Sen. John Cornyn of Texas has informed his colleagues of his intention to run for Senate Republican leadership, becoming the first senator to announce his candidacy after Sen. Mitch McConnell announced he would step down in November. .
Mr. Cornyn, who served as Mr. McConnell's No. 2 in the leadership until he resigned from his term-limited position five years ago, described himself in that role in a statement Thursday to fellow senators announcing his candidacy. cites the experience of But he also sought to differentiate himself from McConnell by saying, “I believe the Senate is broken. That's not news to anyone.”
“I have learned from experience what works and what does not work in the Senate, and I am confident that Senate Republicans can return our system to the important role it plays in our constitutional republic,” Cornyn said. ” he said.
If McConnell (R-Ky.) resigns, the “three Johns” — Cornyn, South Dakota Sen. John Thune, and Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso — will replace McConnell (R-Ky.). There had long been speculation that he would compete to replace him. But the longtime party leader's surprise announcement on Wednesday that he would not run for Republican leadership again after November's election raised expectations that Republican senators would meet behind closed doors to elect a new leader. The election campaign started earlier than expected, nearly nine months before the election. .
Cornyn, a former Texas attorney general who was first elected to the Senate in 2002, is a prominent member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a popular and stalwart member of the Republican conference. He has succeeded in bridging some of the deep divisions in his caucus in recent years, while also occasionally negotiating with Democrats on bipartisan gun control in 2022.
He is also a prolific fundraiser for the party, raising a total of $13 million for incumbents, the party's Senate campaign arm and Senate Republican candidates already in the 2024 cycle.
Cornyn said in a statement that he believes he has “built a track record of listening to his colleagues and seeking consensus while leading the fight to stop bad policies that are harmful to our country and the conservative cause.” He said there was.
Cornyn said he would work to improve communication, move spending bills individually and involve all members in decision-making. This is in response to frequent complaints from some senators about the big year-end spending bill and Mr. McConnell's top-down leadership approach.
Thune, currently the No. 2 Republican, and Barrasso, who chairs the Senate Republican Conference, remain open to running after McConnell's announcement. Neither has publicly announced a campaign for the position.
Mr. Thune told reporters Wednesday that Mr. McConnell has a “huge job to do” in resigning, but now is “a time to reflect on his accomplishments and celebrate his accomplishments.” . And let's go from there. Barrasso said he plans to sit down with his fellow senators and hear their thoughts on “the direction they want to go.”
Much of the leadership battle is likely to take place behind closed doors over the coming months, including through telephone calls, one-on-one meetings and private gatherings. In the House of Representatives, both parties vote for the speaker in public, although there has been recent confusion, while party leadership in the Senate is chosen by secret ballot in closed session. Mr. Cornyn had already called and reached out to his fellow senators within hours of Mr. McConnell's announcement.
Senate Republicans have not chosen a new leader since 2007, when McConnell was elected. That was before most current senators took office.
It is unclear which of the three “Johns” has the advantage in their ranks.
Mr. Cornyn is highly likable and has garnered attention for his fundraising, but Mr. Thune may have an incumbency advantage as Mr. McConnell's current deputy. Barrasso is the most right-leaning of the three and was the first to endorse former President Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination.
Thune and Cornyn have criticized Trump in the past, particularly since the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters. However, each ultimately supported him as it became more likely that he would be the party's presidential nominee this year.
There are certainly other candidates, including those from parties closest to Trump.
Florida Sen. Rick Scott challenged McConnell in 2022 at President Trump's urging, receiving 10 votes and potentially running again. Scott said he is focused on running for re-election this year, but it seems possible he may run after that.
“I think there's a better way to run the Senate,” Scott said after McConnell's announcement. “So let's see what happens.”
The sudden scramble to become the next party leader comes as Mr McConnell, 82, has come under increasing criticism from some within the party who say it is time for a leadership change. They criticize Mr. McConnell's support for a huge year-end spending bill and, more recently, his outspoken support for aid to Ukraine. A growing number of people in his conference oppose the aid, arguing that the money would be better spent on the U.S.-Mexico border or elsewhere in the United States.
Republican leaders were also at odds with President Trump, who he said was “practically and morally responsible” for the storming of the Capitol. The two have not spoken since then, and Trump frequently bashes him in public.
In a speech before the full Senate, McConnell acknowledged the criticisms of his critics and announced that he would step down from his post.
“Trust me, I know the politics within the party at this particular moment,” McConnell said. “I have many flaws, but misunderstanding politics is not one of them.”
He also echoed his own criticism and called for a “new generation” to take over.
Hours after the announcement, as surprise wore off, many senators praised Mr. McConnell's accomplishments, including his role in the Senate confirmation of three conservative Supreme Court justices who moved the court to the right.
Some are more focused on the future.
“This is a good development,” said Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, a frequent critic of Mr. McConnell. “My question is, why wait so long?”
Ken Paxton, Texas
After Sen. Mitch McConnell made the announcement Wednesday. Although he would be stepping down from his position as Senate Majority Leader, it wasn't long before Cornyn was asked whether he would run for the job.
Joseph Morton, Dallas Morning News correspondent; Tweeted with X On Wednesday, reporters asked Cornyn if he planned to run for party leadership. Morton didn't say yes or no, but said he would discuss it with his colleagues.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has long been at odds with Cornyn, said: retweeted the message “John Cornyn is anti-Trump, anti-gun, and will have a hard time being an effective leader as he focuses on a competitive primary in 2026. The Republican Party deserves its next leader, and Texans A worthy new conservative,” Sen. ”
Paxton, a former state senator, has hinted that he will challenge Cornyn in the 2026 Senate race, saying it's time for someone to come forward and challenge Cornyn to better represent Texans.
Cornyn responded to Paxton's tweet:“It's hard to escape from prison, Ken.”
Paxton's long-delayed trial on securities fraud charges is scheduled to begin April 15. Meanwhile, the FBI is still investigating Paxton for abuse of power.
John Cornyn's statement announces intention to run for Republican leader
The following is an unedited statement from Sen. John Cornyn's office announcing his intention to run to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) as Republican leader.
“I am asking my Republican colleagues to give me the opportunity to succeed Leader McConnell. I have learned a great deal both within and outside of the Senate leadership. During my two terms, we reduced the Democratic majority by five seats and laid the groundwork for regaining the majority in 2014. Then, as Republican whip, I helped pass historic tax reform and more. , helped President Trump advance his agenda in the Senate to reshape our nation's judiciary, including two Supreme Court justices. I have always listened to my colleagues and sought consensus. I believe the Senate is broken, and that's not news to anyone. Good. The news is that it can be fixed, and I'm going to play a key role in fixing it. I've learned from experience what works and what doesn't in the Senate. I am confident that Senate Republicans can return our organization to the important role it plays in our constitutional republic. We will improve communication, increase transparency, and ensure that we include the expertise and input of all members. Rather than teetering from one crisis to the next, we will restore the critical role of Senate committees and reestablish a regular appropriations process. And we will return power to members. No more behind-the-scenes deals or forcing votes on legislation without sufficient time for consideration, discussion, and revision. I'm ready to do the work and look forward to continuing to engage with my colleagues. I am.”
