Republicans are kicking off the week with crippling infighting, finger pointing, and pure chaos as leadership elections may be delayed, Mike Pence kicks off his book tour, Trump prepares for an anticipated 2024 campaign announcement, and GOP 2024 contenders prepare for their first cattle call in Las Vegas at the end of the week. DNC spokesperson Ammar Moussa released the following statement:

“If you have an ‘R’ after your name you can guarantee there are knives out for you. Rather than grappling with why their extreme MAGA agenda was rejected by millions of Amercans, Republicans are at each other’s throats. No matter what happens this week, it will be an absolute disaster for the Republican Party and serve as a reminder to the American people just how extreme and out of touch the GOP is.”

Today, Mike Pence kicks off a book tour that no one asked for. In a remarkable level of pettiness, Trump’s anticipated presidential announcement will come on the same day Pence’s book is released.

One thing we can expect to get from Mike Pence is a doubling down on his extreme plan to ban abortion in in “all 50 states.” 

Mike Pence: “I’ve often said I’m pro-life… I don’t apologize for it. I’d love to see the sanctity of life restored to the center of American law in all 50 states.”

Tuesday and Wednesday will feature Republican leadership elections, in theory. Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy are both facing rebellions as their caucuses turn on them. 

Washington Post: “With control of the House and Senate still undecided, angry Republicans mounted public challenges to their leaders in both chambers Friday as they confronted the possibility of falling short of the majority, eager to drag Rep. Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) and Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.) down from their top posts as consequence.”

CNN: “And three GOP senators – Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Rick Scott of Florida and Mike Lee of Utah – sent a letter urging members of the GOP conference to postpone leadership elections scheduled for Wednesday, underscoring Senate Republicans’ frustration with the outcome of the 2022 elections.”

Lindsey Graham: In light of #GASen runoff, it would be appropriate to delay Senate leadership elections until we know who is in the Senate Republican Conference.  I totally agree with Senator @TedCruz  that to do otherwise would be disrespectful to @HerschelWalker.

And no matter what happens in House Republican leadership elections, one thing is sure — the most extreme and right wing Republicans fully expect to be calling the shots.

Punchbowl: “In reality, McCarthy is willing to give the right much of what it wants.”

The Washington Post: “To aid in his quest to clinch the speakership, McCarthy has promised to restore committee assignments for Greene and Rep. Paul A. Gosar (R-Ariz.), add more members to the influential steering committee and place Freedom Caucus members on their preferred legislative committees.”

The Republican National Committee has its own drama, as knives come out for Chair Ronna McDaniel.

NBC News: “Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., who lost a surprisingly close race for governor last week, has spoken with GOP elected officials and party activists who want him to run for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee, his media consultant told NBC News.”

And to wrap the week off, Republicans — including Pence, Ron DeSantis and Glenn Youngkin — will head to Vegas for the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual conference, where they will compete to out-MAGA each other for the 2024 spotlight. 

Washington Examiner: “The shadow campaign for the Republican presidential nomination is poised to break wide open, with about a dozen 2024 contenders scheduled to showcase themselves to leading donors and activists attending an annual Republican Jewish Coalition conference.”

Republicans are in a messy race to the bottom to see who can claim the MAGA mantle in 2024 — and it’s only just beginning.