McDaniel stated that “as long as Donald Trump’s endorsement can be weaponized by the GOP establishment, it makes little sense for us to challenge Republican incumbents” in a primary. McDaniel stated that President Trump would endorse the incumbent officeholder and that the challenger would lose. McDaniel was a conservative who has been teasing establishment Republicans for years. He came in third in the November 2018 special Senate election to fill the vacant seat that was left vacant by long-time U.S. Senator Thad Cochran’s retirement. The scandalous 2014 Republican primary runoff, in which McDaniel nearly defeated Cochran in the final round, set up that race. McDaniel stated Tuesday that the political climate has changed since 2014. McDaniel stated that some people are more interested in watching D.C. soap operas than they are in addressing conservative priorities. “Despite our efforts to drain swamp, this is pro-incumbent cycling.” McDaniel’s perspective signals a shift in tone when talking about President Trump. This outlook likely stems from McDaniel’s experiences from a little over a year ago. McDaniel was a Twitter endorser of McDaniel during the 2014 race. McDaniel stumped in Mississippi three more times in 2018 for U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde Smith and never mentioned McDaniel. McDaniel, with whom McDaniel had worked hard in the months before the 2018 Senate race was held, officially endorsed Hyde-Smith. In a runoff against Mike Espy, Hyde-Smith won the election. McDaniel was eliminated, and he supported Hyde-Smith, encouraging his supporters to vote conservative. In early 2019, he stated to Mississippi Today that he may run for the state office in 2019. He cited several phone calls with Trump and his support. Just hours after the Mississippi Today article was published, a conservative news website published a report citing unnamed White House officials who claimed McDaniel mischaracterized a phone call with Trump. According to those sources, the phone call was not an endorsement for future elections but a condolence call after the election. McDaniel’s antiestablishment bonafides were questioned earlier this year, when he endorsed Lieutenant Governor. Tate Reeves won the race for the state’s next governor in the Republican primary against former Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. Reeves was chosen by the establishment in this year’s governor’s race, boasting support of dozens of special interests groups that McDaniel long deplored and former Gov. Haley Barbour. McDaniel attempted to discredit the notion that he had abandoned his anti-establishment beliefs in Tuesday’s statement. McDaniel stated that he hopes that Mississippi’s people will one day recognize that D.C.’s power brokers have created a dysfunctional system that is more concerned with empowering bureaucrats than the people of Mississippi. McDaniel said, “Until then expect more of the exact same.” McDaniel won his reelection bid for the state Senate earlier this month without opposition. He will continue to join the Republican caucus in his fourth term. Hyde-Smith filed paperwork earlier this month to run for reelection. He could be challenged by a Republican primary candidate. Mississippi Today was informed earlier this week by Josh Randle, the former president of Miss America Organization. He said that he is looking into a Senate run in the Republican primary. Randle stated in a statement that Mississippi needs a Republican senator with fresh ideas, a clear vision and the ability to take our state forward. We need a senator who can be effective and accessible, as well as one that projects a positive image for Mississippi on the national stage. Mississippi deserves better. I look forward exploring whether I’m the right person to run. Gerard Gibert, a Ridgeland millionaire and businessman, wrote this week in comments on Facebook that he wouldn’t run for the Senate in 2020. Gibert suggested a possible entry to the race in July. To be eligible for the race, candidates for Mississippi’s U.S. Senate or congressional races in 2020 have until January 10, 2020. The Republican and Democratic primaries are scheduled for March 10, 2020. The general election will take place on November 3, 2020. Editor’s Note: An earlier version incorrectly stated McDaniel’s endorsement for Cindy Hyde Smith in November 2018. McDaniel asked his supporters to vote for Hyde-Smith and he directly endorsed him.