Candidate recruitment failures may haunt Senate Republicans in 2026

Former Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) analyzed the 2022 congressional election results in two words: “candidate quality.” It was a very insightful statement of the obvious that escapes far too many people in the political game.

Since 2010, Republicans have kicked away golden opportunities to win Senate races across the country, from Nevada to New Hampshire and from Delaware to Georgia. Republican primaries far too often produced inferior candidates.

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