Two GOP senators are calling for an audit of Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott’s National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) after weak results in the 2022 midterms.
Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) argued that an independent review of the committee should be held to determine how money was spent and investigate the lack of results in gaining a majority in the Senate.
Chris Hartline, an NRSC spokesperson, told Politico that the call for an audit was unnecessary, as the committee provides regular filings with the Federal Election Commission.
“We get audited every month. It’s called an FEC report,” Hartline said, adding that “every member of the caucus was kept in the loop on NRSC strategy and spending all cycle.”
The NRSC raised $234.6 million for the cycle leading up to October 19, with the committee spending $235.3 million since the start of 2021, according to the report.
The calls for an audit also come as Scott vies to unseat Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Scott announced his intention to challenge McConnell for the leadership position on Tuesday.
“The status quo is broken and big change is needed. It’s time for new leadership in the Senate that unites Republicans to advance a bold conservative agenda,” Scott tweeted. “That’s why I’m running to be the Senate Republican Leader.”
“I’m writing to you today because I believe it’s time for the Senate Republican Conference to be far more bold and resolute than we have been in the past. We must start saying what we are for, not just what we are against,” Scott said in a letter to his party’s fellow Republican senators. “I do not believe we can simply continue to say the Democrats are radical, which they are. Republican voters expect and deserve to know our plan to promote and advance conservative values.”
The status quo is broken and big change is needed. It's time for new leadership in the Senate that unites Republicans to advance a bold conservative agenda.
That's why I'm running to be the Senate Republican Leader.https://t.co/B0rdMuR64Z
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) November 15, 2022
Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) is among those supporting Scott’s effort.
“I’ll be nominating @SenRickScott for Senate Republican leader. We need a different, more collaborative governing model for our conference that is focused on fiscal sanity & bringing function to the Senate,” Johnson tweeted on Tuesday. “I hope elections are delayed so Rick has a chance to lay out his vision.”
I’ll be nominating @SenRickScott for Senate Republican leader. We need a different, more collaborative governing model for our conference that is focused on fiscal sanity & bringing function to the Senate.
I hope elections are delayed so Rick has a chance to lay out his vision. pic.twitter.com/TSyHD7qaUl
— Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) November 15, 2022
During a Fox Business interview on Tuesday, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said it was a bad idea to hold leadership elections this week.
“I think it is insane, it would be nuts for us to have leadership elections now and simply re-election the exact same leadership,” Cruz said.
Concerns have also been expressed about House Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) being nominated as the party’s leader by his colleagues on Tuesday in a secret ballot, though he was opposed by 31 lawmakers. He would need to receive at least 218 votes in January to move forward as the next speaker of the House.
The Daily Wire reached out to Sens. Scott, Blackburn, Tillis, and the NRSC for comment but did not receive responses by publication.