- Evan McMullin stated that he would not join any party in the Senate if he was elected an Independent.
- McMullin, who was on “Meet the Press,” said that he wanted to play a central role in the crafting of legislation.
- McMullin contrasted McMullin’s independence with Mike Lee (his Republican general election opponent).
Independent Senate candidate Evan McMullin on Sunday criticized his opponent, GOP Sen. Mike Lee, over his voting record during his two terms in the upper chamber — while also reaffirming his commitment not to caucus with either major political party if he wins the general election.
Interviews with Chuck Todd on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” McMullin — an ex-CIA officer and former 2016 presidential candidate — said that he would retain his independence if chosen by Utah voters to serve in the Senate.
Todd proposed a scenario in which the Senate was 50/49, with McMullin possibly being the deciding vote for the body’s leadership. However, the Utahn stated his support for his position and that his independence would give more power to the state in the chamber.
“I will not co-operate with any side. … This will give Utah an additional value in the Senate, which it does not have. McMullin indicated that there is Senator Romney who has done a lot of good for both our state and the nation, working across party lines in order to get things done.
He added: “With Senator Lee. We get none of this. He waits until it’s time for him to vote no. He then complains about his country on cable news. “I’m not going to do that.”
McMullin argued then that the centralist legislators in the body had played an outsized part in shaping legislation. This is a role McMullin is eager to play.
He stated that he believes that “we’ve seen enough over the last year or so especially that senators in this chamber who are willing and able to act with greater independence serving their constituents, standing against party bosses, fighting extremist factions, special interest groups, and standing up for party bosses, have the greatest influence in the chamber.” They’re more influential, I believe, than the party leaders. That’s what I want for Utah. It will be a tremendous blessing to Utah if we can do this.
Recent polling has mostly shown a close race between McMullin in the Republican state and Lee in the recent months.
The latest Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics Poll conducted earlier this month — among registered voters — Lee earned the support of 41% of respondents, while 37% backed McMullin and 12% said that they were undecided.
