Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi was elected chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee on Thursday, defeating Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada in the only contested GOP leadership contest.
Wicker touted the role he played in helping Sen. Thad Cochran, a fellow Mississippian, win a close GOP primary runoff over Tea Party challenger Chris McDaniel. Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., and former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour were among those whipping for Wicker.
Heller had promoted his success winning a close race for election in Nevada in 2012. In that contest, he outperformed GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney to secure victory even as President Obama won the state easily.
Heller’s pollster was one of the few on the Republican side to get a close race right in 2012.
The Republicans face a tough map in 2016, with many of the most contested races happening on Democratic-leaning states. Because it is a presidential cycle, the elevated turnout could pose a particular hurdle for Senate Republicans on the ballot in blue states.
Incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is leaning on NRSC political director Ward Baker to replace Rob Collins as executive director and remain at the committee for another cycle, under Wicker, according to GOP sources.
