In both cases, both parties will eventually lose someone with great seniority and an established brand in their state that combine to make it very easy to get them re-elected rather than risking an election on a younger, less established candidate. Neither party is scouring the triple A levels for possible replacements as long as these older candidates can be relied upon to dutifully vote as expected by the special interests that own them.

One would normally think a family member would be lobbying in private to convince people in this condition to step down. That may be happening. But who else is whispering in their ear telling them "you're doing find, hang in there..." Lobbyists for insurance companies and coal companies (McConnell)? Lobbyists for financial or legal interests (Feinstein)?

WTH