Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is backing Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) in the race to succeed Mitch McConnell as Senate GOP leader.
Itโs the first public endorsement for Cornyn, whoโs running against Senate Minority Whip John Thune and Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.). And it comes from someone whoโs part of a crucial voting bloc in the leadership race. Hawley was just reelected on Tuesday.
In a statement reported by Punchbowl News, Hawley said โnobody has done moreโ to help Republicans take back the majority than Cornyn, noting the Texas Republicanโs fundraising efforts.
Hawley also cited Cornynโs support for reauthorizing a radiation exposure compensation program that lapsed earlier this year. It meant a lot to Hawley, and it sounds like they made a backroom deal.
โ[Cornyn] has voiced his support for the RECA compromise that would fairly compensate hundreds of thousands of Americans poisoned by their government, including so many in Missouri,โ Hawley said.
Cornyn, Hawley added, will โwork closely and effectively with President Trump to deliver on the promise of our new majority.โ
Hawley has a lot of sway.
President-elect Donald Trumpโs closest allies are giving the president-elect conflicting advice on whether to make an endorsement in the Senate Republican leadership race, leaving the three candidates in suspense as they work to lock in the requisite votes.
Trump insiders tell us they donโt expect him to get involved. In the meantime, prominent Trump supporters want Sen. Rick Scottโs (R-Fla.).
Other Trump confidants, like Sens. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.), are urging him to stay out of it entirely, believing thereโs little upside for Trump. Mullin and Daines are supporting Senate Minority Whip John Thune, who said Thursday itโs in Trumpโs โbest interestโ to forgo an endorsement.
โThereโs no point in wasting the political capital and making two senators mad at you,โ Mullin said.
Why would this be a matter of wasting political capital? Are we on the same side?
Scott, however, is actively seeking it, and is telling senators heโs the best person to carry out Trumpโs agenda in part because of their close personal relationship and the fact that, unlike Thune and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Scott has never been publicly at odds with Trump.
Scott reminded Republicans that Trumpโs incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles, ran his 2010 gubernatorial campaign, so theyโd have that relationship on Day One.
Allies of the Florida Republican have been resurfacing old clips of Thune and Cornyn criticizing Trump or suggesting they wouldnโt support him. Donald Trump Jr.โs criticisms of the pair earlier this year are making the rounds in conservative media circles.
Scott Will Need A Trump Endorsement
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), a Scott supporter, said a Trump endorsement is โprobably what Rickโs going to need to become majority leader.โ
Mullin dismissed this pressure campaign as self-serving, saying Scott โshould try to win it without the president.โ
โRick doesnโt believe he can win it if he doesnโt have the presidentโs endorsement,โ Mullin added.
Thune and Cornyn have worked to repair their Trump relationships. They spoke as recently as Wednesday. Mullin said the Thune-Trump relationship is solid, โdefinitely a better relationship than the other oneโโreferring to Cornyn.
Cornyn or Thune? There is little difference, and there is little difference from Mitch, but Cornyn is probably worse than Thune. Why not just pick a Democrat if you go for these types? Why support these senators for more of the same? What do the readers think?
RINO Senators John Thune & John Cornyn both want to replace Mitch McConnell, once he finally gets put out to pasture. Both of them also voted to send billions more to Ukraine. MAGA must do everything in our power to stop either of these two RINOs from ever becoming Senate Leader!
โ Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 13, 2024
The Swamp
John Cornyn helped the Democrats push the fake Russia “Collusion” Hoax against Donald Trump.
This disqualifies Cornyn from serving as Senate Majority Leader. pic.twitter.com/oRh7JhNjyd
โ National File (@NationalFile) November 7, 2024
The arch traitor John Cornyn is being floated as the next Senate Majority Leader.
This absolutely cannot be allowed to happen.
All of the momentum we have gained for gun rights could hit a wall if the man who spearheaded the largest gun control bill in decades is in charge. pic.twitter.com/Rsqyjc6ire
โ National Association for Gun Rights (@NatlGunRights) November 8, 2024
WATCH:
.@SenRickScott Senator Rick Scott was speechless after he learned that top @JohnCornyn Senator John Cornynโs consultant Rob Jesmer @jrjesmer called President Trump a โpsychopathโ on video.
Cornyn was just spotted on President Trumpโs plane last week, and he is beggingโฆ pic.twitter.com/APk6SHvNkF
โ Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) November 3, 2024
The Senate leadership wars have begun. Anti-Thune forces are distributing this video of John Thune repeatedly trashing Trump to show heโs not qualified to be majority leader. pic.twitter.com/dZUirW7TDE
โ Sean Davis (@seanmdav) November 8, 2024
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