Eric Schmitt passes on NRSC chair run

Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) has passed on a bid to run the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) in 2026. 

Schmitt had emerged in recent weeks as a lead contender to take over for Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) atop the NRSC, but he ultimately decided against potentially taking on the role, according to a top aide.

“Senator Schmitt was extremely grateful for support from all corners of the conference but is not going to seek the NRSC chairmanship next Congress,” a senior Schmitt aide told The Hill. 

The Missouri senator has a young family, and the job is known for being a thankless one that is consumed with air travel and donor meetings. He is also being floated as a possible candidate to become attorney general if former President Trump wins in November.

The 2026 cycle also is not shaping up to be a particularly rosy one for Republicans; there are only a couple of pickup opportunities in Democratic seats, and two of the biggest races will be for seats occupied by Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). 

Of the 33 seats on the map, 20 are held by the GOP. This has made it harder for the party to prod someone to take on the role. 

“I don’t think there’s anything close to being settled on that. Sometimes we have to recruit people to do that,” Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) said ahead of the October recess about the NRSC gig. 

This will force Republicans back to the drawing board for the only spot on the GOP leadership ladder without a clear candidate.

Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), another first-term member who had been mentioned as a possibility, also shot down a possible run for the post, according to a source familiar with her decision. 

“Although several colleagues approached Senator Britt asking her to consider running for NRSC chair, she isn’t interested in running for NRSC chair next cycle,” the source said. 

Britt is widely considered a prime candidate to a key part of Republican leadership down the road. She is a part of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) leadership team. 

Two names that have also been floated at times this year are Sens. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), but both are facing reelection campaigns in 2026, making it less likely either would take on the role.