The Texas Republican said in the three-page letter obtained by the Washington Examiner that he’d prioritize targeting taxation, regulations, and government spending.
“Planning is hard because the future is unpredictable,” he wrote. “Still, with the election rapidly approaching, it is only prudent to think broadly and boldly about our goals.”
Cornyn, who served as McConnell’s No. 2 in leadership before he was term-limited out of the job five years ago, vowed to protect the filibuster. Some Democrats are calling for a change in the Senate’s filibuster rules if they take control of the chamber in November’s elections. The rules currently call for a 60-vote threshold on most legislation.
“We must reject all attempts to nuke the legislative filibuster in the Senate. Liberal activists may like the idea of nuking the filibuster today, but they will rue the day when the shoe is on the other foot,” Cornyn wrote.
Cornyn, the former GOP whip, is one of three declared candidates vying to replace McConnell, who announced he is stepping down as the Senate Republican leader at the end of the year. Sen. John Thune (R-SD), the current GOP whip, and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), the former Senate campaign arm last cycle, are also vying for the position.
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Many senators have been tight-lipped about which candidate they will support, as much of the discussions have taken place behind closed doors. Congress returned Monday from summer recess and is scheduled to be in session for only three weeks before adjourning again until after the general election, leaving an abbreviated time period for campaigning.
“There’s a lot of meetings and one-on-one conversations going on, and a number of senators throughout the letter are named checked, like Susan Collins and Rand Paul, and that’s an indication these meetings are happening,” said a former Senate GOP aide, speaking on the condition of anonymity, to reflect candidly on activities going on behind the scenes.
In the letter, Cornyn also indicates he’d like to implement former President Donald Trump’s border and immigration policies and would like to build on the 2017 tax law to “protect hardworking families and ensure America remains the best place to do business in the world.”
He also backs former President Ronald Reagan’s policy of peace through strength, creating a contrast to former President Trump foreign policy.
“We know it is cheaper to deter wars than to fight them,” he said, mentioning a proposal from Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) which would boost spending on defense to about 50% of gross domestic product.
The Cornyn Victory Committee just closed its highest-raising quarter in history, raising $3.5 million in Q2. In total, Cornyn raised nearly $23 million this cycle as of the end of the quarter, according to a source familiar with Cornyn’s political operation. The Texas senator has been the top Senate GOP fundraiser outside of Leader McConnell since 2009.
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Cornyn attempted to appeal to members of the conference who have been frustrated with McConnell’s leadership and even made calls for a leadership change before the Kentucky senator announced his plans to step down earlier this year.
“One of the complaints about McConnell is that he keeps his cards really close to the vest and people don’t always know what the strategy is,” the former Senate aide said. “Cornyn has talked about opening the process more and listening and making people, making sure their voices are heard.”
