Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is losing support among Republican candidates in the upcoming midterm elections, much as Democratic candidates have distanced themselves from Senate Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., according to CNN.
At a debate for West Virginia Senate candidates, all three GOP contenders refused to back McConnell when asked if they support him for majority leader.
"I'm not the product of the liberal establishment," said state attorney general Patrick Morrisey. "I think that's why you're seeing all the conservatives come out for me. I'm going to make the right decision after we get through the general election."
Rep. Evan Jenkins added that although McConnell did well to get Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court, it’s "way too premature" to discuss McConnell’s future as majority leader, noting that the senator "hasn’t even asked for [his] support."
Don Blankenship, a former coal executive, accused McConnell of "interfering with this election," and complaining that groups connected to the majority leader are working against his campaign.
Other GOP Senate candidates, including Missouri attorney general Josh Hawley and Mississippi state Sen. Chris McDaniel, have either declined to state their support for McConnell or openly criticized him.
In March, Hawley told The Washington Post that it’s "premature" for him to back McConnell or anyone else for majority leader.
"I think it's a little premature to say who I would and wouldn't vote for. I'm not committed to voting for anybody for any leadership position," he said.
McDaniel, in a statement announcing his candidacy released in March, said that "Mitch McConnell wants to hand-pick our next senator.”
He added: I understand why. It's because they know that I won't be answering to Mitch McConnell."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.