Who Will Replace Mitch McConnell as the Republican Senate Leader? 5 People to Watch, Including the 3 'Johns'

McConnell's decision to step back grants someone a once-in-a-career opportunity to fill the coveted leadership position he's held for 17 years

Mitch McConnell's announcement that he will step down as the Republican Senate leader in November signals that a battle for his coveted position is about to take form.

Within minutes of the news breaking on Wednesday afternoon, several names were already being tossed around as possible successors — some who are already part of the Senate GOP leadership team, and others who have made names for themselves as either consensus-builders or rabble-rousers ready to apply a fresh perspective.

Related: Mitch McConnell, 82, to Step Down as Republican Senate Leader After Reaching Historic Milestone

McConnell, 82, is the longest-serving Senate party leader in history, and his decision to vacate the role after 17 years comes amid concerns over his health as well as a growing movement by Donald Trump and his loyalists within the conference to put a stronger MAGA ally at the helm.

Though McConnell called for "the next generation of leadership" in a floor speech, the person who assumes control of the Senate Republican Conference won't necessarily be young — rumored candidates range from their late 40s to early 70s, with most toward the latter end of the spectrum. As far as ideology, you can expect the same variety, with options anywhere from traditional conservative to far-right extremist.

Related: Senate Physician Says There’s ‘No Evidence’ Mitch McConnell Has Larger Health Problem After Freezing Episodes

After the 2024 elections, Republican senators will meet to cast their votes for a new conference leader. When the 119th Congress begins in January, the chosen person will officially assume the role of Senate minority leader or Senate majority leader, depending on which party has the majority at the time.

Below, the most likely names to jump in the race, including the three "Johns" who have long been considered frontrunners. Check back for updates as the candidate pool becomes clearer.

South Dakota Sen. John Thune

The South Dakota senator joined Congress in 2004, after defeating then Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle. Now the second-highest-ranking Senate Republican, Thune, 63, is the Senate's Republican whip and responsible for rounding up party members for votes and quorum calls.

Thune previously served as the Republican chief deputy whip and served as the Senate Republican Conference chair, the third-ranking position in the Senate, from 2012 to 2019. He chaired the Senate Republican Policy Committee from 2009 to 2012.

Thune has demurred when asked whether he plans to campaign to succeed McConnell, saying only, “There'll be plenty of time” to discuss that, per the Tribune, and adding: “Today we just want to reflect on [McConnell’s] service and honor him for that. And then we'll go from there.”

Texas Sen. John Cornyn

Prior to joining the Senate in 2002, Cornyn served as an associate justice on the Texas Supreme Court and was the attorney general of the state from 1999 to 2002. While not currently serving in a leadership role in the Senate, Cornyn did serve as the conference's whip from 2013 to 2019 (he was succeeded by Sen. John Thune).

Related: Texas Sen. John Cornyn Compares His Relationship with Trump to a Bad Marriage: 'He Is Who He Is'

One day after McConnell announced his resignation, Cornyn, 72, declared his intent to run for the position, promising to "improve communication, increase transparency, and ensure inclusion of every Member's expertise and opinion" if elected, according to a statement.

Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso

A physician and politician who joined the Senate in 2007, Barrasso chairs the Senate Republican Conference and is a ranking member of the Senate Energy Committee. He previously chaired the Senate Environment Committee, the Senate Republican Policy Committee, and the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

Barrasso, 71, dodged questions about whether he wants McConnell's job, telling reporters shortly after the announcement, "What I'm focused on is the election that's going to come up in November for president, for the Senate. That's my focus."

Florida Sen. Rick Scott

Among the country’s wealthiest elected officials, Scott, 71, is a healthcare company founder who came to the Senate in 2019, after serving two terms as the governor of Florida. He has butted heads with McConnell during his time in Congress and in 2022, announced that he would be running to take the role of Senate minority leader with Trump's endorsement, writing in a letter to fellow Republicans at the time, “I believe it’s time for the Senate Republican Conference to be far more bold and resolute than we have been in the past.” He ultimately lost the race to McConnell.

Scott offered a vague but similar statement in the wake of McConnell’s announcement that he would step down, writing on X: “We need new leadership in the Senate that represents our voters and the issues we were sent here to fight for. This is an opportunity to refocus our efforts on solving the significant challenges facing our country and actually reflect the aspirations of voters.”

From 2021 to 2023, Scott chaired the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton

Cotton, an Arkansas senator who assumed his current office in 2015, previously served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Prior to entering politics, the Harvard Law grad, 46, worked in private practice.

Politico reports that Cotton, who is known to be close with McConnell, is mulling a bid to run for a leadership position — and that the young lawmaker is being urged to do so by some of his Republican colleagues.

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