Insisting that Senate Republicans be led by people who are “genuinely committed to fighting” for working Americans, newly reelected Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is calling for a delay in the party’s leadership vote.
Originally published by WND News Center. Used with permission.
“The Senate GOP leadership vote next week should be postponed,” he wrote 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.”
Fellow Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri agreed, tweeting, “Exactly right.”
The delay is an apparent challenge to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s leadership after the party underperformed in the midterm elections, where polls indicated they could take as many as 54 or 55 seats.
At the moment, Republicans have 49 seats to the Democrats 48, with the Nevada, Arizona and Georgia races undecided.
Hawley argued control of the Senate could come down to the runoff Dec. 6 in Georgia between incumbent Democratic Sen. Rafael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker, who each failed to reach the state’s requirement of more than 50% of the vote.
“I don’t know why Senate GOP would hold a leadership vote for the next Congress before this election is finished,” Hawley tweeted. “We have a runoff in #GASenate … are they saying that doesn’t matter? Don’t disenfranchise @HerschelWalker.”
GOP Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming agreed Rubio’s remarks: “Second,” she tweeted.
Second. https://t.co/GhwY9iiVQh
— Cynthia Lummis ? (@CynthiaMLummis) November 11, 2022
“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,” Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri noted in his own response to Rubio’s comments.
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
When asked who he would like to see in the Senate GOP leadership role, Hawley was blunt: “Not Mitch McConnell.”
“It makes no sense for Senate to have leadership elections before GA runoff. We don’t yet know whether we’ll have a majority & Herschel Walker deserves a say in our leadership. Critically, we need to hear a specific plan for the next 2 yrs from any candidate for leadership,” Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas added.
It makes no sense for Senate to have leadership elections before GA runoff.
We don’t yet know whether we’ll have a majority & Herschel Walker deserves a say in our leadership.
Critically, we need to hear a specific plan for the next 2 yrs from any candidate for leadership.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) November 11, 2022
Sen. Rick Scott of Florida is regarded as a possible challenger to McConnell.
Riding a Republican wave in his state led by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ nearly 20-point victory, Rubio won reelection Tuesday by 16 points after trailing Democratic challenger Rep. Val Demings in opinion polling in August.