Will Corker’s Retirement Make a Difference in the Senate for the GOP?
Could the GOP actually pick up more seats?
The GOP received two shocks on Tuesday when Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) decided not to run for re-election in 2018 and Judge Roy Moore defeated incumbent Sen. Luther Strange (R-AL) in the Republican primary.
But how YUGE is Corker’s retirement? Probably not much in the long run. Plus, it looks like the GOP could actually pick up more seats in 2018 since 10 Democrats up for reelection come from states that President Donald Trump won in November.
The GOP only holds a two seat majority in the Senate, which we have seen come into play numerous times this year. Remember, two senators defected when it came to confirming Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Vice President Mike Pence had to come in and cast his tie-break vote.
Corker’s Tennessee Seat
More than likely it’s safe for the GOP since President Donald Trump won the state by 26 points last November. The Washington Post said that rumors have floated around that Rep. Marsha Blackburn and Gov. Bill Haslam, both Republicans, want it.
Besides, this isn’t too surprising since Corker said he didn’t want to serve more than two terms. But we all know how politicians don’t generally keep their word.
After Steve Bannon left his post as Trump’s chief strategist, he returned to Breitbart News (where I used to work) and quickly made it known that he would fight the establishment. The publication took aim at Corker and promoted a story on potential primary challenger state Sen. Mark Green.
The Washington Times reported earlier this month that former state Rep. Joe Carr had thoughts of challenging Corker. He accused “the incumbent of being too reluctant to back President Trump’s agenda.”
How about Peyton Manning? Yes, THAT Peyton Manning. From Business Insider:
Shortly after Corker’s announcement, Republican Rep. Scott DesJarlais said he did not think Manning would run for Corker’s seat, but instead could be eyeing Sen. Lamar Alexander’s seat in 2020 if he chooses to retire as well.
“[Peyton Manning] is a great guy and a popular guy,” DesJarlais said, adding that Manning “may be looking more at” running if Alexander decides not to run again.
Believe it or not, Democrats actually have some excitement about a vacant Tennessee state. A few weeks ago, Politico reported that the Democrats have their eyes set on former Gov. Phil Bredsen or former lawyer James Mackler:
Even if Bredesen stays out, Democrats seem content with an announced candidate against Corker: James Mackler, a 44-year-old lawyer who joined the military after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, flew Black Hawk helicopters and fought in the Iraq War, and then joined the JAG Corps and prosecuted sexual assault cases. Mackler made the rounds at the DSCC donor retreat in Martha’s Vineyard, making a favorable impression on donors and lending his candidacy extra legitimacy, some said.
In an interview, Mackler said he thought Tennesseans and national Democrats both were ready to get behind a candidate with his “proven track record of service and sacrifice.” Mackler attacked Corker as overly partisan, and said the Tennessean’s criticisms of Trump weren’t backed up by actions.
Shaky Democrat Seats
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has claimed that the Democrats will win the Senate, but Katie Martin, the spokeswoman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has laughed at the notion. She pointed out that 25 Democrats face reelection and 10 of them represent states that Trump won.
Democrat Sen. Claire McCaskill represents Missouri, a state won by Trump by 19 points. She was popular with failed Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, which could do her in. Also, Democrats have also slowly dropped off in the state, including the 2016 state senate race.
Then there’s Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), a state Trump won by 42 points. Manchin has shown to be a moderate Democrat, willing to work with Trump and the GOP. He even voted for one or two of Trump’s Cabinet picks. But since Trump won West Virginia by a large margin, it has awoken the GOP and they think they have a chance to take that seat. From The Hill:
But Trump’s popularity in West Virginia has drawn interest from strong Republican candidates, and the winner will pose a serious threat to Manchin’s political future. And Democrats can’t be encouraged by Gov. Jim Justice’s decision to ditch them and become a Republican last month, a decision he announced with Trump at his side.
Other possibilities include Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), both states that Trump won. Like Manchin, Heitkamp doesn’t always toe the party line and voted for some of Trump’s Cabinet picks. State Sen. Tom Campbell has already decided to challenge her for the seat, claiming that he “better exemplifies the values of voters in the conservative state.”
Tester is still one to watch, even though the top GOP picks are no longer available. Former Rep. Ryan Zinke is Interior Secretary while Attorney General Tim Fox chose to run for governor. But there’s still some hope since Trump won the state and Tester has not won an election by more than 50%.
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Comments
The laughing woman from the RNC had better look at the 2016 election and remember how the Dems were laughing at the notion that Trump could be elected. As for Corker, don’t let the door hit you in the a$$ on your way out! I guess the new battle cry from the right will be elect more people like Roy Moore from AL and we can actually repeal obamacare. That looks like the only way we’ll ever get there. The turd in the punch bowl, Susan Collins, will be running for the governor’s mansion so maybe there can be good news from Maine.
Roy Moore likely would vote for a clean repeal of ZeroCare. But he is going to do so much dumb stuff, and he will likely allow the leftist media roaming the halls of the Capitol to chum him into saying crazy shit.
Trump will have to eat crow and kiss up to Moore, and I’d enjoy being a witness to that.
One thing that Roy Moore would certainly be useful for is reform of the federal judiciary.
It doesn’t really seem to matter how many seats the GOP has. Even with majorities, it can’t deliver.
“it ‘won’t’ deliver”….huge difference there…….
The GOPe serve only one master (same one as the Democrats), and that master is their bank account.
The fact that 10 Democrats are up for reelection in states that Trump won is going to be a moot point if the RINOs in Congress don’t start getting in step with Trump’s agenda and fulfill their campaign promises. People across the country are absolutely livid with the Republican party right now, as they should be. At this point what’s the difference between the two parties? At least Democrats are honest with their intentions.
If the options are do nothing and do something bad, I’ll take do nothing…begrudgingly and for the time being.
Corker was one of the idiots who helped Tyrant Obama the Liar betray the country by ramming his “Help Iran Get Nuclear Weapons” agreement down our throats.
I don’t know, I’ll be more impressed if Maine can give us a decent conservative instead of what we now have. Same with Alaska and even Arizona. And sometimes Ohio.
We may find out that more GOP Senators merely means that more of them can vote like McCain, Murkowski, and Collins, that we still end up always a couple senators short.
That’s 10 opportunities to appoint senators who aren’t part of the establishment.
Can you imagine a Senate not beholden to Democrats like McCain and co? It would be delicious watching the GOPe squirm like a pig in molasses at their ineffectiveness at stopping Trump making America strong again…I mean great again!!!
Let’s even permit ourselves to imagine just for a second a filibuster proof majority of senators actually working for the greater good of Americans!!
“That’s 10 opportunities to appoint senators…”
We ELECT senators.
So, I’ll ask again…what part of the UK are you in?
Appoint?!
Voting for nominees is not bravely non partisan, voting on critical pieces of legislation is brave and in many cases called for by their constituents.