Senate GOP Leadership Remains Intact

By Kyle LaFleur

As expected, there will be no shakeup at the top for Senate Republicans.

Following a decent showing in this month’s midterm elections, Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was elected to continue serving as Senate Minority Leader. Speculation that McConnell would be challenged by Tea Party candidate Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) for the top Senate spot never materialized.

“Let me just say that I think that we have a great opportunity here to demonstrate that we are responding to what the American people clearly would like us for us to do,” said McConnell. “Cut the spending, cut the debt and get private sector job creation going again.”

Arizona Senator Jon Kyl will retain his title as Senate Minority Whip and Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander will keep his position as Republican Conference Chair.  

“In the last several months we have tried as best we could as leadership of the Republican Conference to reflect the will of the American people,” said Kyl. “And I think our colleagues have expressed confidence in the leadership team by returning all of us to the positions in which we previously served.”  

Meanwhile, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) was elected Tuesday to serve another term as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Cornyn helped the NRSC raise tens of millions of dollars for Republicans before the elections, in which the party picked up six seats in the Senate.