Now that McConnell is stepping down, many are wondering who will take his place. Will it be one of the men mentioned in this article, or could it be someone else entirely?
From POLITICO. Mitch McConnell’s exit as Senate GOP leader this fall officially kicks off a succession battle that has so far played out only in the backrooms of the Capitol.
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The Kentucky Republican isn’t stepping aside until November, but three potential heirs have long loomed large in the Hill’s calculus. Somewhat confusingly, all three are white men named John: Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.), former whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) and GOP Conference Chair John Barrasso (R-Wyo.).
For the moment, very few GOP senators are declaring their preferred McConnell successor. Asked which of the “three Johns” he favors to become the next Republican leader, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) spoke for many on Wednesday by chuckling and replying only, “good question.” …
Barrasso, unlike Cornyn and Thune, has yet to publicly confirm his interest in the top job. He said on Wednesday that “there’s a much more important election between now and then,” referring to the post-Election Day timing of the eventual vote on McConnell’s successor. …
Even so, the subtle differences between the “Three Johns,” as well as the potential entrance of a sleeper candidate or two, will make for a long leadership campaign season in the Senate. Here is a guide to how to tell the differences between the three, and which other players may enter the race over the next few months.
Thune
The low-key and affable South Dakotan, 63, almost passed on reelection in 2022 after Donald Trump suggested that Thune might draw a primary challenge in exchange for critical comments about efforts to overturn the former president’s 2020 election loss. …
Cornyn
The 72-year-old Texan is no less approachable than Thune in the halls of the Senate, but his style of politics runs a bit more bare-knuckled. …
Cornyn’s conservative bona fides haven’t stopped him from supporting the occasional big-ticket bipartisan deal, and in 2022, he even shepherded through a gun safety measure with Democrats. …
Barrasso
The 71-year-old Wyoming Republican, if he ultimately enters the race to succeed McConnell as expected, would serve as the most vocally pro-Trump and conservative of the Three Johns. …
The wild cards
The Three Johns have a head start in the succession race, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be the only candidates to replace McConnell. …
Chief among [the wild cards] is the Florida Republican who lost overwhelmingly to McConnell after the 2022 midterms: Rick Scott. …
There could also be additional GOP leader hopefuls who emerge over the next few months. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) told POLITICO on Wednesday that he expects as many as eight to 10 candidates to enter the race. …
What do you think of these candidates? Who would you like to see lead Republicans in the Senate? Share your thoughts and prayers below.
(Excerpt from POLITICO. Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America – Mitch McConnell, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons)