Skip to content

Mitch McConnell: Scott Walker’s Victory a GOP Blueprint

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) today said Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s successful defense of his Republican administration in a recall election could set the gold standard for GOP campaigns nationwide.

“I think it was an extraordinary victory,” McConnell told Roll Call. “The message out of there is that you can take courageous and difficult positions, and the American people understand it. It’s a good message, not only inside this Conference, but across the country, to state and local governments and in particular, the federal government.”

When asked whether Tuesday’s recall election makes Wisconsin competitive for either Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney or the eventual GOP nominee for the open Senate seat, McConnell sounded confident.

“I think [the state] was already in play,” the Minority Leader said.

McConnell recently discussed the Senate playing field in an in-depth interview with Roll Call. The GOP must gain a net of four seats Nov. 6 to win control of the Senate and promote McConnell to Majority Leader. The Kentuckian has been especially amenable to conservative Republicans who have bested more established candidates as long as it helps toward his goal of winning back the chamber from the Democrats, who won their majority in 2006.

Recent Stories

Senate panel wary of states managing National Park sites

Republican gains among Latino voters face 2026 test in California

Capitol Lens | Hearing the sad news

McMahon lays out Education Department ‘final mission’ to House appropriators

GOP budget vote goes down to the wire amid conservative pushback

Republicans must ensure 2026 isn’t 2018