Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., heart, is helped by, from left, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., and Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, after the 81-year-old GOP chief froze on the microphones as he arrived for a information convention, Wednesday, July 26, 2023, on the Capitol in Washington. J. Scott Applewhite, Related Press
After Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell, 81, froze throughout a press convention earlier this week, it prompted questions on his well being, and in addition about who would possibly succeed him to steer Senate Republicans.
McConnell was additionally hospitalized earlier this 12 months after a fall, however he plans to serve his full time period, his workplace indicated.
“Chief McConnell appreciates the continued assist of his colleagues, and plans to serve his full time period within the job they overwhelmingly elected him to do,” a spokesperson instructed Politico in a press release Thursday.
McConnell is serving his seventh time period within the U.S. Senate, which ends in 2027, making him the longest-serving Senate celebration chief in U.S. historical past. The Kentucky Republican was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1984, and he’s been the highest Republican within the chamber since being elected minority chief in 2007.
Not like his counterparts in management the U.S. Home, McConnell has loved widespread assist from his convention since changing into celebration chief. He’s solely been challenged for chief as soon as, final 12 months, and the senators seen as his most probably successors have mentioned they’ll assist him within the job so long as he desires it.
Whereas Home Republicans’ prolonged battle over speaker proves how contentious management elections will be, the transition from one chief to a different can be seamless. The late Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., named Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York as his successor when he introduced he was retiring in 2015, and Schumer had the votes permitting Democrats to keep away from a public battle.
Listed below are some potential Senate Republicans who may discover themselves heading the Republican convention subsequent:
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.
As minority whip, Thune is the No. 2 Senate Republican and seen as a prime contender to be the following Republican chief. He gained election to the Senate in 2004, beating then-Minority Chief Tom Daschle, D-S.D., to turn out to be the primary challenger to beat a Senate celebration chief in 52 years. Thune instructed Fox Information final 12 months “the likelihood maybe of different management alternatives down the highway” performed a job in his resolution to run for reelection.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas
Cornyn was the Republican whip from 2013 to 2019, however stepped down as a result of the place is term-limited. He stays within the prime spot, although. In 2021 Cornyn instructed the Texas Tribune Pageant he would assist McConnell so long as he was in management, however “ought to he determine to step down and now not function a frontrunner, I’ve made it no secret that I want to succeed him.”
Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo.
Barrasso was a Wyoming state lawmaker earlier than being appointed to the U.S. Senate in 2007. He’s been the Senate Republican Convention chair since 2019, the No. 3 Senate Republican, and will observe Thune as whip after he steps down as a result of time period limits.
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla.
Scott was chair of the Nationwide Republican Senatorial Committee, or NRSC, till earlier this month, and operating the Republican Get together’s Senate marketing campaign arm gave him a outstanding publish within the celebration. He challenged McConnell final 12 months for ground chief for the primary time however misplaced 37-10. Although Scott’s lengthy shot bid got here up brief, it confirmed there’s at the least some urge for food for brand new management amongst Senate Republicans.