Florida Sen. Rick Scott is taking another shot at leading Republicans in the Senate.
Scott announced Wednesday that he seeks to succeed Sen. Mitch McConnell as Senate GOP in the next Congress.
Scott is offering himself as the “anti-establishment” candidate in the current three-way race that also features Sens. John Thune of South Dakota and John Cornyn of Texas, the Times added.
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“I believe now is a moment we need dramatic change,” Scott said in a letter sent to GOP colleagues announcing his bid. “I believe that our voters want us to use this leadership election to make a choice to upend the status quo in Washington.”
“I think we need to be way more transparent with each other and the American people,” Scott added in the letter.
“There have been far too many backroom deals cut in secret, rarely do things go through the committee process, and it’s accepted practice to not allow amendment votes to trillion-dollar spending bills. We are routinely surprised with legislation and asked to vote on it without having had any input or even time to review it.”
“Republicans all across America want the Republicans they elected to the U.S. Senate to stop caving into Democrat demands,” he added. “This is not an unreasonable request or expectation.”
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Later on X on Wednesday night, Scott continued, “Our country is in big trouble. Look at the border, the debt, inflation. Washington is broken. We don’t need minor adjustments, we need a sea change to make Washington work for YOU. That’s what I’m fighting for and why I’m running to be the Senate Republican leader.”
Scott’s bid drew one immediate endorsement.
Scott “is the leader the Senate needs! He turned around Florida’s economy as governor and we desperately need a principled conservative in the Senate who understands why it’s important to cut spending,” GOP Rep. Greg Steube of Sarasota said on X. “Senator Rick Scott is a tested leader. I fully support his candidacy for the next Senate Republican Leader!”
McConnell, 82, is the longest-serving Senate GOP leader in history, having taken over the post in 2007.
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McConnell said earlier this year that he would leave his leadership post once the current session of Congress ends, but he will finish out his current term, which ends in 2026.
Scott challenged McConnell for the leadership post after the 2022 elections. He lost to the longtime incumbent in a 39-10 vote.
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