Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon is leading an effort to disrupt primary challenges against Republican senators in 2018, Politico reported Sunday.
Bannon, who was ousted from his White House role last month, is back running Breitbart News. He’s had private meetings with challengers and is also working with mega-donor and hedge-fund billionaire Robert Mercer, who is ready to donate millions of dollars into the efforts.
Bannon on Sunday told CBS’ “60 Minutes,” he thinks “the Republican establishment” is nullifying the 2016 presidential election.
“I think Mitch McConnell, and to a degree, Paul Ryan,” Bannon said when Charlie Rose asked him who he was referring to. “They do not want Donald Trump's populist, economic nationalist agenda to be implemented. It's very obvious. It's obvious as-- it's obvious as the-- it's obvious as night follows day is what they're trying to do.”
McConnell has expressed concern about Bannon’s plan, according to Politico, saying a primary challenge could put a lot of stress on senators when it comes time to take on Democrats in a general election.
“The issue is: Do you invest your time and energy in attacking people who are carrying this president’s water in Congress to the benefit of people who are trying to impeach him? That seems like an incredibly short-sighted strategy,” said Josh Holmes, a former McConnell chief of staff.
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