Senate Republicans will gather behind closed doors Wednesday to elect their new majority leader, as a heated contest pits MAGA-aligned Rick Scott against establishment veterans John Thune and John Cornyn to replace the retiring Mitch McConnell.
The secret ballot election caps a leadership battle that has exposed divisions between the party’s Trump-aligned and institutional wings. All three candidates pledge allegiance to President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda, though their approaches differ significantly.
Thune of South Dakota, the current Republican whip, and Cornyn of Texas, a former whip, represent the institutional wing, each having served as second-in-command during their Bush-era Senate careers. Scott of Florida, elected in 2018, has positioned himself as the MAGA candidate, securing endorsements from right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson, billionaire Elon Musk, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
“I think I’m uniquely positioned to really help get the Trump agenda done,” Scott told NBC News Tuesday. Despite Scott’s MAGA alignment, Trump himself has notably remained silent on the race, his influence limited by the secret ballot format.
The candidates presented their visions at a Tuesday evening forum, with both Thune and Cornyn emphasizing their fundraising prowess and ability to advance Trump’s priorities. “As Congress returns to Washington, we must prepare the Senate to advance [Trump’s] agenda legislatively,” Thune wrote in a FoxNews.com op-ed.
Cornyn promised to “Make the Senate Work Again” in a letter to colleagues, pledging to decentralize power and reinvigorate committee processes. The winner will lead Senate Republicans for the next two years after the party gained control in recent elections.
“I think at the end of the day, Thune still wins,” predicted Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., a Trump ally. If no candidate secures a majority in the first round, the lowest vote-getter will be eliminated for a final runoff.
The leadership reshuffling includes unopposed John Barrasso of Wyoming for majority whip, while Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Joni Ernst of Iowa compete for the third-ranking position.
McConnell steps down after an 18-year tenure that made him the longest-serving Senate leader in history.
