Republican officially enters the race to replace Mitch McConnell

Sen. Rick Scott (pictured) has jumped into the Senate GOP leader race in a bid to replace the old-school, neoconservative Mitch McConnell with a more Trumpist brand of leader. ‘I believe now is a moment we need dramatic change,’ Scott wrote in a Dear Colleague letter, arguing voters want them to use the leadership election to ‘upend the status quo in Washington.’ He will be running against GOP Whip John Thune and former Whip John Cornyn. Former President Donald Trump, a longtime McConnell antagonist, has not thrown his weight around in the race yet.

Scott is the only one of the three to show up to Trump’s criminal trial in New York. ‘There have been far too many backroom deals cut in secret, rarely do things go through the committee process, and it’s accepted practice to not allow amendment votes to trillion-dollar spending bills,’ Scott went on.

Scott, the former governor of Florida, is known to work in close concert with the House right-wing Freedom Caucus. ‘Rarely do we work in concert with Republicans in the House,’ he said. ‘We often take votes that unite Democrats and divide us.’

In March Scott met with Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago home. In a shock speech in March, McConnell announced he would not seek re-election in November. He’s led the Senate GOP conference since 2007. Scott was the sole opponent who ran against McConnell for the leader position in 2022. He lost, receiving only 10 votes.

Another conservative thought to be in the race, Sen. John Barrasso (pictured), R-Wyo., the third highest-ranking GOP senator, also backed away from running for leader, opting for whip instead. ‘After a lot of thought, I will ask my colleagues for their support and help to work for them as the Assistant Republican Leader.’

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., will also not run to be Republican leader. A source confirmed to DailyMail.com Tuesday Cotton would instead run for Senate GOP Conference Chairman, the third-highest leadership position in the caucus. Scott’s bid makes him the third Republican to officially enter the race.

Sen. John Cornyn (pictured), R-Texas, was the first to declare his run for leader following McConnell’s announcement last week. ‘I am asking my Republican colleagues to give me the opportunity to succeed Leader McConnell,’ Cornyn wrote in a statement Thursday. ‘I have learned a lot during my time both in and out of Senate leadership.’

He said the Senate is broken but that it can be fixed and he intends to play a role in that. ‘Throughout my time I’ve built a track record of listening to colleagues and seeking consensus, while leading the fight to stop bad policies that are harmful to our nation and the conservative cause,’ Cornyn continued. The Texas senator previously has served in senate leadership as whip and as the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Another candidate, Sen. John Thune (pictured), R-S.D., the second most powerful Senate Republican behind McConnell, has announced he is running for the top Republican leadership spot. ‘Well, I hope to be [leader], and I’m going to do everything I can to convince my colleagues,’ Thune told a South Dakota news outlet.

‘For me, it’s really about trying to be a difference-maker,’ Thune told Dakota News Now. ‘I think I have something to contribute there.’ ‘In my view, this is a chance for a reset and I’d like to be a part of it.’ Steve Daines, R-Mont., is also rumored to be mulling a run for the Republican leader role.

Want more stories like this from the Daily Mail? Hit the follow button above for more of the news you need.