Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said Tuesday that the Republican Party could hurt its chances of doing well in the midterm elections if it decides to run “unacceptable” candidates in November.
In a speech at a miniature event in Kentucky, McConnell noted that 1994 was the best election year for the GOP, but the political climate ahead of the upcoming election is even better than it was 28 years ago.
“From an atmospheric standpoint, this is a perfect storm of problems for Democrats.” McConnell he said. “How could you screw this up? It’s really possible. We have had some experience with this in the past.”
“If you look at where in the Senate we have to compete to get a majority, there are places in the general election that are competitive,” he continued. “So you can’t nominate someone who is simply unacceptable to a broader group of people and win. We had this experience in 2010 and 2012.”
This comes after recent polls show Republicans will take back Congress in November. Some NBC News Poll at the end of March, it turned out that the GOP had a two-point advantage over the Democrats (46% to 44%) when it comes to which party Americans would like to control Congress.
Americans are increasingly frustrated with the Biden administration and Democratic policies over issues such as rising gas prices, record high inflation rates, the ongoing crisis at the southern border and foreign policy failures such as the cluttered withdrawal from Afghanistan and the current war being waged by Russia. located in Ukraine.
To regain control of the Senate, Republicans would need a net one seat in the November election. The current majority in the Senate is currently 50-50.
Republicans want to keep 21 seats in the Senate in November, while Democrats defend only 14 seats.
Five places are rated by Cook Political Report as penalty kicks in November. Of these seats, three (Georgia, Arizona and Nevada) are held by Democrats, and two (Pennsylvania and Wisconsin) are currently controlled by the GOP. The seat in Pennsylvania is currently held by retiring Republican Senator Pat Toomey.
In the Cook Political Report, three Republican-held seats – Florida, Ohio and North Carolina – are classified as “lean” Republicans. GOP senator from Florida Marco Rubio is trying to hold on to his seat until races begin in North Carolina and Ohio due to the retirements of GOP Sens. Richard Burr (NC) and Rob Portman (OH).
Only one seat held by a Democrat is classified as a “skinny” Democrat. That seat is in New Hampshire, where the Democratic senator. Maggie Hassan is running for re-election.
Georgia, Arizona, Missouri, Nevada, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Ohio and Wisconsin – several of which McConnell cited as key states in the battle for the Senate majority – will be states that could facilitate determine which party ultimately controls the top. parliament. chamber after the November elections.
“For now, I am optimistic that we will have fully electable candidates in the seats that will decide who will be the next majority leader,” he added. McConnell he said.
