Sen. Rick Scott Considers Running for Senate GOP Leader

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said he is considering running for the Senate Republican leader position, joining several other senators competing for the powerful post.

Mr. Scott told host Charlie Kirk that he vows to make significant reforms within Senate Republicans if elected. “We could actually have somebody that actually believes in this country and believes in solving the problems of this country running the Senate,” Mr. Scott said. “When we get a majority in November or in January, we can actually make big changes.”

Mr. Scott’s comments come after Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Feb. 28 announced his retirement from GOP leadership later this year after nearly two decades holding the position.

In November 2022, Mr. Scott challenged Mr. McConnell for GOP leadership following the GOP’s failure to secure their majority in the upper chamber during the midterm election. Mr. McConnell later defeated the former Florida Governor with a 37–10 vote.

During the interview, Mr. Scott highlighted that he lost because Mr. McConnell pushed the vote, leaving him no time to campaign for the race.

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“As you know, I ran against McConnell about 14 months ago. And he rushed the vote to the next day, and we weren’t able to prevail.”

The Plan

The senator from Florida outlines a potential strategy for his run this time. He and several senators, such as Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), will propose a GOP conference meeting. In this meeting, they plan to discuss the strategy, formulate a plan of action, and elect the person to implement the action plan.

He listed key priorities that need fixing, including securing the border, balancing the budget, staying away from “forever wars,” and holding the government accountable for its actions.

He also noted that he would not want the position if forced to follow the same path Mr. McConnell has already set for the Senate Republicans. “If the Mitch McConnell plan is where we want to go forward, then they should know they shouldn’t pick me because I’m not doing it,” he said.

When host Charlie Kirk asked why Mr. Scott and his colleagues did not discuss this action plan with Mr. McConnell, which he believes could benefit the GOP in this election cycle, Mr. Scott responded that the current leader is uncooperative. “We don’t get anything out of him. He never tells us anything,” Mr. Scott said. “He‘ll give us a bill in the middle of the night and expect our vote at nine o’clock the next morning.”

Mr. Scott also called the GOP Senate a “revengeful place,” pointing out that after being reelected as GOP leader, Mr. McConnell removed him from the Senate Commerce Committee. Mr. Lee, who backed Mr. Scott for the position, was also removed from the panel.

In addition, Mr. Scott also recommended a communication style for the GOP if elected. He suggested helping fellow senators become better representatives by engaging in conversations and asking, “How can I help you do what the Constitution says, represents your state?”

GOP Leadership Race Heats up

The race for the top GOP leadership shakes up as several senators have signaled that they intend to run for the post.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) made the official announcement shortly after Mr. McConnell’s stepping-down plan.

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

Several other names may also consider a run for the position but have not announced, including Senate Republican Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) and Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.).