By design, the United States Senate doesn’t follow the fickle whims of day-to-day politics, which could negate Rick Scott’s rapidly growing momentum. 

Update: Scott has fallen short and was eliminated on the first ballot. Senator John Thune of South Dakota has been elected as the new Senate Majority Leader, succeeding Mitch McConnell. Thune, who has served as the Republican Whip since 2019, secured the position after a closely contested internal election among Senate Republicans. He narrowly defeated Senator John Cornyn of Texas with a vote of 29-24 on the second ballot. 

As Senate Republicans prepare to choose their next majority leader, the race to replace longtime leader Mitch McConnell is in a state of upheaval. Our own Senator Rick Scott, John Thune of South Dakota, and John Cornyn of Texas are vying for the position. The winner, decided by secret ballot on Wednesday, will set the party’s direction as Donald Trump returns to the White House, signaling a potential shift in GOP legislative strategy.

Only last week, Scott was viewed as an also-ran, expected to bow out after the first ballot. And while that still could be the case, many observers have suddenly listed him as the favorite.

The contest has turned into a test of loyalty to Trump, with all three candidates showing varying degrees of alignment with his agenda. Scott, a staunch Trump ally running an insurgent campaign, has garnered support from high-profile figures in Trump’s circle, including fellow Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who endorsed Scott on Thursday morning. Over the weekend, Elon Musk endorsed Scott, too, and Scott has positioned himself as a reformer, critical of McConnell and advocating for changes aligned with Trump’s policy priorities. In 2022, Scott ran against McConnell, securing 10 votes in a symbolic but notable challenge.

Meanwhile, Thune and Cornyn, both long-standing Senate Republicans with leadership experience, have worked largely behind closed doors, appealing to colleagues individually and drawing on extensive records of support for Senate GOP candidates. While both have been critical of Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election in the past, they have recently moved closer to his agenda, promising more open channels for legislative initiatives that align with Trump’s priorities.

The decision, held in a private Capitol meeting room, has been shaped by candidates’ pledges to allow more individual senators to bring bills and amendments to the floor, a response to conservative frustrations with McConnell’s centralized leadership style. Senators will cast secret ballots, with no clear front-runner, a rarity in Senate Republican leadership contests.

The outcome of the vote is expected later today.