Rick Scott announces bid to serve as the next Senate Republican leader



Sen. Rick Scott of Florida announced a bid to serve as the next Senate Republican leader, a position currently occupied by Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky who announced earlier this year that his current term as Senate Republican leader would be his last in that role.

"Rarely do we work in concert with Republicans in the House, and the Senate far too often passes legislation that is supported by 100% of the Democrats, and only a quarter of our Republican Conference," Scott noted in a note to colleagues, according to a copy of the message posted on X by Axios' Stef Kight.

'I believe we need a dramatic sea change to save our country.'

"We too often take votes that divide us and unite Democrats. Republicans all across America want the Republicans they elected to the U.S. Senate to stop caving in to Democrat demands," Scott noted. "Senate Republican leadership should reflect the views and aspirations of Republican voters. It's no secret that Republican voters believe we don't fight hard enough for the issues they care about."

"This is not a time to make small adjustments, I believe we need a dramatic sea change to save our country and that's why I'm running to be Republican leader," he declared.

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Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and John Thune of South Dakota have previously indicated that they would like to land the Senate Republican leader role.

Scott is seeking re-election to the Senate this year. Prior to serving as a U.S. senator, he served as Florida governor.

GOP Sen. Mike Lee of Utah described Scott as "a dear friend and a true conservative" but noted, "We're six months away from this leadership election, which will take place a few weeks after the general election in November. I won't make a final decision on how I'll vote until we've had a full opportunity to hear from each candidate."

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Rand Paul tweets, 'Thousands of people have been asking if I'd run for Senate leadership'



Last month, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky announced that his current term as Senate GOP leader will be his last. While GOP Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and John Thune of South Dakota have both thrown their hats into the ring to succeed McConnell in the role, some people would like Kentucky's other U.S. senator, Rand Paul, to be the next Senate Republican in the leadership post.

"Thousands of people have been asking if I'd run for Senate leadership..." Paul tweeted.

"Please!!!!" Harmeet Dhillon responded, expressing her support for the prospect.

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"YES….. PLEASE!!! We need your leadership in the Senate," Juanita Broaddrick tweeted.

"You'd have my support," tweeted former Rep. Justin Amash, who has mounted a bid in Michigan for a U.S. Senate seat

"Would absolutely love to see it," David Limbaugh wrote in reply to Paul.

The senator posted a poll on X that asked people if they would like him, Cornyn, or Thune "to be the next Senate leader," and so far, Paul has earned more than 96% of the more than 135,000 votes.

"100,000 votes, 97% oppose the status quo, if only we could hold the leadership vote online…No matter, at least the establishment knows their popularity wanes outside of DC!" Paul tweeted.

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Like McConnell, Cornyn and Thune both voted last month in favor of a measure that would, in part, involve providing more U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Paul voted against it.

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Mitch McConnell indicates he won't seek another term as Senate GOP leader



Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced on Wednesday that his current term as Senate GOP leader will be his last in that role, noting that he plans to remain in the post until Senate Republicans tap someone else in November and that figure takes the "helm" in January.

The lawmaker, who has served as either Senate minority or Senate majority leader since 2007, has been serving as a U.S. senator since 1985. But while he plans to relinquish the reins of leadership, he indicated that he will continue to serve as a lawmaker. His term ends in early 2027.

GOP Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri welcomed the news of McConnell's plan to leave the leadership post but took issue with the timeline, tweeting, "I called on McConnell to step down over a year ago. This is good news. But why wait so long - we need new leadership now."

Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, who unsuccessfully challenged McConnell for the leadership role in 2022, said in a statement, "I have been very clear and have long believed that we need new leadership in the Senate that represents our voters and the issues we were sent here to fight for. As everyone knows, I challenged Leader McConnell in 2022. This is an opportunity to refocus our efforts on solving the significant challenges facing our country and actually reflect the aspirations of voters."

"We've now 86'd: McCarthy McDaniel McConnell," GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida tweeted. "Better days are ahead for the Republican Party."

Former President Donald Trump endorsed McConnell for re-election in 2020, but in a 2021 statement indicated that he regretted doing so. "My only regret is that McConnell 'begged' for my strong support and endorsement before the great people of Kentucky in the 2020 election, and I gave it to him," Trump said in the statement, calling McConnell "a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack," who "will never do what needs to be done, or what is right for our Country."

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