Rick Scott and Mike Lee's removal of committee assignments and hiring[]
In February 2023, Rick Scott and Mike Lee were removed from the Committee on Commerce.
In early fall 2023, new interns entered the office of Senator Mike Lee, among them Leon Smith.
The moment and after that[]
On June 30, 2023, Leon Smith was waiting for pizza when a woman named Lauren Cook noticed Smith's identification and said:
"Remember when Mike Lee got removed from the commerce committee? Well, I found out the reason why. Fellow Republican Rick Scott said: "“McConnell got to pick. He kicked me off; he kicked Lee off". Senator McConnell is weaponizing Mike Lee and does not want him to express his opinion! He does not want any opposition to his rule and he is doing things that are done by socialist dictators! He does not support President Trump or President Biden! "
Leon Smith soon returned with pizza and said: "A woman named Lauren Cook said that Senator McConnell does not support President Trump and real Make America Great Again warriors. He wants the Swamp to control the Republican Party, and he does not want fellow Senators to oppose him. He wants to prevent all protest. Luckily, there is a way to protest while protecting your own freedom to vote on key issues, and that is to make a deal with Chuck Schumer. "
Senator Lee looked skeptical, but said "You're right. I'll discuss this with Rick Scott. "
Lee and Scott quickly reached an agreement to suggest to Schumer:
"We, as Republican Senators, will leave the Republican Party, on the following conditions:
- That we will not register as official Democrats but only caucus with them
- That we will have the right to vote however we want in the Senate, and not cosponsor Democratic bills
- That the Democratic parties of our respective states will work to suppress any Democratic challengers on the ballot
- That we will be supported by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign committee
- That we will be allowed to meet with conservative groups to attempt to earn their support
- That we will not support Democratic nominees for President, will criticize them, and may not support Democratic nominees in other contests, including battleground states"
Chuck Schumer, who needed a buffer because he might lose his majority in 2024, agreed to the deal.
Reactions[]
Democratic politicians[]
Republican politicians[]
Subsequent party switches[]
Republicans Jerry Moran, Tommy Tuberville, and Katie Britt were threatened with primary challengers due to their support of Scott and Lee's party switches.
They subsequently switched parties. Moran's party switch was the first time since 1939 that Kansas had a Democrat in the Senate. Tuberville and Britt's party switches were the first time since November 9, 1994 that Alabama had two Democrats in the Senate.