Staff Reports
Senate Minority Whip John Thune is sending a clear message to President-elect Donald Trump: keep your distance from the upcoming majority leader race. With three candidates vying to take the helm from Mitch McConnell, Thune believes Trump’s endorsement could throw a curveball into an already convoluted contest. While Thune is seen as one of the frontrunners, particularly since he’s been sitting in McConnell’s shadow, the last thing he wants is to be overshadowed by Trump’s unpredictable endorsements.
Repeatedly, Thune has been vocal in the media, urging Trump not to take sides in this internal Republican brawl. He suggests that the smart move for Trump would be to let the race play out naturally—because after all, who doesn’t want a little healthy competition without the looming shadow of a presidential endorsement? It’s almost as if Thune thinks the GOP can manage their own little family feud without the big guy’s meddling hands.
As the race, set for next Wednesday, inches closer, both Thune and competitor John Cornyn have been wooing Senate colleagues for their votes since McConnell’s retirement announcement. Meanwhile, the third contender, Rick Scott, is rallying a contingent of Republicans demanding reforms in exchange for their support. The stakes are high, and with Trump’s formidable influence, the entire process could go from orderly debate to a frantic echo of the 2020 election.
Thune tries to fend off Trump intervention in Senate leader race
Time to move Thune out of the race. House, Senate, and White House need to coordinate. We don’t need Thune playing McConnell’s game. https://t.co/h2XSCzKWql
— Bart Marcois (@bmarcois) November 8, 2024
The nuances of past relationships also factor into the fray. Thune, despite having previously endorsed Tim Scott, has made it clear he’s trying to mend fences with Trump. Rumors swirl around about a rocky dynamic between Trump and some candidates—one such tidbit suggests there’s someone in this race whom Trump just can’t stand. Yet, Senator Markwayne Mullin, backing Thune, assures everyone that Thune has managed to smooth things over with the former president, so at least there’s that.
Cornyn, on the other hand, appears to be waving Trump’s banner a bit louder, likely hoping to cozy up by throwing around phrases like “Make America Great Again by making the Senate work again.” A clever slogan, but let’s be real—whether it will resonate with a party that is still feeling the aftershocks of Trump’s 2020 loss remains uncertain. As various senators weigh their options and relationships, it seems the only common thread is that they’re all trying to navigate a world where Trump looms large over political decisions.
As many Republicans hesitate to commit, the race remains a toss-up between Thune and Cornyn, with both chasing that magical number of twenty-seven votes needed for victory. There’s a good chance this won’t just be a one-ballot affair, as Scott may exit the race early. With political ties, endorsements, and broken eggshells all battling for attention, it’s almost a certainty that this leadership race will keep the political analysts and polling sites busy for days to come.
