McConnell says GOP will support Murkowski’s re-election despite Trump’s threat

McConnell says GOP will support Murkowski’s re-election despite Trump’s threat

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Of the seven Senate Republicans who voted to condemn Trump for inciting a deadly Capitol riot on January 6, Alaska’s Murkowski is the only one facing voters in next year’s midterm election in a state that Trump won for about 10 points last year.

“Absolutely,” McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, responded when asked by CNN whether the National Republican Senatorial Committee would support Murkowski even after Trump praised the Conservative Political Action Conference for his desire for political revenge against his critics.

Asked if he was concerned that the ex-president’s considerable influence could make Murkowski’s re-election difficult, McConnell replied firmly: “No.”

Trump’s attacks on Republican presidents are another example of the sharp division between the party wing, represented by people like Murkowski and McConnell, and the Trump wing.

Trump also targeted the 10 Republican Party House members who voted for his impeachment in January.

On Monday, House minority leader Kevin McCarthy was silent when asked by CNN whether he agreed with Trump that members who voted for his impeachment should have primacy and be expelled from the party.

This story has been updated with additional reports.

Annie Grayer of CNN contributed to this report.

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