Mitch McConnell will resign from his post as Senate leader in November. He has been in charge for nearly twenty years despite the Republican Party’s numerous significant upheavals.
Last week, McConnell celebrated his 82nd birthday. On Wednesday, he announced in the Senate well, the very room where he had gawked in wonder from the back benches upon his arrival in 1985 and where he had grown more at ease as one of the party leaders’ front-row seats.
His decision is indicative of a significant shift in Republican ideology, away from Ronald Reagan’s classic conservatism and strong foreign ties and toward Donald Trump’s fervent, frequently isolationist populism.
In the wake of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) retirement announcement, Republican Ron Johnson (Wis.) left the door open on Sunday to run for Senate GOP leader.
On “The Hill Sunday,” Chris Stirewalt of NewsNation asked Johnson if he would be interested in being the next Republican leader of the Senate. Johnson had already written to his fellow Republicans, requesting a straightforward procedure for choosing a new leader. According to Johnson, the letter was an attempt by Republicans to unite and clarify their respective responsibilities and the party’s overall objectives.
Johnson stated that Republicans have failed to tally Democrats’ legislative objectives accurately and that McConnell was too secretive.
Later, Stirewalt observed that he “did not hear a no in there” regarding Johnson’s potential to remain the next leader of the Senate Republican conference.
Other candidates include Senator John Thune, who confirmed what many had known for some time: he will seek to succeed Mitch McConnell as the next Republican leader of the Senate.
Sen. John Cornyn is the only other Republican in the Senate to have officially announced his intention to run; Thune follows in his footsteps.
On Monday, Florida Senator Rick Scott met with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago and shared a photo of them giving each other thumbs up. Scott had previously unsuccessfully challenged McConnell for leadership in 2022.
Political operative and Trump supporter Roger Stone and right-wing youth group Turning Point USA leader Charlie Kirk have both spoken out in favor of Scott. At a news conference on Tuesday at 5 p.m. EST, the Republican from Florida will “make a campaign announcement.”
