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Rick Scott challenges Mitch McConnell for Senate Republican leader role, says the conference should 'be far more bold and resolute'
Photo (left): Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images; Photo (right): Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Rick Scott challenges Mitch McConnell for Senate Republican leader role, says the conference should 'be far more bold and resolute'

Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida is mounting a bid to challenge Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for the position of Senate GOP leader.

"I'm writing to you today because I believe it's time for the Senate Republican Conference to be far more bold and resolute than we have been in the past. We must start saying what we are for, not just what we are against," Scott wrote in a letter to colleagues that has been posted by Fox News.

"We know that chief among our problems in races across America was a lack of Republican voter turnout. There may be many reasons for that, but after travelling the country to support our candidates I believe voters want a plan. They are begging us to tell them what we will do when we are in charge. Unfortunately, we have continued to elect leadership who refuses to do that and elicits attacks on anyone that does. That is clearly not working and it’s time for bold change," he wrote.

Scott, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee, made multiple pledges about how he would handle the role if elected to serve as Senate GOP leader, some of which included that he will never ask legislators to vote on a measure they have not had a chance to review and that he will never push them to vote in a manner that goes against the best interest of their state or the platform on which they ran for office .

"I will work tirelessly to help elect all Republican Senators, whether they are likely to support me or not," Scott wrote. "I will never surprise you with legislation and ask that you vote on something you haven’t had an opportunity to review," he noted. "I will lead the conference in developing a positive, aspirational agenda that outlines our legislative goals and what Senate Republicans stand for," he pledged. "I will never pressure you to vote in a way that is counter to what you campaigned on or not in the best interests of your state."

Democrats will maintain control of the U.S. Senate next year, so the Senate GOP leader will be the Senate minority leader rather than the Senate majority leader.

McConnell, a lawmaker from Kentucky who has served in the Senate chamber for more than three decades, has been either the Senate minority leader or majority leader since 2007.

Former President Donald Trump has been a strong critic of McConnell, referring to him in September as a "lapdog" for Democrats and an "absolute Loser ... who folds every time against the Democrats." In another statement, Trump exclaimed, "McConnell is so bad!"

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