According to several sources, Sen. Steve Daines, a Republican from Montana, is being encouraged by former President Donald Trump to run for the Republican leader of the chamber.
The Republican leader of the Senate, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, declared on Wednesday that he will retire in November.
Politico revealed on Thursday that Daines is being urged by Trump to seek the presidency.
Prior to McConnell’s declaration, according to Axios, Trump started pressuring Daines to declare for the GOP Senate leadership.
According to a person familiar with the matter, Daines, the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, “appreciates the president’s support but needs to focus on taking back the Senate,” as reported by Axios.
As the head of the Republican Senate Committee, Daines has devoted his attention to assisting the party in seizing control of the chamber come general election season in November. Right now, Democrats have a 51-49 advantage.
McConnell told The Washington Post, “I think we’ve got a good shot at having the majority,” lately. “Daines is very much in my group of people who feel that you need a quality candidate.”
As potential McConnell successors, Sens. John Thune, R-S.D., John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, have all been discussed.
John Gizzi of Newsmax revealed on Wednesday that Thune was the first front-runner to succeed McConnell.
Thune, who has an 83.52% lifetime average rating from the American Conservative Union, is well-liked by his fellow senators and is anticipated to announce his candidacy for Senate Republicans’ leadership soon.
According to an Associated Press story published on Thursday, Cornyn told his colleagues that he plans to run for Senate Republican leader. Prior to being removed from the position five years ago due to a term limit, Cornyn was McConnell’s second-in-command.
According to Florida Politics, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., who previously faced off against McConnell for the top post in the Republican Senate Conference, believes there is a new chance to influence the party’s course.