Josh Hawley Draws Red Line for Who Will Replace Mitch McConnell

Senator Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, drew a red line about who should replace Senator Mitch McConnell as the Senate Republican leader after he announced he would step down from the position in November.

"I'm not going to support anybody who will not support the people in my state in getting the nuclear compensation that they deserve for having been exposed to nuclear radiation," Hawley told Newsweek on Wednesday. "This is a huge, huge issue."

He floated Florida Senator Rick Scott and Montana Senator Steve Daines as potential replacements for McConnell.

Daines told Newsweek it is currently the "time to reflect on great accomplishments" of McConnell when asked about Hawley's comments.

The Context

McConnell, 81, is the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history who, in recent years, has clashed at times with former President Donald Trump and his allies. His announcement sparked varied reactions from Republicans, with some praising his effectiveness at passing conservative policy while others celebrated his stepping down.

What We Know

Hawley said McConnell's announcement is "good news," noting that he called on him to step down more than a year ago. He floated Florida Senator Rick Scott as a potential replacement.

"It's time. My only question is, why wait until November? We need new leadership now," he said.

Scott declined to rule out running to become McConnell's replacement when asked about the possibility by Newsweek Wednesday afternoon but also noted he is focused on his reelection in November.

Hawley has pushed for the federal government to take action to ensure compensation for victims of radioactive contamination in the St. Louis area. The Associated Press reported in July 2023 that the federal government and companies were aware of and ignored "health risks, spills, improperly stored contaminants and other problems" at atomic waste storage sites in the region.

Views

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley responded to McConnell stepping down in a post on X, formerly Twitter: "I respect Sen. McConnell's decision. Serving at that level for that long is not easy. He did many good things, but he is right that we do need a new generation, not just in Congress but also in the White House," the former United Nations ambassador wrote.

"Senator McConnell's announcement that he will not seek Republican leadership in the next Congress is truly a 'passing of the torch' moment for the U.S. Senate. Senator McConnell will be remembered as one of the most effective leaders in the history of the U.S. Senate," Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, posted.

Democratic Representative Adam Schiff of California wrote: "Mitch McConnell stacked the Court, undermined our democracy, and enabled Donald Trump. And yet – in his absence – the @SenateGOP will invariably select someone more extreme. With our democracy more fragile than ever, we must select and elect leaders committed to protecting it."

Scott said in a statement that he has been "very clear and have long believed that we need new leadership in the Senate that represents our voters and the issues we were sent here to fight for."

"As everyone knows, I challenged Leader McConnell in 2022. This is an opportunity to refocus our efforts on solving the significant challenges facing our country and actually reflect the aspirations of voters."

What's Next

Speculation has already begun about who may replace McConnell, a decision that may divide more traditional Republicans and Trump-aligned conservatives.

In addition to Scott and Daines, several names have been floated, including Wyoming Senator John Barrasso, Texas Senator John Cornyn and South Dakota Senator John Thune.

Thune praised McConnell's "amazing run as leader" in remarks to reporters Wednesday.

Update 2/28/24, 2:01 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.

Update 2/28/24, 2:33 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.