GOP senators threatened with re-election in 2022 keep silence on McConnell amid confrontational fight with Trump

With Trump’s warning he will push primary candidates who fit his mold in the 2022 Senate races, many Republican senators facing voters next year are not eager to choose sides after the attack the former president’s dazzling attack against the GOP leader after his impeachment trial.

Their lack of response doesn’t mean McConnell risks losing his place atop the GOP Senate conference, a position he has held longer than any other Republican senator in history. But it’s a clear sign that Republicans are eager to avoid being caught in the middle of a battle that divides Trump’s role in the party – after McConnell accused Trump of “shameful dereliction of duty” and ‘be responsible for the deadly January 6 riot, despite the GOP leader’s vote to acquit Trump on the claim that trying a former president is unconstitutional.

While many Republican senators share McConnell’s point of view, others do not and are frustrated with the GOP leader for condemning the former president in harsh terms, arguing his comments put them in a position complicated.

“It was the most unusual decision for McConnell,” said a GOP source close to the Republican Senate leader.

Among the many Republican senators who did not respond when asked if they still support McConnell were his colleague from Kentucky Senator Rand Paul and Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, who sharply criticized the GOP leader in recent radio interviews following McConnell’s remarks on the Senate Floor.

The senses. Todd Young of Indiana and Roy Blunt of Missouri, who are close to the GOP leader, did not respond to inquiries – and may themselves be wary of inviting a possible main challenger if they anger the former president.

Other GOP senators who did not respond: Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma; Mike Lee from Utah; John Kennedy of Louisiana; John Boozman of Arkansas; Mike Crapo from Idaho; Chuck Grassley of Iowa; Lisa Murkowski from Alaska; John Hoeven of North Dakota; and Marco Rubio from Florida.

Glenn Clary, the chairman of the state party, told CNN that “some people are angry and upset and some people say she voted her conscience.”

But he made it clear that Trump still had deep support among party loyalists.

“President Trump is highly regarded here,” Clary said.

For McConnell, no GOP Senate challengers have emerged that could knock him off his perch in the body, so there is no immediate threat to his leadership position. But his attack on Trump – and Trump’s scathing response – could spill over into the Senate primaries where candidates largely line up with the former president in an attempt to woo his base, even as McConnell has vowed to employ his political operation to push the candidates he sees as the most eligible.

“I come to the United States Senate to defend you, just like when I stood by President Trump and supported his American First agenda,” said Jane Timken, former president of the Ohio Republican Party who announced Thursday that she would seek. seat opened in the State Senate in 2022.

While the lack of response from GOP senators to McConnell underscores the delicate place Republicans find themselves in, some have made it clear that they are behind the Republican Senate leader.

“Leader McConnell has my full support and confidence. No one understands the Senate better than he,” Senator John Thune, the second Senate Republican who will face voters in South Dakota next year, told CNN.

GOP Senator Tim Scott’s office referred CNN to a recent Fox Radio interview where the South Carolinian noted his support for the leader.

“Yes,” Scott said when asked if he supports McConnell as a leader. “There is a very simple answer: Yes. The longer answer is: Definitely yes. Because at the end of the day we’re going to have to have someone in the group who understands how to fight fire with fire when it’s Sen. (Chuck) Schumer if we’re going to win back the majority, which we will. “

Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican facing voters next year, also confirmed through a spokesperson that he “supports Senator McConnell as leader.”