'Shadow campaign' to replace Mitch McConnell puts him in the crosshairs of Mike Johnson — and Trump

Although House Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and President Joe Biden have plenty of political differences, one thing they have in common is a desire to fund military aid to Ukraine. McConnell has been pushing for bipartisan funding for that war-torn country, but he faces opposition from MAGA Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives.

On Sunday night, February 4, the text of a bipartisan $118 billion security measured was released in the U.S. Senate. Its proponents include Sen. James Lanford (R-Oklahoma), Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Arizona).

But The New Republic's Grace Segers, in an article published on February 6, stresses that the legislation is "all but certain" to "fail."

READ MORE:'4 truths' blow up GOP’s claim of 'existential threat' at the border: ex-Republican insider

"(McConnell) has led the upper chamber through some of its greatest victories for Republicans, perhaps most notably with the confirmation of three conservative justices nominated to the Supreme Court by Trump," Segers explains. "But he has long needed to juggle his own policy preferences with the wants of his conference, and with his overarching desire to recapture the upper chamber for Republicans."

Segers notes that when House Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) said that he had been working closely with McConnell, his GOP critics were quick to "pounce." And McConnell's obstacles in his party, according to Segers, include not only fellow senators, but also, House Majority Leader Mike Johnsoin (R-Louisiana) and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana).

"Although McConnell handily defeated an effort to install Sen. Rick Scott as leader of the Senate GOP conference early last year," Segers explains, "the challenge was interpreted by McConnell skeptics as a sign of discontent with his leadership…. There is also already a very quiet, yet undeniably real, shadow campaign to eventually replace McConnell as the top Republican in the Senate. The octogenarian is next up for reelection in 2026 and would likely enjoy another pass as the majority leader before making a decision to run again."

READ MORE: Mitch McConnell destroyed by hometown newspaper for bowing down to Trump

Read The New Republic's full article at this link.