Mcconnell, Schumer keep top spots as party leaders
WASHINGTON – Senators chose party leaders Tuesday with few changes at the top, but it’s unclear who will be the majority leader in the new Congress, with no party having secured control of the Senate until a January runoff election in Georgia.
Sen. Mitch Mcconnell, R-KY., won another term as Republican leader, his office said, cementing his role as the longest-serving GOP leader in U.S. history. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., won his party’s support to stay on leading the Democrats, according to a Democrat granted anonymity to discuss the closed-door balloting.
None of the leaders were being challenged in Tuesday’s private party elections, with their entire leadership teams set to be reinstated.
But it’s still to be determined whether Mcconnell will retain his role as majority leader or cede it to Schumer as the final races for the U.S. Senate play out.
Last week’s elections left the chamber split, 48-48, heading into the new Congress next year.
Races for two seats in Georgia heading to a Jan. 5 runoff are swiftly becoming a showdown over control of the chamber. The state is closely divided, with Democrats making gains on Republicans, fueled by a surge of new voters. But no Democrat has been elected senator in some 20 years.
The math has become more challenging for Mcconnell because the vice president of the party holding the White House casts the tie-breaking vote in the Senate. Next year that would be Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. That means 50 seats for Democrats would result in control over the chamber.