Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) is pushing back against fellow Republicans who want to write off last week's election results as routine midterm losses, arguing that the party's defeats were a clear signal that voters have abandoned the GOP and must be won back.
In an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity, Kennedy said, "This was not a normal midterm election loss. If you think that, congratulations, you're stupid." He echoed a phrase often used by his colleague Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), referencing typical voters "Toby and Edith" who "didn't stay home. They voted for Democrats and we've got to get Toby and Edith back."
Kennedy's comments come as Republicans prepare to hand over control of both the Senate and the House to Democrats in January. He is urging his colleagues to use the remaining weeks of the lame-duck session to push through as much of President Trump's agenda as possible, rather than retreating.
Lame-Duck Priorities
Kennedy outlined several legislative items he wants to tackle before the power shift, including a permitting reform bill currently on the Senate floor, tax breaks for home sales, funding for the Defense Department, and a ban on stock trading by members of Congress. He acknowledged these measures won't solve all of Toby and Edith's problems, but said they would demonstrate that Republicans are "trying to do something."
The Louisiana senator had previously advocated for a third budget reconciliation package to bypass a Democratic filibuster before the election, but other GOP senators balked at the idea, fearing tough amendment votes so close to Election Day. Now, Kennedy is renewing that push, telling reporters at the Capitol on Wednesday that he wants to bring a reconciliation package 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 such a package could muster enough Republican support.
Kennedy suggested the reconciliation bill could include language to raise the debt ceiling, as well as funding for the Defense Department and a proposal by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) aimed at cracking down on fraud, which proponents say could save hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars.
GOP Soul-Searching
The debate over how to respond to the midterm losses has exposed divisions within the party. Some Republicans, like Kennedy, are calling for a more aggressive legislative push, while others are already looking ahead to 2028. Justice has warned that the GOP can forget about retaking the Senate in 2028 after such deep-red losses, and some strategists argue the party must break from Trump or face another rout. Meanwhile, Trump's grip on Hill Republicans appears to be slipping in the aftermath of the election.
Kennedy's push for a reconciliation package in the lame duck faces an uphill battle, but he insists it's worth trying. "We've got 50-plus days while Republicans are still in charge," he said, urging his colleagues to make the most of the time left.
