Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell appears to be negotiating a possible exit strategy from the U.S. Senate. That includes compiling a list of successors, and pushing for legislation that would allow him to choose his successor.

Under current law in Kentucky, McConnell does not get to choose who’s replacing him. That is Gov. Andy Beshear's job. But state Republicans are worried they won't like Beshear’s pick.

That is why McConnell is pushing for new legislation that would change the law. McConnell, who wants to maintain his grip on the state, is pushing Senate bill 228, which has been informally called the Daniel Cameron election bill by lawmakers.

Nick Storm from the Intercept explains what the bill contains: "The new legislation, Senate Bill 228, was filed on February 10, 2020. The bill alters current state statute that allows the governor to appoint a replacement in the event of a vacancy to the U.S. Senate," Storm writes. "If the bill becomes law, the appointment to fill a vacancy will be selected from a list of three names submitted by the state executive committee of the same political party as the senator who held the vacant seat. According to the bill, the appointee from that list will then serve until a successor has been elected by voters."

"We’ve talked about how undemocratic Republican lawmakers are, this just takes it to another level," Ana Kasparian reacted.

But Uygur says this is a Republican mainstay that happens over and over again.

"If a Democratic candidate ever wins in a red state, they immediately strip him of his powers. It doesn't even have to be a red state as long as they control the legislature. There's no big outrage. They crush Democrats and it’s Tuesday," said Uygur. "But my God if a blue state legislature stripped a Republican governor of his powers, there would be outrage in the country," he added.

McConnell already has a list ready of who is being considered. "The list is topped by his protégé, state Attorney General Daniel Cameron, and also includes former United Nations Ambassador Kelly Craft, whose billionaire coal magnate husband is a major McConnell donor, as well as Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, a former McConnell Scholar," the Intercept reports.

All of his picks have close personal ties to the Kentucky Senator. McConnell ensured an endorsement for his top pick, Daniel Cameron, from Trump. He additionally, secured a speaking role at the Republican National Convention and an Oval Office meeting for Cameron, who served as McConnell’s general counsel and has a father-son relationship with the senator.

As for Kelly Craft, her husband is one of McConnell's top donors. Also, it was McConnell who, despite Craft's lack of experience, shepherded the mega donor through the Senate confirmation process for the U.N. ambassadorship.

Micheal Adams, according to the Intercept, is not as close to the Senator as the other two candidates, but has remained in McConnell's close circle.

"It’s all about connections, it’s all about influence, it’s all about wielding power," said Kasparian.

Uygur agreed, saying "it’s an auction, it's not a democracy. And the no. 1 auctioneer in the country is Mitch McConnell."

Sources have said Mcconnell is pushing the bill because of health concerns to the makeup of the upper chamber. But with backlash from Trump supporters, this is a ripe time for Mcconnell make a swift exit while ensuring he can also pick someone to fill in his shoes.