WASHINGTON — A looming battle among Senate Republicans over whom to pick as their next majority leader is turning into an early test of how much power President-elect Donald Trump's MAGA movement will exert in his second term.
The three-way fight to replace outgoing Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, pits Minority Whip John Thune of South Dakota against John Cornyn of Texas, a former McConnell deputy, and underdog candidate Rick Scott of Florida.
The battle will gauge the staying power of long-serving senior Republicans grounded in an institutionalist view of the Senate, like Thune and Cornyn, against an emboldened pro-Trump wing looking to smash any vestiges of the old GOP as he returns to power.
Scott, who's seeking to claim the latter mantle, said in an interview Monday that he'll push “the Trump agenda” if he's elected.
“I talk to all my colleagues, and they are clear what they want and know we need to change. They want to be treated as equals, want to be part of a team. They know I have a great relationship with Trump and the speaker of the House, and I am a business guy. And I will get the Trump agenda done,” Scott said.
MAGA influencers online have started an online pressure campaign to sink the current and former McConnell deputies — and boost Scott — ahead of a candidate forum Tuesday and an expected closed-door election Wednesday.
Right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson said Scott is the “only candidate who agrees with Donald Trump” and claimed the two other contenders “hate Trump and what he ran on.” (Thune and Cornyn have been critical of Trump in the past, but both endorsed him this year.)
Billionaire Trump benefactor Elon Musk also endorsed Scott, saying Monday, “The new Senate Majority Leader must respond to the will of the people.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., one of Trump's top allies on the Hill, encouraged senators to elect Scott. “The Republican conference should choose a leader who represents the People, not the same good ole’ boy way it’s been done for decades,” Greene said on X.
But it’s far from clear that the campaign will succeed. The Senate is a famously insular body that is relatively detached from populist fervor, giving members six-year terms and usually operating on seniority. It would be unusual for Scott to leapfrog two colleagues who have served much longer, cultivated deeper relationships and have each paid their dues in pursuit of the job.
Most importantly, the election will be held by secret ballot. Unlike votes on legislation and nominations — as well as the vote for speaker of the House — votes for Senate leadership are anonymous. That means relationships will be paramount and the online pro-Trump army won’t know how members voted.
“It’s a loud online presence that doesn’t ultimately add up to votes in the Senate,” said a Senate Republican aide, who requested anonymity to speak candidly about the race’s dynamics. “And senators are reacting negatively to this.”
Most notably, Trump himself hasn’t weighed in as all three candidates seek to show their pro-Trump bona fides.
Scott called Trump in May to ask him for his support in the leadership race, which he said he would appreciate, and his goal is to pressure Trump to announce his support before Wednesday’s election, according to two people with knowledge of his thinking.
In interviews since Election Day, Scott said he and Trump have been communicating by text.
But Scott was coy when he was asked Monday whether he thinks he has Trump’s support.
“I welcome anyone’s support. He supported me in 2022 in my run against Mitch McConnell,” Scott said.
Asked whether he is seeking Trump’s endorsement, he responded, “I am not going to talk about private conversations.”
