Moran: I have NRSC votes locked up

Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) says he has locked up enough commitments from colleagues to win the chairmanship of the National Republican Senatorial Committee after Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) steps down from the post.

Moran said he has met in person over the past six months with every sitting Republican senator who will be casting a ballot in next week’s leadership election. Moran has also spoken to the three Republican senators-elect: Ted Cruz from Texas, Deb Fischer from Nebraska and Jeff Flake from Arizona.

“I have talked to all of my colleagues present and future and have had a sufficient number of commitments that I would be elected to chair the NRSC,” Moran said in a telephone interview. 

Moran could face a challenge from Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio). A source close to Portman said he has received calls from colleagues urging him to run for the position but has not made a decision yet.