Sen. John Cornyn Launches Bid to Become New GOP Senate Leader After McConnell Departure

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) has officially launched his bid to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) as the Senate Republican leader, becoming the first senator to enter the fray in what could be a fiercely competitive race.

Mr. McConnell, who has been the Senate Republican leader since 2007, announced on Feb. 28 that his leadership role in the upper chamber would reach its “sunset” in November, though he plans to remain in the Senate in a different role.

As speculation mounts as to who will succeed Mr. McConnell, one candidate has thrown his hat in the ring.

“I am asking my Republican colleagues to give me the opportunity to succeed Leader McConnell,” Mr. Cornyn said in a statement obtained by The Epoch Times.

Mr. Cornyn, who once served as Mr. McConnell’s second-in-command is the Senate leadership role, cited his experience, including as a consensus-seeker, in announcing his candidacy.

“Throughout my time I’ve built a track record of listening to colleagues and seeking consensus, while leading the fight to stop bad policies that are harmful to our nation and the conservative cause,” he said.

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Mr. Cornyn added that he believes the Senate is “broken” and that he could play a “major role” in reviving the upper chamber.

“From experience, I have learned what works in the Senate and what does not, and I am confident Senate Republicans can restore our institution to the essential role it serves in our constitutional republic,” he said.

“We will improve communication, increase transparency, and ensure inclusion of every Member’s expertise and opinion. We will restore the important role of Senate committees and reestablish the regular appropriations process, rather than lurch from one crisis to another.”

Mr. Cornyn is a former Texas attorney general who was first elected to the Senate in 2002.

McConnell Departing

Mr. McConnell announced on Feb. 28 that he will step down as Senate GOP leader in November.

Mr. McConnell has been in the Senate since 1985 and is up for reelection in 2026. It’s unclear if he will run again.

News of his departure was met with various reactions.

President Joe Biden praised Mr. McConnell as an honorable political adversary.

“He and I have trust, we’ve got a great relationship, we fight like hell but he never, never, never misrepresented anything,” President Biden said during an event at the White House. “I’m sorry to hear he’s stepping down.”

President Biden and Mr. McConnell served together in the Senate for over 20 years.

A number of Republican lawmakers struck a similar tone to President Biden and Mr. Schumer in reacting to Mr. McConnell’s announcement.

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) praised Mr. McConnell for being “steadfast in his defense of conservative values, promoting a conservative judiciary, invigorating economic growth, insisting on America’s defense of freedom, and protecting the rights of all Americans.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Mr. McConnell would be remembered as “one of the most effective leaders in the history of the U.S. Senate,” while praising him for shaping the federal judiciary “in a conservative fashion” thanks to “sheer force of will.”

Some Republicans on the party’s right flank, such as the House Freedom Caucus, had words of criticism.

“No need to wait till November… Senate Republicans should IMMEDIATELY elect a *Republican* Minority Leader,” the House Freedom Caucus said in a post on X, while singling out Mr. McConnell’s support for more Ukraine funding by labeling him as the Democrats’ “Co-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (D-Ukraine).”

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who has opposed Mr. McConnell on various issues, expressed a similar sentiment.

“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,” he said in a post on X.

Jackson Richman contributed to this report.