Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) has locked down the votes needed to become the next GOP whip in the Senate, he told the Washington Examiner on Thursday.

Barrasso, one of the three “Johns” thought to be possible successors to Mitch McConnell (R-KY), had been meeting with colleagues in the days after the minority leader announced his retirement from leadership last week. He decided to pursue the No. 2 spot instead.