Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) decision to step down from his leadership role at the end of this term has shifted the spotlight to his possible successors.
McConnell, the longest-serving Senate leader of all time, announced on Wednesday that this Congress would be his last as head of the GOP conference. The news sparked renewed interest in his potential successors, of which there are currently three leading candidates: Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD), Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY), and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX).
The trio of possible Republican leaders, described around Washington as the “Three Johns” due to their shared moniker, are all members of McConnell’s leadership team. Cornyn was term-limited out of his role as whip, with Thune succeeding him, but has remained a key McConnell adviser and ally.
It’s not clear if any other members of the conference will step forward to try and take on McConnell’s mantle.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), who mounted a challenge to McConnell’s leadership last year, has not said if he plans to launch a bid to be the top Republican leader but said McConnell’s decision is an “opportunity to refocus” efforts as a party to “solving the significant challenges facing our country and actually reflect the aspirations of voters.”
And while none of the Johns have announced their intentions to seek McConnell’s role, jockeying for the top job has already begun behind the scenes.
Cornyn, one of the Senate’s leading fundraisers, told reporters on Wednesday afternoon, “I think today is about Mitch McConnell, but I’ve made no secret about my intentions.”
Thune and Barrasso were less forthcoming in the immediate aftermath of the announcement, with both demuring when confronted by the hoards of reporters flooding the Senate chamber in the hours that followed. Both similarly praised McConnell while declining to address their plans.
“I know it’s often said about members who leave this institution or step aside from leadership or committee posts, but it will be hard to imagine a Senate in which Sen. McConnell isn’t serving as Republican leader,” Thune said in a statement. “For decades, he’s been a fierce defender of the Senate, our conference, and our party, and we’re all better for his service.
“Mitch leaves enormous shoes to fill, and it’s with humility that I look forward to having a discussion with my colleagues about what the future holds for the Senate Republican Conference and a new generation of leadership,” he added. “Until then, thank you, Mitch.”
Thune, who won his seat in an upset contest that saw the ouster of former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, is currently in the whip position, the No. 2 role that involves counting and rounding up Republican votes. He has long been considered the favorite to succeed the outgoing leader, a notion that gained traction when he temporarily stepped into the top role while McConnell was recovering from his fall last March.
Barrasso, a former orthopedic surgeon who won his Senate seat in 2006, is described as the most conservative leaning of the Three Johns. Barrasso has emerged as a top critic of the Biden administration in his leadership role and as the top Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. His conference chairman role involves him being a voice for where the caucus stands on policy and political issues and, similar to Thune’s position, requires him to be actively engaged with members.
Barrasso was also the first of the three men to endorse former President Donald Trump in the 2024 GOP primary, though Cornyn and Thune followed soon after.
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For his part, McConnell is revered as one of the greatest political operators of the last century. The GOP leader has always been careful about how he presents himself to the press and the larger public, especially given that showing any signs of vulnerability could lead to questions about his power.
His announcement that he would step away from his leadership posts effectively puts an end to a yearlong discussion about his long-term ability to fulfill his duties following a pair of highly publicized medical episodes and dissent from conservatives in his conference.
