Richard Burr (N.C.), Rob Portman (Ohio), Richard C. Shelby (Ala.) and Patrick J. Toomey (Pa.) already have said they will not seek reelection. ADBill Hoagland, a senior vice president at the Bipartisan Policy Center and a former Senate GOP aide, said Blunt’s departure heralds a continued drift rightward for Senate Republicans — and a possible trend toward even more confrontational legislative tactics. Any number of other Missouri Republicans, however, could enter the race. GOP strategists involved in the state think that Attorney General Eric Schmitt, Secretary of State John R. “Jay” Ashcroft, Lieutenant Gov. One Democrat who already has entered the race, state Sen. Scott Sifton, welcomed Blunt’s announcement Monday.

Source: Washington Post March 08, 2021 20:02 UTC