Major shakeup unlikely in Senate GOP leadership

Senate Republicans are unlikely to do major housecleaning after their party suffered at least a five-seat loss in Tuesday’s election.

Lower-ranking GOP spots are open, but Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Minority Whip Jon Kyl (Ariz.) and GOP Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander (Tenn.) are likely to remain in their leadership positions, according to several GOP aides and senators. But three other positions are up for grabs: the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), chairman of the GOP Policy Committee, and vice chairman of the conference. The lower-ranking leadership positions give senators a voice in shaping the party’s strategy and legislative approaches.

{mosads}Senate Republicans expressed relief Wednesday that their losses were not steeper in the election, which leaves them facing a 56-44 Democratic majority. Even though four races have yet to be called, the Republican incumbents are leading in each of those races, making it unlikely Democrats will reach a 60-seat, filibuster-proof majority.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) plans to relinquish his spot as vice chairman of the conference and run to head the NRSC. His expected opponent, Sen. Norm Coleman (Minn.), may be hamstrung because his tight Senate race against comedian Al Franken (D) seems likely to head to a recount, which could prevent a winner from being declared until December.

Cornyn said he would be able to use his fundraising prowess to prop up the NRSC in 2010, when Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will be up for reelection.

“I think Texas is certainly one of the states, like New York is for Democrats, that is really a big benefactor for Republicans,” Cornyn said in an interview.

The current head of the NRSC, Sen. John Ensign (Nev.), plans to run for chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, which is being vacated by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who is seriously considering resigning next year to run for Texas governor.

It’s unclear yet who might challenge Ensign for the policy position. Sen. Richard Burr (N.C.), who lost his bid against Alexander for the No. 3 spot last year, has been considered a likely candidate for the position. But his spokesman said that running for leadership “has just been the furthest thing from his mind.”

With Cornyn running for NRSC, the vice chairmanship might create a contest between Sens. John Thune (S.D.) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), who both have expressed interest in the position, according to GOP senators. Thune, the current chief deputy whip, is a telegenic presence and could be an effective communicator of the party’s message. But Murkowski would give the GOP leadership a female voice, which it would lack with the loss of Hutchison.

A spokesman for Murkowski did not respond to a request for comment.

Kyle Downey, a spokesman for Thune, confirmed his boss’ interest in the vice-chairmanship spot.

“He has been talking with his colleagues to gauge their support and has been encouraged by what he is hearing,” Downey said.