It would elevate Blunt, a member of the GOP Senate leadership, who has complained about how Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has bottled up legislation and stymied debate, to a position to better influence the flow of legislation. But with that would come the expectation that the GOP would get things done on issues ranging from tax reform to immigration just as Blunt turns to confront his own re-election in 2016.

“It puts more expectations, but I think what it does is create a greater opportunity to get things done,” said Blunt, who has already raised $1.8 million for his own re-election campaign in 2016 — double what McCaskill had raised at the same time in her last re-election campaign.

“Very possibly,” Blunt said, “you could see legislative activity, some of it widely embraced, because so much hasn’t happened for so long.” He cited energy policy and a more “normal” budgeting process as two areas of possible bipartisan action.

McCaskill never has served in the minority, either in the Missouri statehouse or in the U.S. Senate. But she said her role would not change regardless of whether her party remained in control.