Who will replace Mitch McConnell as GOP leader remains deeply uncertain

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans are vying to replace the longtime leader Mitch McConnell have crisscrossed the country campaigning and fundraising for colleagues, making their final arguments before a follow-up vote the week after the presidential election. But their bids mostly take place behind closed doors, and most Republican senators have yet to say which lawmaker they are supporting.

South Dakota John ThuneMcConnell's current No. 2, and John Cornyn of Texas, who held the post before Thune, are the leading candidates in the Nov. 13 secret vote to replace McConnell. The Senator from Kentucky is resign from the post in January after nearly two decades as leader. The winner could determine the party's direction for years to come and potentially become the next Senate majority leader if Republicans win enough seats in Tuesday's election.

The outcome is uncertain for now.

Few Republican senators have publicly endorsed a candidate. Many say they are still undecided. The third senator in the race – Florida Sen. Rick Scottwho is busy with his own Re-election bid – could act as a spoiler. Another candidate could still step in.

In many ways, “the two Johns” are remarkably similar, which makes the choice difficult for their colleagues. Both are popular and, like McConnell, lean toward the more traditional wing of the Republican Party. But both have also indicated that they will try to leave the McConnell era behind them with a more open approach.

“I'm trying to find differentiation because they're both great guys,” said Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who has worked closely with both.

The two men are also trying to distance themselves from McConnell by making it clear that they support Donald Trump in this year's presidential election. Like McConnellThey have both feuded with Trump in the past, particularly after January 6, 2021. Attack on the Capitol. But both Thune and Cornyn have spoken frequently with Trump in recent months, attending campaign events and visiting his home in Florida.

Whether Trump wins and whether he supports one of the candidates could become the deciding factor.

“I don’t know what he’s going to do,” Cornyn said of Trump in September. “But this is obviously a senatorial election, and I think that’s where the voters are.”

Some of the former president's strongest allies in the Senate are urging him to stay out of the fray. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who is supporting Thune, says he tried to dissuade Trump from supporting him. Trump understands “the need to work with the next leader,” Mullin said.

Tillis suggested that supporting Trump could backfire.

“You have to be careful about the psychology of the Senate,” Tillis said. “We know each other very well and spend many hours together. It’s a pretty small club.”

Still, both Cornyn and Thune remain close to Trump. Cornyn met Trump on a trip to Texas in October and appeared at a rally in Nevada. Thune was at an event in August with Trump's vice presidential running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance.

Thune, who said after the Jan. 6 attack that Trump's efforts to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power were “inexcusable” said The Associated Press over the summer that he viewed their potential relationship as a professional one. If both win their elections, Thune said, “we have a job to do.”

Scott, on the other hand, is a long-time friend of Trump and has positioned himself as a strong ally. Scott traveled to New York to support Trump during Trump Hush money trial. Trump could support Scott in the contest, potentially winning more votes for the Florida senator or giving him influence in the race.

In addition to private meetings, both Thune and Cornyn have flown around the country to fundraise and lobby their fellow senators.

Thune has made more than two dozen campaign stops for Republican Senate candidates, and aides say he has raised more than $31 million for Senate races this campaign cycle, including a $4 million transfer to the Senate Republican campaign operation.

Cornyn has similarly canvassed candidates and poured money into races in Texas. His aides emphasize his long history of fundraising for Republicans — more than $400 million during his 22 years in the Senate, his office says.

The two men are similar in politics, generally voting in line with the conference but at times collaborating with Democrats. Cornyn is a longtime member of the Senate Judiciary Committee leading role in bipartisan gun legislation two years ago. Thune, on the other hand, worked as a former chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

It is unclear whether either could win the support of the growing minority of Republican senators who fought against McConnell in recent years as he advocated for aid to Ukraine and criticized Trump. Many in this group voted for Scott when he challenged McConnell after the 2022 election.

In a possible overture to that group, Cornyn has called for a conference vote on imposing term limits for the Republican leader. “I believe the Senate needs more engagement from my colleagues, and that includes opportunities for every member to take on leadership roles,” Cornyn posted on X in March.

Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, a member of the more conservative caucus, said he was undecided on the race but wanted to know how they would advance legislation and work with Trump if he is president. “I think some of this will become clearer after the election when we know what we're dealing with and what our caucus is going to look like,” Hawley said.

Many in that group, including Scott and Utah Sen. Mike Lee, have advocated for taking power away from leadership and empowering individual senators. Lee has made a number of demands for candidates, but neither Cornyn nor Thune have yet shown interest in negotiating.

But both have signaled that they hear the complaints.

Thune indicated in the AP interview that he was open to changes to the leader's role, but warned that he would not leave the position to rank-and-file senators. He said he wants to “give our individual members or committees the authority to do things in a regular order” and open the change process, but “I will not make sweeping changes that weaken the leadership position to the point where it is just vacant.” .” -all.”

Tillis indicated in September that it would be a deal-breaker for him if either candidate made a deal.

“If you would be willing to weaken your position to win a few votes, then I don’t think you are fit to lead,” Tillis said. “And I think most people think that way.”

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Associate Press writer Stephen Groves contributed to this report.