Thune gets backers in Senate GOP leadership race

Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) has picked up the support of at least two of his GOP colleagues, as he holds conversations about becoming the upper chamber’s next Republican leader.

Republican Sens. Markwayne Mullin (Okla.) and Mike Rounds (S.D.) on Sunday indicated their support for Thune during appearances on the Sunday morning talk shows.

Thune is among one of three “Johns” considered likely contenders for the Senate’s Republican leader after Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.) announced last week he would step down from his longtime post in November. He will remain in the Senate at least until the end of his term in 2027.

Other contenders include Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), the latter of whom was the first to formally announce his bid last week. Thune told reporters last week he is talking to his fellow GOP senators about the position.

Rounds, appearing on ABC News’s “This Week,” said he believes Thune will bring “a fresh breath” and called him “the right guy at the right time.”

“Great moral character. He’s the right kind of a guy. And I think he will be independent enough to where he will look out also, just like Mitch did, for the institution of the Senate itself. So, I’m optimistic. It’s the reason why I’m supporting him,” Rounds said. 

Regardless of who it is, Rounds called on McConnell’s successor to remain steadfast in the wake of potential opposition and criticism from former President Trump. McConnell and Trump’s tense relationship was widely known on Capitol Hill, and the Kentucky Republican emerged as one of the few GOP senators who openly stood up to the former president.

ABC News anchor Jonathan Karl on Sunday pointed out Thune has “clashed mightily with Donald Trump.” Despite Thune’s criticism of the former president, he endorsed Trump last week after vowing to support whoever becomes the eventual GOP nominee.

“I think we’ll have continued good leadership. John Thune, I think, is kind of leading the race right now. He’s my stablemate out here, also from South Dakota. Solid. And he understands politics as well,” Rounds said.

“Whoever the Republican nominee is, we’re going to get behind them, and we’re going to make sure that this thing happens where we get back to actually building this economy again and getting some of the folks in this part of the world that are just angry as all get-out right now because of the cost of living and so forth back — back feeling like we’re trying to fix things,” he added.

Mullin, on CNN’s “State of The Union,” said Thune “understands” the GOP party and recognizes both the need for the party to be united, and the high likelihood Trump could be the GOP presidential nominee.

“I’m very good friends with Senator Thune. That’s why my support is with him. That doesn’t say anything bad about the other candidates that may be running. I know [Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.)] is throwing his name around, that he may be doing it. John Barrasso is a great guy. John Cornyn is a great guy,” Mullin said.

“I’m just better friends with Thune. And I have seen his leadership skills move around. Even when Mitch was unable to be at the Capitol because of some illnesses, I saw Thune step up in a very effective manner. And what I look for in any position that needs to be in leadership … is someone that can lead in very dangerous and critical times,” he added.

When asked if Trump could try to block Thune, Mullin said he “doesn’t know.”

“President Trump and I had a really good conversation last week. My advice to President Trump, which — President Trump’s his own man — he’s going to make it his decision, and he does a good job in that — is to stay out of the race, because it’s a lose-lose situation,” Mullin said. “He needs to work … with whatever leader is there. And let me tell you, whatever leader is there understands that they’re going to have to work with President Trump, too.”