Mitch McConnell, the longtime leader of Senate Republicans, will be stepping down from his position in January after nearly two decades. This has sparked a race among Senate Republicans to replace him, with two front-runners emerging: John Thune from South Dakota and John Cornyn from Texas.
Thune, who currently serves as McConnell’s No. 2, and Cornyn, who held that position before Thune, are both well-liked and have similar political leanings to McConnell. However, they have also expressed a desire to move on from the McConnell era and take a more open approach.
The outcome of the election to replace McConnell is still uncertain, as many Republican senators have not publicly endorsed a candidate yet. Florida Senator Rick Scott, who is also in the race, could potentially act as a spoiler. The support of former President Donald Trump could also play a significant role in determining the winner.
Both Thune and Cornyn have been actively campaigning and fundraising for their colleagues across the country. Thune has made over two dozen campaign stops for GOP Senate candidates and raised more than $31 million for Senate races. Cornyn has a long history of fundraising for Republicans, having raised over $400 million during his 22 years in the Senate.
In addition to their fundraising efforts, both Thune and Cornyn have been trying to differentiate themselves from McConnell by emphasizing their support for Trump. They have both maintained close ties to the former president, attending campaign events and meeting with him in recent months.
The race to replace McConnell has also highlighted divisions within the Republican Party, with some senators pushing for term limits for the party leader and advocating for more power for individual senators. It remains to be seen how these dynamics will play out in the upcoming election.
Overall, the race to replace McConnell as Senate GOP leader is shaping up to be a closely watched and consequential event that could have long-lasting implications for the direction of the party. The final outcome will likely depend on a combination of factors, including candidate endorsements, fundraising efforts, and support from within the party.
