Senate Republicans brace for leadership scramble

[DonViejo]

Mitch McConnell is staying put, but the rest of his leadership team will be upended next year by term limits.

By BURGESS EVERETT , SEUNG MIN KIM and JOHN BRESNAHAN 05/04/17 05:13 AM EDT

Senate Republican leadership is set for a major shake-up after the next election.

Though Mitch McConnell plans to stay put for years to come, his leadership team is about to undergo its biggest overhaul in years: All four other GOP leaders are term-limited in their current posts, including Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas, Conference Chairman John Thune of South Dakota, Policy Chairman John Barrasso of Wyoming and Conference Vice Chairman Roy Blunt of Missouri.

The Senate Republican Conference is brimming with ambitious members, and the leadership reordering will be a critical opportunity for longtime and more junior lawmakers to raise their profiles and build their résumés. Cornyn would never challenge McConnell, but the Kentucky Republican’s lock on the top job could create a bottleneck for senators looking to ascend the ranks and establish a national profile.

As for McConnell, the 75-year-old majority leader plans to run for reelection in 2020, sources close to him said, and would become the longest-serving Senate leader in history if he were to win and keep his post for the full term. His already large imprint on the chamber and national politics would be immense, spanning multiple presidencies.

Cornyn, McConnell’s successor as the party’s No. 2 and a top GOP fundraiser and political strategist, would be affected most directly. The former Texas Supreme Court judge makes no secret of his interest in becoming the top Republican someday. But if McConnell follows through and stays on as leader through 2026, Cornyn might be left to wait for eight years without a leadership position.

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http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/04/mitch-mcconnell-senate-leadership-237943