The campaign led by allies of Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) to raise his chances of becoming the next Republican leader is backfiring, increasingly alienating GOP senators and likely diminishing his already slim prospects in the race.
Scott faces competition from Senate Republican Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) and Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), both of whom are viewed as the frontrunners for the position of Senate Republican Leader, currently held by Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
With the vote just days away, Scott’s supporters, many of whom are strong backers of President-elect Trump, have launched an aggressive public push to secure his position. However, this strategy is backfiring.
Social media campaigns rally for Scott but create tension with GOP colleagues
A senior aide to an undecided Senate Republican told The Hill that the pressure tactics have only turned members off. “The level of efficacy in pushing them away is a 10 out of 10,” the aide said, adding that such actions were counterproductive to Scott’s bid. “This is the last thing you’d want to do if you were mounting a successful campaign for leadership.”
Scott’s public supporters include outstanding figures such as Tucker Carlson, Elon Musk, and Steve Bannon, and conservative social media has targeted senators supporting Thune or Cornyn, sharing a questionable and unverified whip list.
The vote, set for Wednesday morning, will take place via secret ballot.
A source familiar with Scott’s campaign called the push for him an “organic outpouring of support,” but clarified that Scott himself has not been involved in attacking Thune or Cornyn. “His focus remains on outreach and building a case for his plan to change the Senate’s operation,” the source explained.
Scott previously challenged McConnell for the leadership role two years ago, only to secure 10 votes against McConnell’s 37.
It’s unclear if Scott will fare better this time around, as he has secured endorsements from five Senate Republicans, including Marco Rubio (Fla.) and Bill Hagerty (Tenn.). However, Scott lacks the support levels that Thune and Cornyn have, with one Senate Republican predicting Scott will struggle to break 15 votes in Wednesday’s secret-ballot vote.
Scott’s tenure at the National Republican Senatorial Committee during the 2022 election cycle remains an important factor. Despite predictions of a Republican wave, Scott’s leadership saw the party lose a seat and end up with just 49 members.
This record has led some members to doubt his leadership potential. “It’s difficult to understand what works for leadership unless you’ve been in the Senate,” said one Senate GOP member, adding that Scott’s past leadership role was less than stellar.
The pressure campaign has also hindered Scott’s chances by essentially eliminating the possibility of an open-ballot vote. “That’s all but out the window now,” one Senate Republican said.
Additionally, a second Senate Republican noted this is the second time in a year that the MAGA wing has attempted to sway lawmakers, referencing Rep. Jim Jordan’s (R-Ohio) push to become House Speaker last year.
The final days leading up to the vote could still bring surprises, particularly if Trump decides to publicly endorse one of the candidates. Thune has urged Trump to refrain from intervening in the race. However, sources remain convinced that Scott cannot win.
“Members are looking for an alternative to Thune or Cornyn, but Scott isn’t the guy,” one Senate aide said. “His campaign isn’t resonating, and his ceiling continues to drop.”
