Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), the new chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), said on Jan. 21 that he’ll back GOP incumbents even if former President Donald Trump or his family were to get involved in the 2022 Senate races.
“I’m supporting incumbents,” Scott said during a press briefing on Capitol Hill when pressed on rumors that Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, might be considering running alongside fellow Florida Sen. Marco Rubio in 2022.
He said that “nobody has talked to me” or confirmed the rumors, noting that he hasn’t spoken with Trump since he left office.
“Nobody. I’ve tried to call around. Nobody’s said anything about Florida,” he said.
Scott, who voted on Jan. 6 to object to the certification of electoral college votes in Pennsylvania, repeated his stance when asked if he would back Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) against a Trump-backed challenger.
As the new NRSC head, Scott is in charge of spearing the GOP’s effort to take back the Senate, including keeping seats in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. Democratic seats in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada. and New Hampshire will also be targeted by Republicans in 2022.
Defending his decision to challenge Pennsylvania’s electoral college results, Scott said that he wants people to “follow the law.”
“I mean, you have to remember what I went through in my 2018 election where they completely violated the law. They found 95,000 votes after election night. Chuck Schumer sent lawyers down because he didn’t care what the votes were, he’s going to the court. So, I want people to follow the law,” Scott said.
Scott also said he would not judge those who vote to convict Trump in his upcoming impeachment trial.
“Everybody will have to decide on their own. I think we ought to focus on where we’re going, not the past,” he said. “Everybody will make their own decision.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told reporters on Jan. 21 that it’s up to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as to when the article will be transmitted.
Trump meanwhile has made some statements in recent speeches suggesting that he will continue to be active in politics.
“We love you,“ he told Americans on Wednesday. ”We will be back in some form.”
