Thune announces bid to succeed McConnell, setting up fight for Senate GOP leader

Source: CNN Politics

Published 2:43 PM EST, Mon March 4, 2024


Senate GOP Whip John Thune announced Monday that he is running for Republican leader, setting up a contested battle in the first major shakeup at the top of the Senate GOP hierarchy in nearly two decades.

Thune, speaking to Keloland News in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, said that he wants to succeed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has held the post since 2007 and announced last week that he would step aside at the end of the year from his perch atop the conference.

“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.”

Thune will face at least one other Republican: John Cornyn of Texas, a former whip and Senate GOP campaign chairman who announced his bid last week. Others could jump into the race as well, including Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, the No. 3 Republican. Plus, former President Donald Trump has urged Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, to seek the position. And Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, who lost to McConnell in a challenge to his position after the 2022 midterms, has not ruled out a bid as well.


Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/04/politics/thune-announces-bid-succeeding-mcconnell/index.html