The head of the Republican Party’s Senate campaign, Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) is keeping expectations about Republicans’ quest to retake the Senate majority in check, maintaining that their only goal is to flip two seats, despite a Republican-friendly map.
Daines told a group of reporters Thursday that his overall goal this cycle is to end the party’s four-year stint in the minority, and that anything else is gravy.
“Fifty-one,” Daines said at a breakfast hosted by The Christian Science Monitor when asked what his goal is for the cycle. “Because that gives us the majority.”
“I’ll let you all analyze the races and decide what number you want to put on them. … I just know that what matters most is the majority. We’re focused on 51,” Daines said. “A lot of these races are on the sidelines. They are very fine breeds. It will be a night where things could go either way in many of these states. But 51 is our goal and you won’t hear me, from now until November 5th, say anything other than 51.”
The comments contrast sharply with those shared by Senator Rick Scott (R-Florida), the previous chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, who predicted that the party would not only win a majority in 2022, but also safe up of 55 seats.
But Daines’ comments put him in line with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who nominated in a interview with Politico that he’s not getting over the skis either.
“It’s important not to get too emotional, because it’s worth highlighting that in the last cycle no incumbent lost. So what is the message? Quality of the candidate,” McConnell said in an interview. “It’s important to keep saying you want 51. There’s nothing wrong with getting more, but 51 gives you control. And I think that will be very important regardless of who is elected president.”
Senate Republicans need to gain two seats to reach the magic number of 51, but they could also regain the majority if they win a single seat and former President Trump wins back the White House.
The Republican Party is relying on a favorable map and a field largely made up of ultra-wealthy candidates, many with business experience, to eliminate some long-time Democratic candidates in a series of swing states.
That group is headed by Tim Sheehy in Montana and Bernie Moreno in Ohio – the reddest seats on the map currently held by Democrats. West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) is expected to flip the seat in the ruby red state, with Daines declaring the race “over” after Sen. Joe Manchin (DW.Va.) opted to retire.
The Kentucky Republican, who will step down as leader at the end of this year, also laid out what he believes are the four states that, in addition to West Virginia, could unlock the majority.
“You do your research around Labor Day and start deciding where you’re going to play,” McConnell said. “But we know for sure where we’re going to play now: Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland.”
In Pennsylvania, David McCormick seeks to deprive Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) of a fourth term. Perhaps the highest climb of these four states for the party is in Maryland, where former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) holds the lead over Rep. Dave Trone (D-Md.) and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks . Maryland is, however, easily the bluest state the party is performing this cycle, with Democrats repeatedly citing a recent poll showing that the state’s voters prefer them to remain in the majority.
Daines agreed with the quartet of states named by McConnell, but indicated he believes four other contests should be included in that group, including Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada and Arizona. The committee was joined by former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), businessman Eric Hovde, Sam Brown and Kari Lake, respectively, in those races.
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