Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) told reporters in October that he had no plans to quit, despite evident signs of deteriorating health, but now "the 80-year-old's feeble performance has fueled expectations — among senators and aides who've witnessed his physical and mental decline firsthand — that Cochran will step down from the Appropriations chairmanship early next year, or resign from the Senate altogether," Politico reports. Republicans don't want Cochran to go before the new year because that would trigger a special election within 100 days; if he resigns after Jan. 1, Mississippi would vote for his replacement in November, along with Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), who is up for re-election.
Cochran spokesman Chris Gallegos said the long-serving senator "has not made any statements regarding leaving office. He continues to do his work for Mississippi and the nation." But an unidentified Republican senator on the Appropriations Committee, which Cochran chairs, told Politico, "The understanding is that he will leave after Jan. 1. ... That's what most of us believe will happen." Cochran hasn't presided over a hearing since early September or given a floor speech in all of 2017, and he's reportedly stopped meeting with senators and House members about substantive business. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), the No. 2 Republican on the Appropriations Committee, has be running the committee, numerous aides and senators tell Politico, and he's expected to become chairman if Cochran steps down. You can read more at Politico.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The Spanish cop, 20 million euros and 13 tonnes of cocaineIn the Spotlight Óscar Sánchez Gil, Chief Inspector of Spain's Economic and Tax Crimes Unit, has been arrested for drug trafficking
-
5 hilarious cartoons about the rise and fall of Matt GaetzCartoons Artists take on age brackets, backbiting, and more
-
The future of XTalking Point Trump's ascendancy is reviving the platform's coffers, whether or not a merger is on the cards
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red SeaSpeed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacksspeed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages releasedSpeed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
-
Tuberville's military promotions block is upending lives, combat readiness, 3 military branch chiefs saySpeed Read
-
Ukraine's counteroffensive is making incremental gains. Does it matter in the broader war?Speed Read
-
US commissions first-ever Navy ship in a foreign portSpeed Read
-
British spy chief, Wagner video suggest Prigozhin is alive and freely 'floating around'Speed Read
