Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) rebuked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) decision not to invite Sen.-elect Dave McCormick (R-PA) to Senate orientation day, suggesting Schumer needs to “get over” the Democratic Party’s loss in the Pennsylvania Senate race.
While McCormick was declared the winner of his election against Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), the incumbent senator has yet to concede the race, with Schumer following suit and not inviting the Republican candidate to the Senate’s orientation. Ernst, one of many Republicans who have slammed Schumer’s decision, contended McCormick should “of course” attend the orientation and that Casey “lost” his bid for reelection after 18 years of service.
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“Dave McCormick is going to come to the orientation,” Ernst said on Fox Business’s Mornings with Maria Bartiromo. “We need him there. He should be allowed to participate. And I would say, ‘Look, leader Schumer, it’s not like Dave McCormick is being sworn in this week. He is attending an orientation. So, allow him to participate. Be gracious, you lost, please get over it.’”
Ernst continued that McCormick should have the opportunity to meet and get to know his colleagues within the Senate ahead of being sworn into office. She also said she is expecting McCormick to be able to partake in voting on the Senate’s next majority leader, as he is “the senator-elect.”
Despite Schumer’s lack of an invitation, McCormick intends to partake in the Senate’s orientation, according to a source familiar with the matter. Sens. Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Katie Britt (R-AL), and Mike Lee (R-UT) plan to grant him entry to the building so he can be escorted to orientation.
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With the Republican Party securing a Senate majority following the 2024 elections, one matter the party faces is electing a new majority leader, with the top runners being Sens. John Thune (R-SD), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Rick Scott (R-FL). Ernst noted that President-elect Donald Trump will only have four years “to reshape our federal government,” stressing the need to get to work as soon as possible.
Scott has received the backing of both Trump and billionaire Elon Musk for Senate majority leader. When Ernst was asked which senator she wanted as the Senate’s majority leader, she opted to keep her cards to herself due to being in a race “for conference chair.”
This article was originally published at www.washingtonexaminer.com
