Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) openly acknowledged on Thursday that he is exploring a run for leader, just hours after Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced he would retire from the post in November.

“I’m having lots of conversations with our colleagues,” he told reporters outside his office. “And so, getting insight, input from them about where they see the future headed and what they want out of the next Senate Republican leader. And so, they’re great conversations.”