Sen. Rick Scott ended last year with a failed leadership challenge to Mitch McConnell (R‑KY), but as a new Congress gets underway, the Florida Republican is making clear his feud with the Senate minority leader is only just beginning.
The onetime Florida governor and former head of Senate Republicans’ campaign arm is continuing a war of words with McConnell, foreshadowing what could be a tumultuous 2023 with looming legislative battles on the horizon.
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Scott recently launched a nationwide television ad calling for change within the Republican Party and urging his GOP colleagues to “stop caving in” to the demands of Democrats. The rallying cry was the premise for his run for minority leader, and even though he lost — Scott only received 10 votes — the bid was viewed as symbolic and marked the first time McConnell had ever faced a challenge in his 16-year tenure leading Senate Republicans.
“People told me not to run for Republican leader against Mitch McConnell. They said I wouldn’t win. I knew it was going to be hard. But we’ve got to start somewhere,” Scott said, standing in front of a star-spangled background.
The seven-figure ad spot is running nationally, including in every market in Florida, where the senator is up for reelection in 2024. Last we …