According to Politico, several Republican Senators have called for a delay in caucus elections, throwing into doubt the reelection of Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell, who has been the target of unrest within his own Party.
Because the GOP performance in the midterms has been disastrously below expectations–they’re unlikely to take over the Senate and a House majority isn’t a guarantee as around 30 races are still undecided–an expected challenge from Florida’s Rick Scott evaporated as Scott, the head of the GOP Senate reelection effort, netted, at best, the status quo and at worst, losing a seat.
It’s unclear who McConnell’s opponents would nominate to replace him, but a delay would allow them to mount a campaign to oust him. In a letter to Republican colleagues, GOP Senators Ron Johnson (Wis.), Mike Lee (Utah) and Rick Scott noted that GOP Senate leadership needed to do more during the midterms, saying “We are all disappointed that a Red Wave failed to materialize, and there are multiple reasons it did not.”