Top Stories

GOP senators facing reelection in 2022 keep mum on McConnell amid divisive fight with Trump

February 18, 2021. Summarized by summa-bot.

Compression ratio: 21.9%. 1 min read.

Republican senators are trying to stay out of the fray between former President Donald Trump and their leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell.

(CNN)Republican senators are trying to stay out of the fray between former President Donald Trump and their leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell.

With Trump warning he will push primary candidates who fit his mold in 2022 Senate races, many Republican senators facing voters next year are not eager to pick sides following the former President's blistering attack on the GOP leader after his impeachment trial.

But it's a clear sign that Republicans are eager to avoid being caught in the middle of a divisive fight over Trump's role in the party -- after McConnell accused Trump of a "disgraceful dereliction of duty" and being responsible for the deadly January 6 riot, despite the GOP leader's vote to acquit Trump on the contention that trying a former president is unconstitutional.

Among the many Republican senators who did not respond when asked whether they still support McConnell were his Kentucky colleague, Sen. Rand Paul, and Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, who's been sharply critical of the GOP leader in recent radio interviews following McConnell's remarks on the Senate floor.

Suggestions

Latest

In this category