Will Rick Scott become Senate majority leader? Why MAGA allies backed Florida senator over John Cornyn and John Thune- The Week

The Republicans will run a secret ballot on Wednesday to elect the Senate majority leader. There are three contenders for the coveted post as Mitch McConnell retires.

Florida Senator Rick Scott, Texas Senator John Cornyn and South Dakota Senator John Thune are the three contenders in the election.

Though President-elect Donald Trump has not endorsed anyone, Elon Musk and several MAGA allies have backed Scott. Some local reports suggested that since Scott is hailing from Trump’s home state Florida, the President-elect might be secretly backing him and pushed his allies to endorse the senator.

Media outlets backing Trump are also pushing for Scott. These include Tucker Carlson and podcasters Benny Johnson and Charlie Kirk.

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Carlson said Scott is the only candidate who agrees with Trump, urging his followers to call their senator and seek an endorsement for Scott.

Johnson tweeted that a vote for Scott is a vote to “END the anti-Trump rot of Mitch McConnell” in the US Senate while Kirk posted on X, “They want Rick Scott. It’s very clear.”

Scott had bagged 10 votes during the previous secret ballot against McConnell in 2022.

Earlier, Trump posted on X that any Republican running for the secret ballot to become the Senate leader must agree to his Recess Appointments demand, warning that without it the GOP could not get new officials confirmed.

Pointing out that the votes can take two years or more, he recalled that the Democrats did the same thing four years ago. He warned that the positions should be filled immediately and that no judges should be approved during this period of time as the Democrats might take advantage of the situation.

Musk replied to Trump, saying, “This is essential. There is no other way.” He pointed out that it will take over two years to confirm the new administration without recess appointments.