It’s been almost a year since Mitch Connell fell, breaking a rib and receiving a concussion. During the year since March 25, 2023, his visibility and health have appeared to diminish, opening the discussion about a replacement for the 81 year old Senate Republican Leader.
Politico reports McConnell made his remarks at an incredibly tense time for both himself and his party: He’s trying to send billions of dollars more to Ukraine to fend off Russia and is confronting the likelihood that his party nominates former President Donald Trump, whom McConnell has not spoken to for years. On Tuesday alone, he faced three tough moments: nudging Speaker Mike Johnson to pass the Senate’s $95 billion foreign aid bill, dodging a question about when he would endorse Trump and committing to avoiding a government shutdown
Meanwhile, The Daily Beast reports that during this year of watching the long term Senator from Kentucky fade from public influence, the GOP scavengers from the Senate have already been hovering around the soon to be vacated office.
While no one knows yet who will succeed McConnell, the leading contenders all happen to have the most common name in the U.S. Senate (and the second most common name in America). For well over a year, the so-called “Three Johns” have been identified as players in the quiet race to succeed McConnell unfolding in the shadows: the current No. 2 GOP senator, John Thune (R-SD); the former No. 2 GOP senator, John Cornyn (R-TX); and Senate GOP Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY).
Much has been made of the “three Johns” mentioned above as main contenders for the job, but in typical GOP fashion, others are vying for the powerful position. Among them are Sen. Rick Scott, Fla., Sen. Rand Paul, Ky; Sen. Steve Raines from Montana, Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas.