Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) is pushing back against fellow Republicans who characterize last week's electoral defeat as a typical midterm setback, insisting the party must confront the scale of its losses and work to win back voters who abandoned the GOP.
In an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity, Kennedy was blunt: "This was not a normal midterm election loss. If you think that, congratulations, you're stupid." He echoed a phrase often used by Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), referring to the archetypal voters "Toby and Edith," who, Kennedy argued, did not simply stay home but actively cast ballots for Democrats. "We've got to get Toby and Edith back," he said.
Kennedy's comments come as Republicans prepare to hand over control of both chambers to Democrats in January. With roughly 50 days remaining in the GOP's lame-duck session, he is urging his colleagues to use the time to advance as much of President Trump's agenda as possible.
Speaking to reporters at the Capitol on Wednesday, Kennedy outlined a list of priorities, including a permitting reform bill currently on the Senate floor, tax relief for home sellers, defense appropriations, and a ban on stock trading by members of Congress. He acknowledged these measures won't solve every problem facing voters like Toby and Edith, but argued they would demonstrate that Republicans are making an effort.
Kennedy also renewed his push for a third budget reconciliation package, which would allow Republicans to bypass a Democratic filibuster. He had advocated for such a move before the election, but other GOP senators balked at the prospect of taking tough amendment votes so close to Election Day. Now, he wants to bring a reconciliation bill to the floor before Christmas.
"I think we ought to get as close as we can to a consensus and we ought to try," Kennedy said, even as Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) expressed skepticism about whether enough Republicans would support the measure. Kennedy suggested the package could include language to raise the debt ceiling, along with defense funding and a fraud-reduction proposal from Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) that proponents say could save hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars.
The Louisiana senator's remarks reflect a broader intra-party debate about how to respond to the midterm rout. Some Republicans, like Eric Erickson, have warned that the party must break from Trump or face an even worse outcome in 2028. Others, like Mick Mulvaney, argue Trump's influence over congressional Republicans is already waning.
Kennedy's insistence on a robust lame-duck agenda suggests he believes the GOP can still salvage some legislative wins before Democrats take the gavel. But with Thune's caution and the narrow margins, the path forward remains uncertain.
