Here’s who could replace Mitch McConnell as Senate’s top Republican

Feb 28, 2024 at 03:15 PM CST

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced he will step down from his position in November. There are multiple potential candidates. — Image credit: Reuters

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Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, Ky., announced he will step down from his position in November. McConnell has been the top Republican in the chamber since 2007, and he is the longest serving Senate leader in history. He said he’ll finish his elected term which ends in January 2027.

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So who could replace him? There are a number of possible candidates:

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., arrives for a Senate Republican meeting at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 8, 2024. Source: Getty Images.

Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., is McConnell’s current No. 2. Thune sits on the Finance, Agriculture and Commerce Committees and spends his time addressing issues like farming, ranching and domestic energy production, in addition to criticizing the Biden administration.

Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo.

Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo, talks to reporters as he heads to the Senate floor for a vote on January 23, 2024. Source: Getty Images

The No. 3 Republican in the Senate is Wyoming’s John Barrasso, R. The medical doctor took office in 2007, the same year McConnell became leader. Barrasso has steadily worked his way up the ranks and now serves as chairman of the Republican Conference, which helps elect floor leaders, determines many committee assignments and sets legislative agendas.

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, speaks during the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to examine the nomination of Army Lt. Gen. Randy George. Source: AP

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, is the fourth highest-ranking Senate Republican and serves as the Republican Policy Committee chair. In that position, she oversees the group that helps formulate legislative policy goals. Ernst spent 23 years in the military and did tours in Kuwait and Iraq.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, attends a hearing in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on December 05, 2023. Source: Getty Images

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, was McConnell’s previous No. 2 and stepped down because of the position’s limited term. Cornyn sits on three of the chamber’s most powerful committees: Judiciary, Finance and Intelligence.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., speaks during a news conference with Republican senators about border security issues on January 24, 2024. Source: Getty Images

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., ran against McConnell for leader in November 2022 and lost. Scott served as the National Republican Senatorial Committee chair in the lead up to the 2022 midterm elections. He was supposed to help the GOP regain the majority by shepherding candidates to victory, but during his tenure, they failed to win key races and remain the minority party.

Ray Bogan

Ray is a Political Correspondent for Straight Arrow News based out of Washington, D.C. He covers Congress, the White House, and all things politics.

Tags: John Cornyn, John Thune, Joni Ernst, Mitch McConnell, Rick Scott, U.S. Senate

[RAY BOGAN]

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced he will step down from his leadership position in November. McConnell has been the top Republican in the chamber since 2007 and is the longest serving Senate leader in history.

So who could replace him? There are a number of possible candidates.

McConell’s current number two is Senate Minority Whip John Thune who represents South Dakota. Thune sits on the Finance, Agriculture and Commerce Committees and as a member of Republican leadership spends his time addressing issues like farming, ranching and domestic energy production, in addition to criticizing the Biden Administration.

The number three Republican in the Senate is Wyoming’s John Barrasso. The Medical Doctor entered the Senate in 2007, the same year McConnell became leader. Barrasso has steadily worked his way up the ranks and now serves as the Chairman of the Republican Conference which helps elect floor leaders, determines many committee assignments, and sets legislative agendas.

Senator Joni Ernst is the fourth highest ranking Republican and serves as the Republican Policy Committee Chairman – that means she oversees the group that helps formulate legislative policy goals and schedules bills for votes along with the party leader and committee chairs. She spent 23 years in the military and did tours in Kuwait and Iraq.

But lets not forget others who could be interested. For instance, Texas Senator John Cornyn was previously McConnell’s number two and only stepped down because he was term limited in that position. Florida’s Rick Scott ran against McConnell for leader in November 2022 and lost. He could try again with the backing of other anti-McConnell members of the party like Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley. Straight from DC, I’m Ray Bogan.

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