Williams Weighs In on McConnell’s Diminishing Power in the Senate in McClatchy DC Article

March 25, 2024

McClatchy

Michael J. Williams

Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs

International Relations, Executive, M.A.

International Relations, M.A.

Congress

Political Parties

United States

McClatchy

Michael J. Williams

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will leave his leadership post this November, shortly following a presidential election that could once again place Trump in the White House.

McConnell’s power over his 49-member caucus has already severely diminished, as most recently evidenced by the 26 Republicans who cast votes against the $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine and Israel, a cause he’s framed as existential to U.S. security.

“He is basically a dead duck,” says Michael Williams, associate professor of public administration and international affairs.

“The last of a dying breed. The internationalist GOP is a thing of the past…The young bucks, like J.D. Vance and Josh Hawley are not going to tow the same global American leadership line as McConnell, [John] McCain, Bill Frist and Trent Lott,” Williams says.

Read more in the McClatchy DC article, “‘A different seat in the chamber’: What’s ahead for Mitch McConnell in the US Senate?”