The trip was just his latest to the Hawkeye State, which votes first in the GOP’s 2024 primary. He had been there two weekends earlier for the annual “Roast and Ride,” a barbecue and motorcycle parade put on by fellow Sen. Joni Ernst .But this time, the Wednesday trip forced him to miss five votes in the Senate. He skipped two more on Thursday.
Those wins have a lot to do with defections by swing state Democrats like Sen. Joe Manchin . But with the chamber so closely divided, they sometimes come down to basic attendance. But Scott is already facing the challenge of balancing long hours at the Capitol with the grueling job audition that is a presidential run.
Sen. Mike Rounds , who, along with Thune, has endorsed Scott's presidential run, sees the burden as manageable given that votes are scheduled in advance. But he and other Republicans acknowledge it will be a hurdle for leadership at times. But the absences are nonetheless a challenge for Thune as minority whip, both in opposing controversial nominees and for the CRAs that Republicans continue to introduce.
“At any given moment, you never know who’s missing. It changes every day, every week. I’ve been through this so many times,” Durbin told the Washington Examiner.