Trump's victory scrambles a three-way race for Senate Republican leader
Donald Trump’s presidential win has scrambled the race to replace Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, with Sens. John Thune, John Cornyn and Rick Scott all running.
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump’s dramatic victory has scrambled next week’s three-way contest to replace Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, the chamber’s longest-serving leader who is stepping down at the end of the year.
Two of McConnell’s trusted lieutenants — Senate Minority Whip John Thune, of South Dakota, the No. 2 Republican leader, and Sen. John Cornyn, of Texas, who previously held that role — as well as Sen. Rick Scott, a conservative from Trump’s home state of Florida, are all running to be Senate leader after Republicans recaptured the majority in Tuesday’s election.
A third John who was considered a potential candidate, GOP Conference Chair John Barrasso, of Wyoming, decided not to run for the top job and will run for the No. 2 majority whip post instead.
Because of their years in leadership and relationships across the GOP Conference, Thune and Cornyn have been seen as the most likely successors to McConnell. But the pair have broken with Trump on several occasions and have spent the year trying to make amends with the past and now future president.
With Trump returning to power, Scott and his conservative allies are making the case that he should be the one to run the Senate despite winning just 10 votes when he challenged McConnell for the top job two years ago.
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