Cornyn wants to succeed McConnell as Senate GOP leader; RFK Jr. names who he thinks 'would be an incredible successor'

GOP Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who has been in office for more than two decades, has thrown his hat into the ring to serve as the next Senate Republican leader.

"I am asking my Republican colleagues to give me the opportunity to succeed Leader McConnell," Cornyn said in a statement. "We will restore the important role of Senate committees and reestablish the regular appropriations process, rather than lurch from one crisis to another. And we will return power back to our members; there will be no more backroom deals or forced votes on bills without adequate time for review, debate, and amendment. I am ready to get to work and look forward to continuing to engage with my colleagues."

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky announced on Wednesday that his current term as Senate GOP leader post will be his last, though he indicated that he plans to continue serving in the Senate as a lawmaker.

"Our friend from Kentucky is a rare example of what a public servant should be: pragmatic, knowledgeable, humble, and effective. He has led the Senate through difficult periods, and I am grateful for his dedicated service to our country and this institution," Cornyn said in a post on X.

Like McConnell, Cornyn was one of the Senate Republicans who earlier this month voted in favor of a measure that would, in part, provide for additional U.S. assistance to Ukraine. "This legislation replenishes our military stockpiles and addresses the biggest national security threats we face, from Hamas' horrific attacks on Israel to China's aggression in the Indo-Pacific to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine," Cornyn said in a statement.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who mounted a bid for the Democratic presidential nomination last year before later switching to run as an independent, has suggested that Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky would be a good pick to fill the Senate GOP leader role.

"It's time to promote leaders in Washington, DC who won't kowtow to the military contractors or push us deeper into foreign conflicts," Kennedy tweeted. "We need representation who will prioritize American wellness over all else. I believe @RandPaul would be an incredible successor. He's shown great judgment and has the grit to put hardworking Americans first."

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