Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is retiring from his leadership role, but not from his Senate seat. There is a mad scramble by the senators who dream of holding the gig.
When McConnell announced his decision, the three Johns became the frontrunners to get the job. Senators John Cornyn, John Thune, and John Barrasso have served in leadership roles under McConnell for years. On Tuesday, Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming said he is taking a pass on the race. He is pursuing the No. 2 position instead, the GOP whip.
Currently, Barrasso is the No. 3 Senate Republican. Barrasso’s office has declined to comment so far.
Barrasso sent a letter to his Senate colleagues. He thanked his fellow senators for their support and prayers when his wife died in January. He went on to tell them some changes are needed among Senate Republicans. They need to “break from where we are now” and he will pursue more transparency if he rises to the No. 2 position in leadership. He spoke with former President Trump on Tuesday morning and told him about his decision.
Now we are down to two Johns. Other senators may or may not enter the race to succeed McConnell but that is not clear yet. Senator John Cornyn was the first to declare that he was pursuing the job.
“I believe the Senate is broken – that is not news to anyone,” @JohnCornyn said in announcing his intent to succeed @LeaderMcConnell as Senate Republican leader. “The good news is that it can be fixed, and I intend to play a major role in fixing it.” https://t.co/ZUGjWb2wAW
— The Texan (@TheTexanNews) February 29, 2024
Then Senator Thune (SD) leaped into the race Monday. He is the current Senate Republican Whip. He told a reporter in Sioux Falls, South Dakota that he wants the job.
“I hope to be,” Thune said Monday when asked if he wants to be Republican leader. “And I’m going to do everything I can to convince my colleagues. They’re the voters. They’re the ones who will ultimately make the decision.”
In speaking to a reporter on Monday, Thune said he would help Republicans be a “check and balance” against the Democratic agenda.
Senator Cornyn tweeted that he will open up leadership positions to any GOP senator and he will support a rule change to institute term limits for the Republican Leader.
One reason I am running to be the next Republican Leader is because I believe the Senate needs more engagement from all of my colleagues, and that includes the opportunity for any Member to serve in Leadership. I will support a conference vote to change the rules and institute…
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) March 6, 2024
Senator Barrasso should win the No. 2 position without challenges. It’s a good move for him since there is no guarantee he will be the one to replace McConnell. Others are making moves for other leadership positions.
Barrasso had been in the mix for the leader job, but Republicans can only pursue one position in the party leadership at a time, making it more risky to for him to try and succeed departing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and comparatively less challenging to become whip.
Barrasso is also term-limited out of the conference chair job, and his bid for whip opens up the No. 3 position. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) confirmed to Hugh Hewitt on Tuesday that he’s pursuing the position.
“I’ve had several colleagues encourage me to run for conference chair,” the Arkansas Republican said. “Everyone needs to focus primarily on all the Senate elections and the race for the White House to ensure we’re electing a majority leader and not a minority leader.”
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who currently occupies the No. 4 spot of Republican Policy Committee chair, has not made a decision on whether she will stay put or pursue another leadership office.
The leadership elections will take place in November.