Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) has the inside track to succeed Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) as Senate Republican leader, but that could change as support grows among notoriously independent GOP senators for term limits and related reforms in how their conference is led.
Mr. Thune has two announced rivals, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a former Senate majority whip under Mr. McConnell, and Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who challenged and lost to the Kentucky Republican in 2022.
Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mt.), chairman of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee, is a potential unannounced fourth contestant, but his prospects depend primarily upon how well GOP senate candidates do in the November election. If the GOP regains the Senate majority with a net pickup of four or more seats, Mr. Daines may well enter the race.
Mr. Thune enjoys the advantages of incumbency, having served as second-in-command to Mr. McConnell for more than four years, and the unofficial but hugely significant backing of the McConnell machine. […]
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