Leader race between John Cornyn, John Thune drives fundraising boon for Senate Republicans

Senate Republican campaign officials aren’t shying away from a showdown for the chamber’s next GOP leader. In fact, they’re embracing it.

That’s because the two men vying to succeed outgoing Minority Leader Mitch McConnell — John Thune of South Dakota and John Cornyn of Texas — are also fundraising juggernauts.

Collectively, the two longtime senators have racked up almost $26 million for Senate Republicans’ campaign arm and GOP candidates this election cycle.

With the presidential race front and center, and several Senate Democrats facing difficult reelection runs in battleground states, Republicans have high hopes of taking back the Senate. Democrats currently have a one-seat majority.

The National Republican Senate Committee is staying neutral over Mr. McConnell’s replacement.

NRSC Communications Director Mike Berg hailed Mr. Thune, currently Mr. McConnell’s top lieutenant as minority whip, and Mr. Cornyn, who’s previously served as NRSC chairman and whip, both as “prolific fundraisers.”

The competitive race between Mr. Thune and Mr. Cornyn won’t be determined until after the November elections in January, when Mr. McConnell will step down as the chamber’s longest-serving party leader after more than 17 years on the job. In the meantime, Mr. Thune and Mr. Cornyn are flexing their fundraising muscles to help gain an advantage in the leadership race.

Mr. Cornyn and his joint fundraising committee have hauled in $14 million for the NRSC and other Republicans this cycle. His fundraising efforts for the 2022 midterms topped $20 million.

Team Cornyn boasts he’s “been the top Senate GOP fundraiser outside of Leader McConnell since 2009.”

Mr. Thune and his joint fundraising committee have raised nearly $12 million for the NRSC and other Republicans this cycle. He has almost $18 million cash on hand in his campaign account, according to campaign finance records.

Team Thune brags that no other senator, aside from NRSC Chairman Steve Daines of Montana, has “raised more money for the Senate Republican campaign arm this cycle.”

No matter who’s crowned GOP leader, they’ll be left with even bigger shoes to fill with campaign cash.

Mr. McConnell, with the aid of two fundraising groups aligned with him — the Senate Leadership Fund and One Nation — has raked in a staggering $1.66 billion for Republicans since 2015.