Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, declined Sunday to say whether he would run for majority leader if Republicans gain control of the Senate in the midterm elections.
“I’m not focused on anything except getting a majority Tuesday night,” Scott said in an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”
After host Chuck Todd replied, “That’s a non-answer,” Scott repeated his line that he is solely “focused” on Tuesday's elections.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has faced intraparty backlash after he declined to support former President Donald Trump’s false claims of a stolen 2020 election. Despite Trump’s efforts to find a rival, no one has stepped forward to challenge McConnell for his leadership position, but some Republicans have questioned whether Scott is positioning himself for the job.
Scott appeared to take aim at McConnell in an op-ed published on the conservative news site the Washington Examiner in September. He wrote that “many of the very people responsible for losing the Senate last cycle are now trying to stop us from winning the majority this time by trash-talking our Republican candidates.” Scott denied he was targeting McConnell when reporters asked him about it.
He also caused a stir among fellow Republicans this year when he broke ranks with GOP leadership by releasing a 11-point election-year agenda.
In the final weekend before the midterm elections, senators from both sides of the aisle appeared on Sunday programs to express confidence in their parties' prospects of winning control of the Senate.
Republicans can “absolutely” get to at least 52 Senate seats, Scott said. “I think we have a really good shot in Arizona. I think we have a shot — a real good shot — in New Hampshire.”
Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., said on ABC News' "This Week" that he believes Democrats have a “very strong pathway” to maintain control of the Senate, arguing that voters realize Democrats are "trying to protect fundamental freedoms."
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said on CNN's "State of the Union" that Democrats either are ahead in key races "or we are in striking distance.”
