After Republicans secured the Senate majority this election cycle, discussions of who should lead the Republican Conference in the upper chamber ramped up. Both Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and John Thune (R-SD) have been portrayed as the continuation candidates for the position, whereas Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has vowed to be the “change” candidate.
Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has led the Senate Republican Conference since 2007. He announced his resignation in late February. Sens. Cornyn and Thune served under Leader McConnell as Senate Republican whips during different congresses.
However, Axios has reported that President-elect Trump privately shot down Sen. Scott’s leadership bid, saying it was “not serious,” according to their sources. A senior Trump campaign official denied this report, saying Trump “hasn’t weighed in on the leadership race and anyone who says differently is wrong.”
With all of this in mind, prominent leaders in the conservative and “MAGA” movement have called for Sen. Scott to replace Sen. McConnell, citing his pro-Trump history and business acumen.
For instance, Charlie Kirk, the founder and president of Turning Point USA, which registered thousands of young people to fuel Trump’s election efforts, endorsed Scott. He kept it brief.
Rick Scott for leader.
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) November 7, 2024
“Rick Scott for leader,” said Kirk.
Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) appeared on Jesse Kelly’s “The First” and called for President-elect Trump to publicly endorse Scott in the upcoming intra-party election and added that he and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) will support him as well.
🚨New: Wisconsin GOP Senator Ron Johnson is calling on President Trump to publicly endorse Rick Scott for Senate Majority Leader.
pic.twitter.com/B288NA5mCU— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) November 7, 2024
“We’re big supporters. Rick Scott, and extraordinary individual, highly successful in the business world, highly successful Governor of Florida, he turned that state around, set Ron DeSantis up for success. So, Jesse, if you’ve got any influence with President Trump, ask President Trump to come out publicly to say he wants to work with somebody who’s accomplished as Rick Scott, to accomplish his agenda,” said Sen. Johnson.
He continued, saying change is necessary.
“We’ve got to do big things. We have to deliver; we need an outside-the-box, paradigm-shifting type of thinking in the United States Senate, and working with President Trump he’s going to need somebody like Rick Scott,” said Johnson.
The Wisconsin senator added that a public endorsement of Scott from Trump might be what he needs in order to get over the finish line to be elected Senate Majority Leader.
Once the election was called for President-elect Trump, Sen. Cornyn touted his own record and stated that he has “learned what works and what does not” during his time in the upper chamber.
“From my experience both as Whip advancing President Trump’s agenda through the Senate to serving as a rank-and-file member now, I have learned what works and what does not,” said Sen. Cornyn. “We will restore the important role of Senate committees and reestablish the regular appropriations process.”
Sen. Cornyn continued, adding that he would end “backroom deals” and other shady practices in the Senate.
“We will improve communication, increase transparency, and tap into the wealth of talent in the conference to include everyone’s expertise and opinions. And we will return power back to the members; there will be no more backroom deals or forced votes on bills without adequate time for review, debate, and amendment,” said Cornyn.
Republican senators will choose their next leader in the upper chamber on November 15 in a secret ballot.
