Rick Scott falls short in Senate Leadership bid

Rick Scott. Image via AP.

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott’s bid to lead the incoming Senate Majority did not succeed.

The Naples Republican fell short in the first vote, a source connected to the process confirms, and Senators John Cornyn of Texas and John Thune of South Dakota advanced, with Scott eliminated at just 13 votes.

Thune prevailed on the second ballot.

The Senator took a philosophical approach in a statement after the vote.

“I may have lost the vote, but I am optimistic. I ran for leader with one mission: to fundamentally change how the Senate operates and upend the status quo so we can actually start representing the voters who put us here. When I announced, I said that we are in a moment where we need dramatic change. The voters confirmed that last week when they elected President Trump and Republicans took the majority in both chambers of Congress with a clear mandate,” he said Thursday.

“I want to thank my friend President Trump and the support I received from so many Americans from every corner of our country. I am truly humbled by the millions of Americans who supported my run and the many patriots who made their voices heard to demand change. While it isn’t the result we hoped for, I will do everything possible to make sure John Thune is successful in accomplishing President Trump’s agenda. I would also like to thank John Cornyn for running a great race.”

Scott, elected to a second term this month, pitched himself as the most likely person to get President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda accomplished.

“The bottom line is this: Do you support Trump’s agenda or not? If you don’t support Trump’s agenda, you’re probably not going to elect me,” Scott said Tuesday night on Jesse Kelly’s YouTube channel.

Cornyn and Thune have vowed to be staunch legislative partners for the incoming President, representing a break from the intransigence sometimes displayed by outgoing Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

Trump did not endorse during the current election, with reported doubts that Scott could prevail. He did back Scott’s failed 2022 bid to supplant McConnell.

With U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio reportedly leaving the Senate to become Secretary of State, Scott will be the Senior Senator from the state. Gov. Ron DeSantis will appoint his colleague, and Trump-adjacent figures strongly urge him to select Republican National Committee Chair Lara Trump.

DeSantis has yet to make a decision. He is in Italy on a trade mission, and his office notes that Rubio’s selection has not been officially announced yet, making an announcement premature.