Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) is optimistic about the Senate GOP despite losing a bid to lead the conference on Wednesday.
Sen. John Thune (R-SD) won the secret ballot race to lead the Senate GOP over Scott and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) after two rounds. Thune defeated Cornyn 29-24 in the second round of voting. Scott, who was eliminated in the first round, said after the vote he wanted the position to “upend the status quo.”
“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,” he said. “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 also vowed to help Thune accomplish President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda in the new Congress and thanked Cornyn for a “great race.”
“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,” Scott said.
“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,” he added.
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Scott was reelected to his seat representing Florida last week, defeating Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell 55.6%-42.8%, and the GOP won control of the Senate during that same election.
Republicans are slated to have a 53-47 majority in the next Congress, which will begin in January. Scott’s Florida Senate colleague, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), has been nominated to be Trump’s secretary of state, meaning Scott will become the senior senator from the Sunshine State should Rubio be confirmed by the Senate.