Thune Favored in Race to Succeed McConnell, but Term Limits Issue Could Boost Cornyn

Who is chosen to head the Senate Republican Conference for 2025 could be as important a decision as who is elected president.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) (C) addresses reporters as (L–R) Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) listen in Washington, on Oct. 5, 2021. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) has the inside track to succeed Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) as Senate Republican leader, but that could change as support grows among notoriously independent GOP senators for term limits and related reforms in how their conference is led.

Mr. Thune has two announced rivals, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a former Senate majority whip under Mr. McConnell, and Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who challenged and lost to the Kentucky Republican in 2022.