- Sen. Rick Scott of Florida announced during a closed-door Senate GOP lunch Tuesday afternoon that he will challenge Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for his job as the top Senate GOP leader
- “I believe it’s time for the Senate Republican Conference to be far more bold and resolute than we have been in the past. We must start saying what we are for, not just what we are against,” Scott wrote
- The move comes after Republicans’ lackluster midterm performance
Senator Rick Scott is stepping up to the plate to challenge Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell as the top Republican in the Senate after the GOP struck out looking during the midterm elections.
According to a spokesman, Scott, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told colleagues in a closed-door conference lunch Tuesday that he would run to unseat McConell after Republicans failed to take back a majority from Democrats in the chamber.
“I’m writing to you today because I believe it’s time for the Senate Republican Conference to be far more bold and resolute than we have been in the past. We must start saying what we are for, not just what we are against,” Scott said in a letter to GOP colleagues. “I do not believe we can simply continue to say the Democrats are radical, which they are. Republican voters expect and deserve to know our plan to promote and advance conservative values.”
Scott added: “For those who want to get serious about ending reckless government spending and the devastating inflation it has caused, finally take action to protect Social Security and Medicare and preserve the promise of these programs for our children and grandchildren, hold government accountable from the FBI to the IRS, truly combat the extreme danger posed by Communist China and refocus our military on lethal defense instead of woke nonsense, I ask for your support in changing the direction of the Senate and rescuing America from the dangerous path Democrats have set it on.”
Infighting between the two GOP leaders has intensified since Democrats blocked Republicans from seizing control of the Senate. McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, has held the leadership position since 2007, making him the longest-serving GOP leader in Senate history.
“The status quo is broken and big change is needed. It’s time for new leadership in the Senate that unites Republicans to advance a bold conservative agenda. That’s why I’m running to be the Senate Republican Leader,” Scott said on Twitter following the breaking news.
Senate Republicans are expected to hold leadership elections on Wednesday.
To view the full letter, click here.
I wonder if McConnell is ready to remind the millions of retired voters of Florida that a key aspect of Rick Scott’s agenda–as Scott himself has said–is to bring a vote every five years as to whether or not Social Security, Medicaid, and other programs will be continued or eliminated?