Montana Republican seeks to knit Trump, Senate GOP as campaign chief

Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) wasted no time after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are human beings, threatening to upend the political cycle.

Although Democrats had a large lead on reproductive rights issues in 2022, Republicans are struggling to communicate cohesively in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. Chief wanted a different model for 2024.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) went on the offensive in response to Alabama’s decision. By the next morning, campaigns were contacted, and soon Republican candidates were announcing similar pronunciations. “IVF helps families struggling with infertility have children and should be protected.”

Senate Republicans and campaign officials alike say this is just one example of the changes Daines is making to the NRSC as he aims to unite a wide range of factions within the party and retake the chamber in November. Stated.

“We wanted to make an announcement right away with an exclamation point that for so many families who want to have a baby, we don’t want to limit their options,” Daines said in an interview with The Hill. That’s all,” he said in an interview with The Hill.

He said they were reaching out to the campaign “immediately.”

“It was a quick response.”

Daines has also received high praise from his colleagues for his efforts to correct the hot-button “candidate quality” issue plaguing the party in 2022 while building a relationship with former President Trump.

“He did a great job,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who ran the committee in the 2010 and 2012 cycles.

draw a map of the senate

His work has come to the forefront in recent weeks as the party’s 2024 map came together and the party scored major victories.

Last month, popular former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) shocked the political world by announcing his candidacy for the vacant seat held by Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Daines was in the midst of a major upheaval. A coup of magnitude occurred, and a pickup opportunity appeared out of nowhere. For Republicans.

Hogan, who left office with a 77 percent approval rating, has decided not to run in 2022. But Daines’ chief of staff, Darrin Tucker, a longtime Maryland resident, sent him a letter imploring him to run this time.

The two men met in Annapolis, where Mr. Tucker presented polls showing the former governor in the lead.

That got the ball rolling in earnest, leading to a series of meetings with Daines that a source familiar with the governor described as a “professional full-court press,” which Hogan said was with former NRSC chairman Rick. It was a big difference from the meeting I had with Mr. Scott. (R-Fla.) and committees during the 2022 cycle.

Sources say Scott and Hogan once called and discussed the possibility of going for the “7-minute top” without any follow-up. Officials described the effort as “passive.”

“It was like, ‘If you’re interested, let me know,'” said a person familiar with Hogan, who described this year’s outreach as “a comprehensive and thorough series of discussions.”

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan rehearses his farewell speech before reading it on a video feed inside the Old Maryland State Senate Chamber on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, in Annapolis, Maryland.(AP Photo/Julio Cortez) )

Indeed, Hogan is the likely candidate this cycle with the vacant seat, and a source familiar with the NRSC’s 2022 strategy disputed the Hogan team’s recollection.

“It’s a rewriting of history. There was a lot of lobbying and multiple discussions, but he had no interest in running,” the source said. “I’m glad he made the decision to run this cycle. It’s good for the party and all the candidates.”

Bud Daines was praised for his efforts, and a few days later, a former Navy SEAL and businessman, whom Daines had personally scouted to run against his top target, Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), was hired. Successfully cleared a field in Montana for Tim Sheehy. in November.

Just hours after Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) announced his Senate campaign, President Trump endorsed Sheehy, putting the proverbial nail in the coffin of Rosendale’s campaign. stabbed. He dropped out of school a few days later.

Mr. Sheehy and Mr. Hogan have joined the Republican camp, and Republican leaders believe they have a solid chance this year, when more friendly terrain is expected.

These include David McCormick of Pennsylvania, Sam Brown of Nevada, and former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), who retired from the House in 2014.

“We have been trying to get Mike Rogers to run for 10 years,” Sen. John Thune (R.S.D.) told The Hill.

The U.S. Capitol Building photographed on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Modify “Candidate Quality”

Republicans have long struggled to avoid turbulent primaries and carve a path to fielding candidates acceptable to a general election audience.

The 2022 midterm elections are a case in point, when Mehmet Oz, Herschel Walker, and Blake Masters emerged from the primaries with President Trump’s support, helping the Republican Party lose its majority.

Some Republicans criticized the NRSC for not being more involved in fielding preferred candidates.

Mr. Scott often declared that voters didn’t want “Washington choosing their candidates,” but Mr. Daines reversed that stance.

“He has navigated the ups and downs of candidate recruitment and, more importantly, has navigated exclusivity better than anyone in history. “Because he’s the only person who dared to weigh the same thing as doing good and hurting the wrong candidate,” said Democratic Sen. Kevin Cramer, who is running for re-election this fall.

“This is not without great political risks, but it also comes with great political rewards,” he added.

Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) addresses reporters after the weekly policy luncheon on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (Greg Nash/The Hill)

Mr. Daines is helped by his relationship with Mr. Trump, which has already proven valuable with Rosendale’s exit.

In late April, Daines became the first member of the Republican leadership to endorse Trump as he sought to bring him into the Senate campaign.

“He’s controlled that dynamic really well,” Thune said. “He knows that former President Trump has a lot of influence with primary voters, especially in the primaries. He needs everyone to be on the same page to ensure he attacks these Democratic incumbents.” I think he’s been very aware of the need and he’s tried to be as aligned as possible.”

The relationship also led to recent reports that President Trump was encouraging Daines to run for Republican Party chairman.

Daines told The Hill that he and Trump speak by phone every week or two and exchange emails several times a week.

“We are in very close contact,” he said.

The NRSC chairman also maintains a good relationship with Mr. McConnell, who has clashed with Mr. Scott many times. The Montana Republican is trying to mend fences between Trump and McConnell to the point where Republican leaders may support the former president’s campaign.

Senators say McConnell’s main reason for supporting Trump is likely to be to provide a united front for his party’s Senate candidates.

Arizona Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center on Saturday, February 24, 2024 in National Harbor, Maryland.

Hurdles to November

Still, potential pitfalls await.

Daines has openly talked about the difficulty of defeating an incumbent, and the Democratic Party has a number of veteran and prolific fundraisers.

And despite the focus on candidate quality, the party still has some issues to address on that front. Chief among them was Kali Lake, who continued to loudly beat the drum that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump. Daines argued that Lake is a “talented candidate” who will refocus his remarks on issues related to the border and the economy.

“She’s focused on the future, not the past elections,” he said, adding that he expects to oppose Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) seeking a second term and that Lake faces a tough primary. She added that she believes she will not face an election and will support her path. .

There are also some questions about the committee’s fundraising, but operatives say there is widespread anxiety within the party. To counter this, Daines and Senate Republicans are relying on a number of self-funders, including Sheehy, McCormick and Wisconsin’s Eric Hovde.

File – Voter in front votes. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

But Democrats see an opportunity against some Republican candidates and have been quick to note that some Republican candidates, including McCormick and Brown, lost last time.

“Senate Republicans have assembled an unvetted, carpet-filled list of losers with enough baggage to sink ships,” said Democratic Senate Campaign Committee spokesman David Bergstein. “By the time voters know the truth about their disqualifying flaws, they won’t be able to dog-pick elections.”

The impact of President Trump is not yet clear, especially in some of the purple states on the map and in Maryland. Hogan has been an outspoken critic of Trump, but Daines doesn’t think Trump will care what he has to say.

There are still eight months until Election Day, but Republican leaders are optimistic.

“It’s not like he’s recruiting the village fool. He’s recruiting the best people, and I think that’s widely recognized,” Kramer said. “He has support from all over the world.”