On Wednesday morning, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) declared his support for Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) in the race for Senate majority leader. “I’ll be voting for Rick Scott for GOP Leader today, just as I did two years ago,” Cruz shared on X. “In 2022, I helped lead the charge for Rick against McConnell, and I’m proud to stand with him once more.”
For over a decade, Cruz has been vocal about the need for a shift in GOP leadership, and he expressed confidence that change is finally within reach. Cruz’s endorsement is a setback for fellow Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn, who is also vying for the leadership role. Another contender in the race is Senate GOP Whip John Thune (R-S.D.).
MAGA-aligned figures like Musk and Carlson back Scott’s leadership bid
With Cruz’s backing, Scott now has the support of eight senators from the Senate GOP conference, more than either of his competitors. Among those also endorsing Scott are Senators Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.).
Recently, Scott gained further momentum after a series of high-profile MAGA-aligned figures, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., voiced their support for his bid for majority leader.
