During a visit to Owensboro, Kentucky, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell R-KY warned that if the filibuster is removed, Democrats could gain four new senators by making Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., states.
Speaking at a luncheon held in his honor on Tuesday, McConnell said, If they admit D.C. and Puerto Rico as states, that’s four Democratic senators permanently. After that, they’ll target the Supreme Court. McConnell supports keeping the filibuster because he believes it helps stop bad ideas and encourages bipartisan solutions.
He added that Democrats have shifted so far left that they’ve lost support in states like Kentucky and many others between the coasts, which have become more Republican.
While attempts to remove the filibuster have failed, there’s concern it could be at risk if Democrats win a Senate majority, especially with independent Senators Joe Manchin (I-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema I-AZ leaving Congress. However, McConnell is confident that Republicans will retain their seats and is aiming for a 51-seat majority. Republican challengers in states like Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Nevada have faced challenges in the polls.
It’s also uncertain if four Democratic senators would result from making D.C. and Puerto Rico states. While D.C. would likely contribute two Democratic senators, Puerto Rico’s political landscape is more mixed, with some politicians aligning with local rather than national parties.
McConnell also commented on President Joe Biden exiting the presidential race, calling it a smart move by the Democratic Party, as it was clear Biden was unlikely to win after the June debate.