Senators John Thune, R– S.D., center, John Cornyn, R–Texas, and Rick Scott, R– Fla., right, are being considered as contenders in the race to succeed Sen. Mitch McConnell, R– Ky., as leader. (Getty Images)
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, announced his bid for leader the day after McConnell's surprise announcement, saying in a statement: "I am asking my Republican colleagues to give me the opportunity to succeed Leader McConnell."
In a Monday interview, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., currently the Republican whip, said he is hoping to become the next Republican leader. "I hope to be, and I’m going to do everything I can to convince my colleagues," he told local news outlet Keloland.com.
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When asked on Tuesday who he would like to see succeed him, McConnell declined to say.
However, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said there are "two excellent candidates." "We're not going to make a bad decision."
Tillis said that he has voted for both men in the past for different leadership roles.
Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, talks to reporters between votes at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 12, 2024 in Washington, D.C. ( Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, who has been vocal about his concerns about McConnell's leadership and frequently aligns with Scott, told Fox News Digital, simply, "I like Rick. We get along," and "he's a good senator."
Vance said he is waiting for all candidates to announce and make their cases before he endorses anyone.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., who has similarly butted heads with McConnell and shares some of Scott's priorities, also said he is open-minded about a new leader. "We haven't done this in 18 years – a long time ago," he told Fox News Digital. "If people are interested, get out there and make your case, and I'm talking to everybody."
"I'm not committed to anybody," he added.
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Sen. Josh Hawley, R– Mo., grilled Homeland Security Director Alejandro Mayorkas during a November 2023 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing.
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Several other Republican senators indicated they were undecided on a leader, pointing to the fact that an election for McConnell's replacement will not take place for eight more months.
Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., predicted to Fox News Digital that Trump will likely get involved in the Republican leadership race since "he gets involved in everything." But, he said, "I don't lose sleep at night over this," because Trump's involvement is an inevitability as long as he is "running the party."
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