Wyoming Senator John Barrasso is opting not to throw his hat into the ring to succeed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, instead, he will run to become the No. 2 Republican in the Upper Chamber.
Barrasso had been seen as likely to run for the top spot in the conference alongside Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas).
In a letter to colleagues, Barrasso announced he would run to fill the whip post, which Sen. Thune currently occupies.
“After a lot of thought, I will be asking for your support and help so I might work for you as the Assistant Republican Leader,” Barrasso wrote, citing his work as Senate GOP conference chairman and elsewhere in leadership in recent years.
“One thing that is clear to me is that the Republicans in the Senate need to break from where we are now. We need change,” Barrasso said. “If elected to serve as your Whip, I will look for greater openness about our process and transparency about your choices. We must put consensus within our Conference ahead of deal-making among a few.”
Barrasso added that he will do everything he can to help the party ahead of November, including helping former President Trump win a second term and retaking the Senate majority.
According to The Hill, the Wyoming Senator notified Thune and Cornyn of his decision last week.
Sen. McConnell announced in a speech on the Senate floor last week that he would step down from his role after the general election.
“One of life's most underappreciated talents is to know when it's time to move on to life's next chapter,” McConnell told his colleagues. “So I stand before you today … to say that this will be my last term as Republican leader of the Senate.”
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