According to Politico, the Senate leadership teams are in place going into the next Congress with very little turnover. Chuck Schumer was named Minority Leader (well, I guess that’s that for a showdown). Mitch McConnell will serve his seventh term as GOP Leader. The only contested race in the Senate was for Republican Senate Conference vice chairmanship, won by Joni Ernst (D-IA).
The other notable change was the position of Senate president pro tempore left vacant by the retirement of recent Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Orrin Hatch. The position that places its holder in the presidential succession went to Chuck Grassley (R-IA) , the most senior senator.
Sort of a yawn for the most part, unless you are reading this news in Iowa. Yes, Grassley is a dinosaur paleo Republican who can be counted on to support Trump in every way possible. That doesn’t change. He’s not up for re election for four more years.
The interesting thing, to me, is Ernst’s win. This will be the first time in eight years that a woman will be in a leadership position. It also means that Ernst is now a big time Republican. The Tea Party / Freedom Caucus is probably stronger than ever and Ernst is a Tea Party darling. She rides motorcycles, she castrates hogs, she loves America. And, so far, Iowa loves Joni.
And Joni Ernst is up for re election in 2020. Her position in the leadership gives her access to top flight donors and a new national network of support. Trust me, she will be ably challenged in 2020. The bench is deep enough to win this seat. This race just very interesting in Iowa.
Please pay a little attention to Iowa over the next two years. It could prove telling come November 2020. Just a thought.