| Election Name: | 2022 Senate Republican Conference leadership election |
| Country: | United States |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2020 Senate Republican Conference leadership election |
| Previous Year: | 2020 |
| Next Election: | 2024 Senate Republican Conference leadership election |
| Next Year: | 2024 |
| Election Date: | November 16, 2022 |
| Image1: | Mitch McConnell 2016 official photo (1).jpg |
| Image1 Size: | 160x160px |
| Candidate1: | Mitch McConnell |
| Colour1: | E81B23 |
| Image2 Size: | 160x160px |
| Candidate2: | Rick Scott |
| Colour2: | E81B23 |
| Leader | |
| Before Election: | Mitch McConnell |
| After Election: | Mitch McConnell |
| Vote Type: | Members' |
| Popular Vote1: | 37 |
| Popular Vote2: | 10 |
| Home State1: | Kentucky |
| Home State2: | Florida |
| Percentage1: | 78.7% |
| Percentage2: | 21.3% |
| Flag Image: | Seal of the United States Senate.svg |
On November 16, 2022, Republican members of the United States Senate held an election to determine the leader of the Senate Republican Conference. Incumbent leader Mitch McConnell defeated a challenge by Florida senator Rick Scott in a vote by secret ballot. This was the first contested conference leadership election since 1996, and marked a departure from the tradition of unanimously confirming incumbent leaders who chose to run for re-election. Only those who were expected to serve as Republican senators in the 118th Congress were allowed to cast a vote.[1] [2]
Republicans failed to produce a predicted red wave during the 2022 United States elections. Some more conservative Republicans blamed this failure on current leadership, like incumbent Senate Republican Conference leader Mitch McConnell. The election marked the first time since 1996 a contested Senate Republican leadership challenge has gone to a vote.[3]
The following candidates declared their intent to run.
| Candidate | State | Other Senate roles | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mitch McConnell | Kentucky | Leader of the Senate Republican Conference Republican Senate Whip Chair of the Senate Rules Committee | [4] | |
Rick Scott | Florida | Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee |
| Candidate | Votes | Percent | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bgcolor= | Mitch McConnell | 37 | ||
| bgcolor= | Rick Scott | 10 | ||
| Abstentions | 1 | N/A | ||
| Did not vote | 1 | |||
| Total: | 47 | 100% | ||
| Source:[5] | ||||