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Who Are The Moderate Republicans In The Senate

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Jim Jordan Announces He Will Not Run For Senate In 2022

Senate Republicans block probe of Capitol riot

Washington; Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, will not run for Ohio’s open Senate seat in 2022, a spokesperson for his congressional campaign said on Thursday.;

On Monday, Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, announced he would not run for re-election on Monday, leaving the seat without an incumbent for the mid-term elections.

Ohio’s Republican Lt. Gov. Jon Husted on Wednesday said the he also would not run for the seat.;

Jordan, a leading member of the House’s Freedom Caucus, has been a staunch ally to former President Trump and led the House Republican floor speeches against the vote to impeach Trump on Jan. 13. President Trump won Ohio by about 8 points in the 2020 election.;


When asked whether Jordan would run for Ohio governor, his spokesperson said, “He’s going to run for Congress.”;

The open Ohio Senate seat could be key for Republicans hoping to retake control of the Senate majority. Republicans will have to defend 20 seats in the 2022 cycle including three open seats: Portman’s Ohio seat as well as one in North Carolina stemming from Sen. Richard Burr’s decision to not seek re-election and Pennsylvania’s Pat Toomey who announced he will also retire from Congress.;

Sen Thom Tillis Of North Carolina

Tillis recently reelection in the Tar Heel State after an expensive and bitter contest.

He has the most conservative voting record of the senators convening with Biden, and the ninth most conservative overall, according to the watchdog firm GovTrack.

A vocal supporter of Trump, Tillis has at times expressed interest in bipartisanship, though such calls waned over the Trump era as he faced an increasingly challenging reelection bid.


The Stakes Around The Impeachment Process Are Low For Markets High For Senators Analyst Says

As President Donald Trumps impeachment trial continues, Sens. Susan Collins, Mitt Romney, Lisa Murkowski and Lamar Alexander are in the spotlight.

Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Mitt Romney of Utah, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee are getting attention as an important step in President Donald Trumps impeachment trial nears.

The Senate looks set to vote next week on whether to subpoena new witnesses or documents, with that action slated to come after Trumps lawyers and House managers finish their opening arguments as well as after senators get up to 16 hours to ask questions.

There could be a 51-49 vote in favor of calling witnesses if the four GOP lawmakers back that approach and all 47 senators who caucus with the Democrats also support it.

Heres what the four Republican senators, often viewed as moderates, have said so far on the issue:

Beyond these four lawmakers, Sens. Rob Portman of Ohio, Cory Gardner of Colorado and Martha McSally of Arizona are also among the Republicans talked about at various times in recent weeks as possible swing voters in the impeachment trial, though McSally lashed out at a CNN reporter who asked for her view on the calling of new witnesses, labeling him a liberal hack and then promoting the testy exchange on her Twitter account and on a campaign-fundraiser T-shirt.


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Two Moderate Democrats Urge Senate Republicans To Back Us Capitol Riot Probe

Light catches a security fence around the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, March 15, 2021. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo

WASHINGTON, May 25 – Two U.S. Senate Democrats known for independent streaks urged Republicans on Tuesday to support a bipartisan commission into the deadly January attack on the Capitol, after one in six House Republicans broke with party leadership and backed the probe.

Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema called on Republicans to work with them to reach agreement on a bill to investigate the events leading up to and on Jan. 6, when President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the building while Congress was certifying Democrat Joe Biden’s November election victory, leaving five dead.

Some 35 House Republicans joined Democrats last week in voting to pass the legislation that would create a bipartisan commission modeled on the one Congress passed following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The bill requires that the commission issue its final report by Dec. 31. read more


Passage of the bill was an easier achievement in the House of Representatives, where Democrats hold a 219-211 majority. The Senate is divided 50-50 between the parties and requires 60 votes to pass most legislation, meaning that under current rules, 10 Republican votes would be needed to pass the measure.

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other top Senate Republicans have spoken out against the House bill, saying that ongoing probes by two Senate committees are sufficient investigation.

Group Includes Conservatives Worried About Precedent And A Moderate Facing A Tough Re

One moderate Republican says he won

Twelve Senate Republicans rebuked President Donald Trump on Thursday by voting to block his declaration of a national emergency at the southern border.

The group includes moderate senators including one up for re-election in 2020 and conservatives who balked at the president circumventing Congress. Trump after lawmakers failed to appropriate his desired funds for a border wall.

Trump tweeted Thursday morning that he would veto the resolution to terminate the emergency, which passed the Senate, 59-41, in the afternoon after passing the House late last month. Two-thirds of the vote in both chambers are required to override a veto.


Despite some Republicans supporting the resolution, it appears that neither chamber would be able to cross that threshold. Pelosi declined to say Thursday whether she would have the House vote to override Trumps promised veto, saying, Well take it one step at a time.

Several senators in competitive re-election races sided with the president and opposed the resolution, including Sens. Cory Gardner of Colorado, of Arizona, Joni Ernst of Iowa, David Perdue of Georgia and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who changed his opinion after authoring an op-ed in The Washington Post two weeks ago against the emergency declaration.

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Here are the 12 Republicans who supported the effort to terminate the national emergency declaration:

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The 6 Republican Senators Who Will Decide The Supreme Court Fight

Some are facing difficult elections. Others are institutionalists. But they will play critical roles in replacing Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Sen. Susan Collins. | Greg Nash/Pool via AP

09/21/2020 07:32 PM EDT

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Ruth Bader Ginsburgs death on Friday kicked off what is sure to be the most consequential Supreme Court confirmation fight in decades andputs a spotlight on the handful of senators whose votes will determine the future of the court.

The universe of potential swing votes in the Senate is surprisingly small considering how high the stakes are. The following senators will be under enormous pressure from Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and President Donald Trump to either fall in line, or break from their party in the most dramatic fashion.


McConnells decision to hold a vote on Ginsburg’s replacement forces him to balance his long-standing desire to cement a conservative legacy in the federal judiciary, while also retaining his power as majority leader.

That there are so few potentially in play lawmakers reflects the hyperpartisan nature of the political landscape in 2020. With less than 45 days left until the election, both sides have largely retreated to their respective sides.

With 53 Republicans in the Senate, McConnell can afford to lose only three votes. Vice President Mike Pence could break a 50-50 tie if needed. Heres who to watch:

The true swing votes

Republicans Have A Limited Amount Of Time To Make Their Offer

The Biden White House is already signaling that they care more about what Republican voters think, compared to Republicans in Congress. Their Covid-19 relief package remains extremely popular with voters, no matter their political party. And while the White House is pointing to polls showing infrastructure is also popular, CNNs Harry Enten pointed out that an average of polls showed around 54 percent voter approval for a big infrastructure package, a good 12 percentage points lower than the approval average for the already-passed Covid-19 bill.


If you looked up bipartisan in the dictionary, I think it would say support from Republicans and Democrats, Biden senior adviser Anita Dunn told the Washington Post. It doesnt say the Republicans have to be in Congress.

Republicans have a limited amount of time to try and make a deal before Democrats forge ahead with budget reconciliation. Sen. Chris Coons , one of Bidens close allies in the Senate, told Punchbowl News that Democrats dont want bipartisan negotiations with Republicans to drag on for months.

If we get to Memorial Day and there isnt a clear this group of Republicans is working on this menu with these pay-fors on this timeline, I think Democrats just roll it up into a big package and move it, Coons said. Is President Biden willing to wait until Labor Day for us to come together around some perfect bipartisan infrastructure package? No. Is he willing to wait until the Fourth of July? Maybe.

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Who Are The Moderates

There is a small group of moderate Senate Democrats who have largely avoided choosing a side when it comes to eliminating the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to proceed on most legislation. But others object to partisan legislation on a case-by-case basis.


Swing-state freshman Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H. both up for reelection next year are among the few who have refused a position on the filibuster in recent months.

Others, like Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., Chris Coons, D-Del., Tom Carper, D-Del., and Angus King, I-Maine, all voted against instituting a $15-an-hour federal minimum wage. Others have quietly avoided commitments on legislation such as the For the People Voting Rights Act and the finer details of the negotiations on an infrastructure package.

Manchin and Sinema have given other Democrats who may share their views consistent political cover to dodge questions and refuse firm commitments on legislation. The razor-thin majority in the Senate means that as long as one Democrat is willing to publicly block a bill, nobody else has to join them unless they want to.

The Moderate Republicans: A Guide To Whos Who

Moderate Republican Demands Answers From Ted Cruz | MSNBC

Jun 21, 2021 | Election Campaign News

Brief # 22 Elections and Politics

The Moderate Republicans: A Guide to Whos Who

Policy Summary;

When it comes to political beliefs, a large portion of voting bloc seems to be wrought with radicals.; However, the truth is that most Americans dont have very extreme ideas at all, and are actually quite moderate.; In recent elections we have seen this, with an increasing amount of folks with more radical beliefs being elected to Congress.;On the right side of the aisle, folks like Marjorie Taylor-Greene and Madison Cawthorn are examples of extremes who dont represent the majority of Americans, or even the majority of their party, yet get some of the most airtime and screen time of any folks in Congress.; However, moderate Republicans also get a lot of time to talk, and these are some of the most popular people in Congress, mostly because they are willing to work with the President and the other side of the aisle.; We will now highlight several prominent moderate Republicans who we think may end up running for president.

Analysis;

Liz Cheney:

Mitt Romney:

Lisa Murkowski:

Susan Collins:

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Senate Gop Moderates Fume As Mcconnell Prepares To Block Jan 6 Commission

Is that really what this is about, that everything is just one election cycle after another?” lamented Sen. Lisa Murkowski .

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell walks to the chamber. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo

05/27/2021 10:24 PM EDT

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During Thursday’s Senate Republican lunch, Sen. Susan Collins made one last plea to her colleagues to advance a proposed independent commission to probe the Capitol riot, with changes she fought for. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke right after her.

And the GOP leader is set to win the day, much to the consternation of a handful of his members who fear the party is making a mistake in voting down the House-passed commission bill sometime Friday. After an increasingly hard public and private push from McConnell, Senate Republicans are ready to make the independent investigation into the Capitol attack their first filibuster of the Biden administration.

Collins kept trying to whip up 10 votes to break a filibuster on Thursday and said in an interview that she wouldnt give up.” But McConnell didnt let her go un-rebutted at the conference’s closed-door meeting, and Collins was resigned to the short-term failure of her efforts at compromise.

It would be so much better if we had an independent outside commission,” the Maine Republican said.

She acknowledged that an outside inquiry into the pro-Trump attack on Congress could be a painful and political exercise, but still a worthwhile one.

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Few Forces Of Moderation Remain

Political analysts will sometimes recount how the Democrats, after losing three consecutive presidential elections, nominated Bill Clinton in 1992 and moved in a more centrist direction. This might feel like a tempting comparison to make with the GOP now, but the key difference is that the Democrats of the early 1990s had a more diverse coalition to draw on that made that kind of pivot possible . By contrast, the Republican coalition of today lacks any significant liberal or moderate factions who might pull it back to a more centrist position.

The bottom line: American political parties are not top-down entities, capable of turning on a dime. They are loose networks and coalitions of many actors and groups. And because the Republican Party has been pulling in a more extreme direction for decades now, most Republican moderates have either quit the team or reoriented themselves in a more combative, Trumpian direction to stay alive. And these forces will most likely continue to tug at the party, leaving would-be moderates with the same choice theyve faced for decades: Quit, or get on board.

Lee Drutman is a senior fellow in the Political Reform program at New America. Hes the author of the book, Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America.

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Moderate Republicans Fall Away In The Senate

I wrote earlier about the electoral implications of the defeat of longtime Senator Richard G. Lugar of Indiana in the Republican primary on Tuesday. It should make the seat much more competitive and will increase Democrats odds of retaining the Senate, although the nominee that Republicans chose instead, Richard E. Mourdock, the state treasurer, is perhaps a very slight favorite over the Democratic nominee Joe Donnelly.

The bigger story here, however, is that Mr. Lugar is the latest in a long line of relatively moderate Republican senators to meet an electoral demise. In fact, most moderate Republicans who served in the Senate just a few years ago will no longer be in the Congress when it meets again 2013. This is quite simple to illustrate.

I took the 55 Republican senators that served in the 109th Congress from 2005 through 2007 and divided them into two groups, moderates and conservatives, according to their voting records as analyzed by the statistical system DW-Nominate. Because there were an odd number of Republican senators in that year, I could not divide them exactly evenly, but I put 27 in the moderate group and 28 in the conservative group, with the dividing line falling between Senator John McCain of Arizona and Senator John Thune of South Dakota.

Republicans have added a couple of moderates to their ranks in cases where they won seats on Democratic turf, like Scott Brown of Massachusetts and Mark Steven Kirk of Illinois.

Sen Lisa Murkowski Of Alaska

When Moderate Republican Senators Walked the Earth

Murkowski, who is not up for re-election until 2022, is among the more moderate senators and has proved that she is not afraid to break with her party and Trump.;The Senate appropriator;explained her support for the resolution in a floor speech;earlier this month, saying, Congress is a co-equal branch of government and as such Congress should stand up for itself.

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Thousands Of Republicans Changed Voter Registration After Capitol Attack

WASHINGTON; Since the violent attack at the Capitol on Jan. 6, thousands of Republicans changed their party registration in key swing states.;

As of this week, 9,891 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their party registration. In North Carolina, that number was just above 7,400 and more than 9,000 Republicans in Arizona did the same. While Florida statewide numbers aren’t available yet, Orange County, Fla. saw over 1,200 Republicans change their party. Just about 100 Democrats did the same in Orange County since Jan. 6.;

Leigh Ann Caldwell and Melissa Holzberg

Bidens Views Were Shaped As Obamas Vice President

Biden is well aware that the US Senate was designed to curb the ambitions of presidents; he wrote about the institution with reverence in his 2007 autobiography Promises to Keep.

The Senate was designed to play this independent and moderating role, and it is a solemn duty and responsibility that transcends the partisan disputes of any day or any decade, Biden wrote in his book. But several things happened between then and now to further shape Biden and his staffs views of the same institution.

As vice president, Biden saw that President Barack Obamas repeated attempts to work with GOP leadership on the Hill were often roundly dismissed. Biden was himself dispatched several times to try to strike deals with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell who was intent on making Obama a one-term president. Early on in his presidency, as Obama was en route to the Capitol to meet with Republicans to get them on board with a stimulus bill to save the economy from crisis, House Republican leadership sent out a message to their members telling them to vote against any proposal.

Then, during Obamacare negotiations, Senate Democrats and Obama administration officials were met with repeated nos from even the most moderate Republicans. As Ezra Klein and Sarah Kliff detailed for Vox in 2017:

On most issues, that wasnt productive, because Sen. McConnell wasnt interested in finding common ground, Obamas legislative affairs director Phil Schiliro told me in an interview last year.

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