The under-the-radar race to replace Mitch McConnell is a wide-open affair with no clear front-runner, according to many GOP senators, as the top contenders begin jockeying to win over their colleagues for a position central to their party’s agenda and strategy.
The election to succeed McConnell – the longest-serving Senate party leader in history who has dominated his conference for nearly two decades – is expected to slowly play out from now until after the November elections when the secret-ballot race officially takes place. And in the immediate aftermath of McConnell’s announcement, the candidates had already begun one-on-one outreach with individual members, as they plan to lay out their strategy and agenda and try to secure commitments of support along the way.
“I’ve had a lot of calls from people today,” said Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, who has not committed to a candidate yet.
And some said that the jockeying had begun months ago – since it had been long expected McConnell would step aside at the end of the year, though the timing of his announcement was never certain.
“Oh, that started a long time ago,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, the Republican who is backing Senate GOP Whip John Thune – his fellow South Dakotan – for the spot.
The top three candidates for the post, known as the “three Johns” — Thune, Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso of Wyoming and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, a former whip — have yet to formally declare their candidacies but are expected to run.
Other candidates could yet emerge. And it’s entirely possible, the candidates could shift their strategies. Barrasso, for one, could ultimately decide to move one spot up and run for whip, the No. 2 position, though he has yet to make his intentions…
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