Mitch McConnell cancels bulk of Senate's August recess

June 5 (UPI) -- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday he would cancel most of the Senate's August recess as Republicans work to confirm judicial and executive nominees.

"Due to the historic obstruction by Senate Democrats of the president's nominees, and the goal of passing appropriations bills prior to the end of the fiscal year, the August recess has been canceled," McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said in a released statement, with an exception for the first week of the month.

"Senators should expect to remain in session in August to pass legislation, including appropriations bills, and to make additional progress on the president's nominees," McConnell said.

Sen. David Perdue, a Georgia Republican, told Politico he supported the move.

"It is important to remember that simply canceling the August state work period is not the goal. We should be working nights and weekends now to get the results the American people sent us here to deliver," Perdue said.

The cancelation also cuts into the time senators have to campaign for incumbent seats in mid-term elections, Politico reported.

Twenty-six Democrats and independents face re-election this year, CNBC reported, including 10 in states President Donald Trump won in 2016, compared to nine incumbent Republicans.

Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat who will likely run against Florida Gov. Rick Scott in his re-election campaign, said McConnell's recess cancelation was a "calculation of raw politics."