The race to succeed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) atop the Senate GOP conference is on.
Republicans, for the most part, are looking at the trio of Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), John Cornyn (R-Texas) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) as the leading contenders to take over for the longtime Republican leader, with a possible conservative challenger mixed in.
With almost nine months of runway for auditions and maneuvering, Senate Republicans are preparing for an open leadership election the conference hasn’t seen in nearly two decades.
“This is going to be a roller coaster ride,” Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) said.
All three top contenders were deferential to McConnell after his announcement Wednesday caused shock waves across Capitol Hill. But all signs point to them looking toward a run for the top spot.
Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican, declined to say definitively that he is running, but added he would have more to say in short order.
“He leaves really big shoes to fill. We’ll give you more insight into what we’re thinking here in the near future,” Thune said.