(RepublicanReport.org) – Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) recently announced he would not seek leadership in the Upper Chamber come November. This stunning declaration ends a 17-year stint, making the lawmaker the longest-serving Senate leader in the history of Congress. It also opens the door for new leadership, and several senators are on the short-list of possible picks.
On February 28, writer AG Gancarski from Florida Politics posited that perhaps Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) would try to take McConnell’s place as the GOP head of the Senate. While the Florida lawmaker didn’t say he would go for the spot, he did make an announcement after McConnell said he was stepping down.
Scott said he’s felt for a long time that Senate leadership needed a change. That’s why he challenged the minority leader for his position in 2022. Scott said McConnell’s decision gives the Senate GOP members “an opportunity to refocus [its] efforts” on solving problems plaguing America. After the last midterm elections, Scott announced on social media that he was running to be Senate minority leader. At the time, he stated about the same thing he is now — “new leadership” is needed to “advance a bold conservative agenda.”
According to The Wall Street Journal, Scott is not at the top of the pick list for GOP leadership in the Upper Chamber. The outlet mentioned Senators John Thune (SD), John Cornyn (TX), and John Barrasso (WY) as the frontrunners for the spot. Thune could be at the top of the list, if he decides to run for the position, as he works closely with McConnell and stepped in for him last year after the Kentucky lawmaker took a bad fall. The South Dakota legislator is currently the Senate minority whip and McConnell’s close colleague.
Republicans in the Upper Chamber will choose who will fill the leadership role in January 2025.
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