GOP senator’s 'rocky relationship with Trump' could impact 'three-way race to replace' McConnell: report

Now that Republicans have taken control of the Senate, the next order of business for the GOP is to determine its next Senate leader.

CNN's Amara Walker on Sunday morning asked The Hill congressional reporter Mychael Schnell about how the "three-way race to replace Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY)," will unfold this week as a vote for majority leader takes place.

In the running to take the Kentucky lawmaker's spot are Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD), Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL).

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Walker also asked whether or not Schnell expects President-Elect Donald Trump to "weigh in" on the process. "Obviously, if he does, that could make a huge impact," the CNN anchor noted.

"This contest has been going on for months now," Schnell began. "Mitch McConnell announced back in February that he was going to step down from Republican leader. So, the Senate knew they would have to deal with this question, and the three candidates have been running for weeks now. But it's really heating up now."

The congressional reporter continued, "You mentioned, the big question hanging over this, is will President-Elect Trump weigh into the race and endorse a candidate? Each member of the Senate has their opinion. John Thune, for example, who running for leader, has said he doesn't think Trump should weigh in, he should let the process play out as it should."

"That is notable and makes sense because he has been a rocky relationship with Trump," Schnell emphasized. "For example, Thune endorsed [Sen.] Tim Scott (R-SC) during the 2016 primary. But others wanted to weigh in, particularly those supporting Rick Scott. So it's an open question, but that election closed ballot will be Wednesday morning and a lot of folks will be watching to see who emerges as the next Republican leader of the US Senate.

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