A group of 10 GOP lawmakers in the upper chamber called on Senate Conference Chair John Barrasso to schedule a meeting to discuss the upcoming election of a new leader.
The letter, led by Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, was sent a day after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky surprised his colleagues and announced on the chamber floor that he planned to step down from his leadership post in November.
The letter asks Mr. Barasso of Wyoming to “call a meeting of the Conference to develop a mission statement and goals for the Conference, and a process to elect a new Senate Republican Leader.”
The members requested that the meeting take place during the week of March 18.
The message is co-signed by Sens. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Roger Marshall of Kansas, J.D. Vance of Ohio, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Mike Lee Utah, Marco Rubio of Florida, Jim Risch of Idaho, Mike Braun of Indiana and Rick Scott of Florida.
Not all congressional Republicans are willing to wait until November for Mr. McConnell to step down as the Republican leader.
The House’s most conservative faction of Republicans, whose relationship with Mr. McConnell remains strained at best, want to see him step down from his leadership post “immediately.”
“Our thoughts are with our Democrat colleagues in the Senate on the retirement of their Co-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (D-Ukraine),” a post on X Wednesday, from the Freedom Caucus account stated.
“No need to wait till November… Senate Republicans should IMMEDIATELY elect a *Republican* Minority Leader.”
Mr. McConnell has served as Senate Republican leader for 17 years. During his floor speech about his plans to step aside in November, he said that it is time for a “new generation of leadership.”
Mr. McConnell will depart as the chamber’s longest-serving party leader and is largely credited, with Mr. Trump, for ushering a conservative bench onto the Supreme Court as well as filling lower court vacancies with conservative picks.
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas has announced his bid to run for the position of leader.
Among others likely to show interest in the position are GOP Whip Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, Mr. Barrasso, and Mr. Scott, who unsuccessfully challenged Mr. McConnell for the job in 2022.
Another name being floated is National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Steven Daines of Montana.
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.