[cotton1706]

“At least there will be one less vote with Romney gone.”

They’ll likely have the leadership election after the general election in November. That’s how they usually do it, and why Mitch said he’d step down after November instead of in January. So Romney may still be voting for the next leader. It’s how they do things to maintain power.

Of course they’ll be an actual election behind closed doors including newly sworn in Senators in January, but they’ll want to give their preferred person momentum.Never

We’ll see what happens. But most of the Republican senators are pantywaists, and have been chosen and allowed to be elected (or appointed) because they are such.

[Wallace T.]

With six year terms, it is more difficult to change the Senate. Assuming the Republicans re-take the Senate, a lot will depend upon the ideology of the new Senators. Assuming the Republicans pick up seats in Ohio, West Virginia, and Montana, and hold seats in Utah and elsewhere, if conservatives win the primaries over moderate rivals, and go on to win the general elections, RINO dominance may be on its last legs. Going into 2026, if conservatives knock out many of the anti-Ken Paxton legislators in the Texas Republican primary, John Cornyn may decode not to run for re-election in 2026. McConnell retiring as Senate minority leader is no doubt motivated by poor health. He is more realistic about the effect of aging than Biden and Pelosi. He will likely not run for re-election in 2026.

Flipping the Senate to conservatives is difficult but not impossible.

[vivenne]

You are right. Forgot he won’t be gone until January : (