McConnell says GOP will support Murkowski’s re-election despite Trump threat

McConnell says GOP will support Murkowski’s re-election despite Trump threat

by

Of the seven Senate Republicans who voted on Jan. 6 to convict Trump of inciting a deadly riot at the Capitol, Murkowski of Alaska is the only one facing voters in next year’s midterm elections, in a state that Trump won by about 10 points last year.

“Absolutely,” McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, responded to a question from CNN about whether the National Republican Senate Committee would support Murkowski, even after Trump expressed his desire for political revenge against his critics at the Conservative Political Action Conference. .

Asked if he was concerned that the former president’s significant influence could make it harder for Murkowski to win re-election, McConnell said, “No.”

Trump’s attacks on Republican incumbents are another example of the sharp divide between the party’s wing, represented by the likes of Murkowski and McConnell, and the Trump wing.

Trump also targeted the ten GOP members of the House who voted in January to accuse him.

On Monday, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy was silent when asked by CNN if he agreed with Trump that members who voted to accuse him should be elected from the party.

This story has been updated with additional reporting.

Annie Grayer of CNN contributed to this report.

.Source