Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) is backing Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) in the race to succeed Mitch McConnell as Senate GOP leader.
It’s the first public endorsement for Cornyn, who’s running against Senate Minority Whip John Thune and Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.). And it comes from someone who’s 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 “nobody has done more” to help Republicans take back the majority than Cornyn, noting the Texas Republican’s fundraising efforts.
Hawley also cited Cornyn’s 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.
“[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,” Hawley said.
Cornyn, Hawley added, will “work closely and effectively with President Trump to deliver on the promise of our new majority.”
Hawley has a lot of sway.
President-elect Donald Trump’s 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 don’t expect him to get involved. In the meantime, prominent Trump supporters want Sen. Rick Scott’s (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 there’s little upside for Trump. Mullin and Daines are supporting Senate Minority Whip John Thune, who said Thursday it’s in Trump’s “best interest” to forgo an endorsement.
“There’s no point in wasting the political capital and making two senators mad at you,” 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 he’s the best person to carry out Trump’s 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 Trump’s incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles, ran his 2010 gubernatorial campaign, so they’d 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 wouldn’t support him. Donald Trump Jr.’s 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 “probably what Rick’s going to need to become majority leader.”
Mullin dismissed this pressure campaign as self-serving, saying Scott “should try to win it without the president.”
“Rick doesn’t believe he can win it if he doesn’t have the president’s endorsement,” 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, “definitely a better relationship than the other one”—referring 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!
— 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
— 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
— National Association for Gun Rights (@NatlGunRights) November 8, 2024
WATCH:
.@SenRickScott Senator Rick Scott was speechless after he learned that top @JohnCornyn Senator John Cornyn’s consultant Rob Jesmer @jrjesmer called President Trump a “psychopath” on video.
Cornyn was just spotted on President Trump’s plane last week, and he is begging… pic.twitter.com/APk6SHvNkF
— 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 he’s not qualified to be majority leader. pic.twitter.com/dZUirW7TDE
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) November 8, 2024
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Get rid of the NON ratified 17th Amendment. The power returns to the people and the states through the Senate as the founders designed and the good ole boys club in the Senate is finished. That would also return term limited to Senators.
I live in Stoutland Mo and I heard you are backing a RINO Cornyn for US senate! I was discussing this in the laundry mat today with another true Trump supporter and I have to say I’m really disappointed in your support for cornyn! Rick Scott of Florida is the only one that will help president Trump as we move forward to get our nation back on track!
Butt kiss John Cornyn who is no different than Mitch McConnell and so kisses Democrats’ butts and is likely to be primaried when he’s up for reelection is the worst choice for Senate Majority Leader of those running and Rick Scott is the best.
Same thing that happened in 2016 with Paul Ryan. Trump, can you handle these RINO snakes or can’t you? They are not our friends!!!
cornyn is deep state bought sold and paid for since 2012