Arizona Senate Race: McSally Is Running, McConnell Says

TUCSON, AZ – Rep. Martha McSally has not announced that she is running to replace Jeff Flake in the United States Senate. That didn't stop Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell from praising her campaign.

"We've got some great candidates out there and you're familiar with them," McConnell said Friday in his year-end praise press conference before going on to single out McSally.

He mentioned her as someone "who could actually win."

McConnell has been in a feud with Trump confidant and former White House adviser Steve Bannon.

While McConnell backed Luther Strange as the candidate to replace Jeff Sessions as a senator from Alabama, Bannon pushed disgraced former judge, Roy Moore in the Republican primary.

Bannon even traveled to Alabama to campaign for Moore. Doug Jones still won the race, giving Democrats their first senate victory there in a quarter century.

"The people who win elections make policy and the others go home and do something else," McConnell said Friday.

The only problem – McSally hasn't announced her candidacy, something that's been rumored since Jeff Flake announced he won't be seeking reelection. She's reportedly been telling colleagues that she will run.

If McSally, who represents Arizona's 2nd District in the House of Representatives, does enter the race, it will likely set up another McConnell-Bannon showdown.

Bannon has endorsed a former state senator, Kelli Ward, who lost a primary race to John McCain last year.

Several other Republicans have also been mentioned as being interested in running for the seat including former state Republican boss, Robert Graham.

If McSally wins the primary – assuming she gets into the race – she will likely have to face her House colleague from the other side of the aisle, Krysten Sinema.

Photo courtesy office of Rep. Martha McSally.