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Senate Republicans mock the potential threats to the GOP majority in the upcoming elections in Kentucky, Kansas and Alabama.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell smiled Tuesday when he was asked about the decision of former fighter pilot Amy McGrath to run against him in 2020.
"Unlike many of my members, I like the campaigns," the Kentucky Republican said Tuesday on the issue of his new Democratic opponent. "I look forward to participating in the contest and showcasing our difference to the people of Kentucky."
McConnell was equally optimistic about Alabama despite Roy Moore's decision to run for the Senate primary.
Moore, a former judge, lost his race against Democrat Doug Jones in 2017 after the media told him his story of dating.
While Moore's decision to be elected in the 2020 ballot worries some Republicans who fear his candidacy will give the seat to the Democrats a second time, McConnell was apparently not worried.
The seat now held by Jones is called a "draw" by Cook's political report. This is the only seat that Republicans have a realistic chance of recovering Democrats by 2020.
McConnell pointed out that a poll last week revealed to Moore that his GOP opponent was third, earning him a high negative vote among GOP voters.
"I think the people of Alabama have discovered this guy," McConnell said. "I think they've seen Roy Moore enough and I expect we'll have a different candidate in the fall election."
In Kansas, former Secretary of State Kris Kobach, an immigration fan, is more likely to win the GOP nomination for the Senate.
Kobach lost the leadership race to Democratic governor Laura Kelly in 2018, although her views on immigration and other issues closely meet President Trump.
Senate Republicans do not want Kobach, though. They fear that he can not win and will cost the party a secure Republican seat long held by retired Senator Pat Roberts.
The Republicans want Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to appear, but Pompeo did not give the impression he would become a candidate.
"I do not think he has had time to weigh the pros and cons of a race in the Senate, but it is clear that he would be the favorite, at least for the moment," Roberts said.
Roberts said Kobach would have a tough campaign since he had just lost the governor's race.
"If you ran for a position across the country and you did not succeed, it's a much bigger hill to climb to turn around and run for another office in the country." 'whole country,' Roberts said.
Roberts said Kobach could still beat a Democrat if he reaches the November vote.
Roberts pointed to the group of Democratic presidential candidates, as well as the Liberal wing of the House, who advocated the decriminalization of illegal immigration, the Green New Deal and other liberal ideas that will not resonate with the Kansans.
The left-wing shift in party ideology is going to hurt the Democratic candidates of the state, he said, and will help the GOP candidate.
"It will be a pretty tough year," said Roberts. "People may not like Trump, but it's a relative choice."
Senate majority Whip, John Thune, said he did not think Kobach would win the Kansas primary against a better GOP candidate, adding that in Kentucky, McGrath was not actually threatening McConnell.
McGrath ran for the 6th District House headquarters in Kentucky in 2018 and lost 3 points against Republican Andy Barr.
Kobach lost 5 points against Kelly as governor of Kansas.
"I think the two candidates in these two races are long shots," said Thune.
"The fact that they have an opponent in Kentucky who has lost a home race in a very good year for the Democrats, I'm not sure either way, is kind of a bombshell in this race."
Thune, like other Republicans, wants Pompeo to jump into the Kansas Senate race, where he would likely defeat Kobach in the primary.
Pompeo represented the 4th District of Kansas from 2011 to 2017 before being Director of the CIA and Secretary of State.
"I would encourage it," said Thune. "I think he'd be a great candidate."
Thune said the Senate's competitive seating map "is going to be big enough," but candidates have money and messages to defend their seats.
Thune is not afraid of being in the minority in 2021.
Republicans currently have a three-seat advantage.
If Cook likely assesses Republican victories over Kentucky and Kansas, two seats, Senator Colorado, Cory Gardner, and Arizona Senator Martha McSally, are qualified substitutes. Senator Susan Collins, Maine Republican, is also in the running for re-election.
Republicans hope to retain these seats and pick up Alabama.
"Our members will have to work hard to win their elections, and we believe they are well placed to do so."
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