Republican leadership of Senate health panel in doubt

It’s unclear who will replace Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy as the top Republican on the Senate HELP Committee. Tight polls for Republicans are throwing future GOP leadership of the Senate health panel into question. With Sens. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, fighting difficult reelection battles, it’s unclear who will replace Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy as the top Republican on the Senate HELP Committee. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is the next most senior person, but he would have to give up leading the Homeland Security Committee to helm the health panel. And Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, another member, could be in line to be the top GOP appropriator if Collins loses her reelection bid. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., would be next up after Paul and Murkowski, but he already leads the Senate Banking Committee. It’s not impossible that Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, a staunch abortion opponent, lands the role opposite Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on the committee.