Iowa GOP sen blasts Republican vying for same spot: 'I wish he would’ve called me':

05 March 2024

After Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) resignation announcement earlier this week, several roles for Republican lawmakers will be up for grabs when he leaves in November.

US Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), who is currently Republican Policy Committee Chair is expected to run for the third ranking position in GOP leadership as Republican Conference Chair, for which US Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) will also throw his hat in the ring, CNN reports.

Per the report, the position Cotton wants is expected to be available because "the current chair of the Republican conference, Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, announced he will seek" Senator John Thune's (R-SD) position as "the current number two GOP leader."

Cotton failed to contact Ernst or any other GOP lawmakers, according to the report, "to notify them of his intentions to run" for the leadership role — a position Ernst is considering.

The news outlet reports in order to "move to the number three job, Cotton would have to leapfrog Ernst and GOP Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia who currently hold the number four and five positions respectively."

Ernst told CNN, "I just wish he would have called me before making that announcement. I know he didn’t give many of us a heads up. So that would have been common courtesy."

The Iowa leader also noted, "I am still considering. I want to make sure it’s right for Iowa and that it’s right for me as I work with my colleagues. But absolutely, I am considering, and I would like all my colleagues to stay open to the idea. And I will talk to them about it before I make that decision."

Ernst told the news outlet "she would make a decision in the next week or two."

CNN's full report is here.

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