OPINION: This article contains commentary which reflects the author's opinion
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell arrogantly thought he could throw Donald Trump under the bus without consequences.
But a brand new poll reveals that McConnell’s approval rating has collapsed, and it could have an impact on his political career.
According to a new poll, McConnell ranked dead last among fellow Republicans in terms of popularity.
Fifty-seven percent of Americans expressed an unfavorable view of McConnell, including 29 percent who had a “very” unfavorable view of the Senate Republican.
That included 49 percent of Republicans and 67 percent of Democrats, who were among around 1,000 U.S. adults polled in early March.
McConnell was still viewed favorably by 28 percent of Republicans and 19 percent of Democrats.
However, those numbers still left him well behind other Republican figures. President Trump remains the most popular among members of his own party with 74 percent of Republicans stating they viewed him “favorably.”
Since his falling out with Trump, McConnell may be looking at retirement.
McConnell is making a local power move to help choose his successor and is raising many questions in the process.
The 79-year-old Kentucky lawmaker has been in the Senate since 1985, and his recent moves have fueled rumors that he may be planning for his retirement.
Andy Beshear, a Democrat, is currently the governor of Kentucky.
Beshear has the power to pick a replacement senator should something happen to a sitting senator.
So the Kentucky GOP, with help from McConnell, wants to change state law so that the legislature picks a replacement senator until an election can be held.
McConnell, according to reports, has even made a shortlist to choose from should he not serve out his full term.
“Leader McConnell has discussed the legislation with Senate President Stivers and is fully supportive of the measure,” a spokesperson for McConnell confirmed.
The new legislation, Senate Bill 228 — dubbed by some inside the state Legislature as the Daniel Cameron Election Bill — was filed on February 10, 2021, during the Kentucky General Assembly’s 30-day “short” session.
The bill alters current state statute that allows the governor to appoint a replacement in the event of a vacancy to the U.S. Senate.
If the bill becomes law, the appointment to fill a vacancy will be selected from a list of three names submitted by the state executive committee of the same political party as the senator who held the vacant seat.
According to the bill, the appointee from that list will then serve until a successor has been elected by voters. The legislation goes on to list instructions on when elections take place in the event of a vacancy.
Republicans are concerned a successor appointed by Beshear would be someone of Beshear’s own party — rather than who McConnell would like to replace him.
Republican state Sen. Tom Buford, the single co-sponsor on the bill brought by Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers, said there has been a discussion for “several years” about changing the way Kentucky replaces U.S. senators.
“McConnell is interested in his legacy, and by picking his replacement, he would cement his vision in Kentucky and national politics,” The Intercept reported.
The legislation is currently before the state Senate and then would need to pass the House.
Beshear, the Democratic governor, is reportedly opposed to the bill, but Republicans have held veto-proof majorities in both chambers since 2017.
So, it certainly appears this will pass in both the House and Senate and become new law in Kentucky.