‘A Sharper Operation’: McConnell Praises Head Of GOP Senate Campaign Arm After Republicans Seize Majority

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell praised Montana Sen. Steve Daines for his leadership of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) during a press conference on Wednesday.

The GOP won a Senate majority in Tuesday’s election, flipping Ohio, West Virginia and Montana, with some possible pickups still outstanding, with the Nevada and Pennsylvania races still yet to be called as of Wednesday afternoon. The stellar election performance for the GOP earned the NRSC and its Chairman Steve Daines high praise from McConnell, with the outgoing Senate Republican leader lauding Daines’ commitment to quality candidate selection.

“I’ve never seen a better performance,” McConnell said of Daines’ leadership during a press conference following former President Donald Trump’s election victory Wednesday. “[Daines] focused on getting quality candidates … [and] candidate quality is absolutely essential.”

Daines collaborated with Trump to influence Republican Senate primaries, including by urging the now president-elect to endorse war veteran and Bronze Star recipient Tim Sheehy over Rep. Matt Rosendale, with Sheehy ultimately defeating three-term incumbent Jon Tester by roughly eight points. The strategy differed from that of former NRSC Chair Rick Scott, who took a more hands-off approach in the primaries, according to The Washington Post.

Scott’s hands-off approach left the GOP with candidates such as celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz, who lost to Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman in 2022 despite Fetterman suffering a stroke during the campaign. Ultimately, what many believed was going to be a red wave in the Senate in 2022 resulted in the Democratic Party expanding its majority in the chamber.

“People are sick and tired of losing,” Daines told The Washington Post in February. “I have always said filing day is more important than Election Day.”

In addition to praising Daines and the NRSC, McConnell complimented Trump campaign senior advisors Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles.

“I also want to commend the Trump campaign for running a sharper operation this time,” McConnell said. “I think Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles deserve a lot of credit.”

The NRSC and Daines’ office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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