican Blake Masters on Saturday night, Democrats retained the Senate, diminishing the importance of the Georgia Senate seat.

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), who is McConnell’s lieutenant and in charge of holding the election, has confirmed the vote will be held in spite of objections. Sen. John Thune (R-SD), the second highest ranking Senate Republican, said delaying the vote will not change the outcome.

WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 13: U.S. Senate Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) speaks to members of the press as (L-R) Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), and Senate Minority Whip Sen. John Thune (R-SD) listen after a weekly Republican policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol September 13, 2022 in Washington, DC. Members of the Senate GOP held a weekly policy luncheon to discuss the Republican agenda. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

“I think we need to move forward,” Thune told the Wall Street Journal. “There’s nothing that’s going to change as a result of delaying.”

On Monday, 72 Republican leaders signed a letter stating that “there should be no rushed leadership elections” until the Georgia Senate race is concluded in January.

“Conservative Members of the House and Senate have called for the leadership elections to be delayed. We strongly urge both Houses of Congress to postpone the formal Leadership elections until after the December 6 runoff in Georgia and all election results are fully decided,” the members wrote.

“The Republican Party needs leaders who will confidently and skillfully present a persuasive coherent vision of who we are, what we stand for, and what we will do,” they added.