'The race is happening': Top Senate Republicans quietly seeking to replace McConnell as GOP leader

Leading Senate Republicans are already jockeying to become the next leader of their caucus after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-Kentucky) tenure comes to an end.

The Daily Beast reported Wednesday that the Three Johns — Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-South Dakota) — have been maneuvering to win over their colleagues in the event of Sen. McConnell's departure. A unnamed Republican source told the Beast that "the race is happening" even though McConnell is only halfway through his current term and has been in his leadership position for decades.

"It’s happening under the surface, but it’s already ongoing," the source said.

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While Sens. Barrasso, Cornyn, and Thune are the most high-ranking, Senator Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) suggested that a less senior member of the caucus more in tune with the MAGA wing of the Republican Party could also make a play to become the US Senate's next GOP leader.

"I’m not thinking of anybody in particular, but, you know, I would say I don’t think it's necessarily the case that it would be limited to only two or three candidates," Hawley said. "There are maybe four or five."

Outgoing Senator Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who is not seeking another term in 2024, echoed those sentiments, saying "there’s always going to be some agitators who would like to go in an entirely different direction" than current Senate GOP leadership.

"They’ll stir the pot as they think they can," Romney said of his colleagues.

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McConnell has shown no indications of retiring anytime soon despite having multiple episodes earlier this year in which he suddenly froze in mid-speech. Those incidents notably took place after McConnell, who is 81 years old, suffered several debilitating falls in 2023. One of those falls resulted in Kentucky's senior senator suffering a concussion, keeping him away from his senate duties for roughly six weeks during the spring.

For his part, Sen. McConnell has insisted his health is not an issue and pledged to finish his current term, which runs through 2026. Should he be unable to complete his term, Kentucky Democratic Governor Andy Beshear — who was reelected to another four-year term on Tuesday — would appoint his replacement.