Texas Senator John Cornyn has announced his intentions to run for GOP Leader in the Senate after Mitch McConnell announced his departure earlier this week.
McConnell will serve as leader until November.
“I am asking my Republican colleagues to give me the opportunity to succeed Leader McConnell,” Cornyn said in a statement. “I have learned a lot during my time both in and out of Senate leadership.”
“During my two terms as NRSC Chair, we shrunk Democrats’ majority by five seats and laid the foundation to retake the majority in 2014,” Cornyn said. “Then as the Republican Whip, I helped President Trump advance his agenda through the Senate, including passing historic tax reform and remaking our judiciary – including two Supreme Court Justices.”
“We will restore the important role of Senate committees and reestablish the regular appropriations process, rather than lurch from one crisis to another. And we will return power back to our members; there will be no more backroom deals or forced votes on bills without adequate time for review, debate and amendment,” Cornyn pledged.
NEWS: Sen Cornyn is the first Republican to officially announce he’s running to replace McConnell as leader:
“I am asking my Republican colleagues to give me the opportunity to succeed Leader McConnell.” pic.twitter.com/iV9iHhjzkI— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) February 29, 2024
Conservative reporter Lou Dobbs reacted to the news on X, simply saying “HELL NO!!!!!!!!!”
HELL NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sen. John Cornyn declares candidacy for minority leader after McConnell steps downhttps://t.co/SYyBmDf6Y3
— Lou Dobbs (@LouDobbs) February 29, 2024