McConnell’s resignation puts Senate spotlight on 'the 3 Johns"

A bombshell announcement came from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) on Wednesday, February 28 when the 82-year-old Republican announced that he is retiring from that position in November. In contrast to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) — who left Congress altogether at the end of 2023 — McConnell plans to serve out the rest of his six-year term, which doesn't end until January 3, 2027.

In Kentucky, McConnell was reelected by a landslide in 2020, defeating centrist Democratic nominee Amy McGrath by 19 percent in the deep red state.

It remains to be seen who McConnell's successor as Senate GOP leader will be. In an article published by the Daily Beast on February 29, journalists Sam Brodey, Riley Rogerson and Reese Gorman emphasize that McConnell's announcement puts the spotlight on "the 3 Johns": GOP Senators John Cornyn of Texas, John Thune of South Dakota and John Barrasso of Wyoming.

READ MORE:Kentucky reacts to Mitch McConnell stepping down

"For well over a year," the Daily Beast reporters explain, "the so-called 'Three Johns' have been identified as players in the quiet race to succeed McConnell unfolding in the shadows…. But when McConnell finally made it official Wednesday that this year will be his last as GOP leader, what followed was a burst of activity that suggested the race to succeed him could be even more tumultuous than anticipated."

Brodey, Rogerson and Gorman note that Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida) "issued a statement in which he didn't rule out a run." However, Scott's previous effort to replace McConnell as Senate GOP leader was unsuccessful.

"Even Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) is weighing a leadership bid, according to Politico, either for the top spot or perhaps one of the vacated positions if someone moves up the ranks," the Daily Beast journalists report. "Meanwhile, the Johns publicly kept their plans private Wednesday, expressing deference to McConnell — at least for one day."

READ MORE: 'Service of evil': Mitch McConnell critics react to bombshell resignation announcement

Read the Daily Beast's full report at this link (subscription required).