Sen. John Thune (R-SD) ended any doubt that he is vying to replace Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Monday after the minority leader announced his retirement last week.
Thune, who has served as the Republican whip since 2019, soft-launched his campaign on Thursday by acknowledging he would sit down with colleagues to explore the possibility of a run but held off on making a formal announcement.
He came off the sidelines on Monday, telling local news outlets in his home state of South Dakota that he wants to be the next GOP leader when McConnell steps down in November.
“I hope to be, and I’m going to do everything I can to convince my colleagues, they’re the voters. They’re the ones who will ultimately make the decision,” he told KELOLAND News.
Thune is one of three “Johns” viewed as the leading contenders for the slot. He has the early advantage of being the No. 2 Senate Republican but will face stiff competition from Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), an adviser to McConnell who previously held the role of whip.
Cornyn launched his candidacy within hours of McConnell announcing his retirement.
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The third “John,” Sen. Barrasso (R-WY), has not made his intentions clear but told reporters last week that he would speak with colleagues about “what direction they want to take the conference.”
McConnell’s retirement, though widely expected, took much of his conference by surprise given it came nine months before Senate Republicans will hold their leadership elections.
“There’s gonna be a lot of time to sort this out. Maybe in some people’s minds too much time,” Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), a member of leadership, told the Washington Examiner.
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