Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) is about to transform from a rank-and-file Republican into one of the most influential lawmakers in Washington, D.C.
Next year, the second-term senator will become the third-ranked Republican as Senate GOP Conference chairman after ousting a sitting leadership member and will assume the coveted helm of the Intelligence Committee.
TRUMP CABINET PICKS: WHO’S BEEN TAPPED TO SERVE IN THE PRESIDENT-ELECT’S ADMINISTRATION
But his rise to power didn’t happen overnight. His pointed political takes, close ties to Trump-world, and his messaging strategy of selective media appearances but marginal reporter engagement offer windows into why his peers elevated his stature, according to senators and current and former top aides.
“It has been a rapid leadership ascension for Tom Cotton, but it’s been 10 years in the making,” said John Martin, a former Cotton legislative director and partner at political consulting and lobbying firm Capitol Counsel. “It’s those relationships he’s got with members that allowed him to.”
During last week’s secret ballot leadership elections, Cotton received the backing of 35 of the Senate’s 53 Republicans who will be in the majority next year. It was nearly double the 18 garnered by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), the fourth-ranked Republican policy chairwoman.
Since first elected in 2015, Cotton has forged alliances and relationships across the ideological spectrum of Senate Republicans from outgoing Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to anti-establishment firebrand Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). Cotton has also remained close to President-elect Donald Trump and his allies despite some policy disagreements.
BIDEN MISHANDLING OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS LOOMS OVER PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION
With Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) nomination to be Trump’s secretary of state, Cotton will become Senate Intel chairman, a sought-after role that will vastly expand his sway over the nation’s national security policies.
“Cotton is respected by his colleagues across the caucus, which is why he was elected with such a strong margin,” a source close to Cotton-world said, who was granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. “He gets along with Trump and his team and isn’t going to put up with any scheme from the deep state to sabotage Trump.”
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), a more centrist member who frequently disagrees with Trump or some of his more bombastic Senate colleagues, described Cotton as “rock solid” and “very balanced.”
“[He] has a unique ability to kind of dip into the two or three buckets of the members of the Republican Conference in a very effective way,” Tillis said.
A member of Cotton’s political team credited the senator’s “knack of keeping internal debates internal” as another key to success, despite the conference chair’s public facing role tasked with the party’s messaging. While Cotton frequently goes on the airwaves of friendlier networks like Fox News, his favorite line to reporters in the halls of Congress is “no comment” — no matter the question. (He’s encouraged his young sons to embrace the same tactic when they visit but has had varying levels of success.)
“Folks know how effective he’s been at messaging, and I think they want him to bring those skills to the entire conference,” the Cotton political team member said, who was not authorized to speak publicly. “If we’re going to win not just votes but win the debates, we have to be effective at getting our message out and having it resonate with the American people.”
TRUMP’S ‘NO TAXES ON OVERTIME’ PROPOSAL: WHAT TO KNOW
Notably, Cotton took himself out of the running to be Trump’s secretary of defense just prior to the internal Senate GOP elections. The move likely didn’t go unnoticed by colleagues.
“I think the other members respected him for doing that and wanted to recognize the choice that he made,” Martin said. “They understand that he’s willing to make sacrifices for the conference.”
Those close to Cotton pointed to what they described as his “decisiveness” and being the first to wade into contentious political issues, such as COVID-19 originating from China, condemning the Black Lives Matter riots after George Floyd’s murder, and combatting Iran.
Cotton will fill the shoes of current Conference Chair Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), who’s moving up a rung to be whip. Sen. John Thune (R-SD), the existing whip, was chosen as the incoming GOP leader to take the reins from Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who is relinquishing his leadership role after nearly 20 years but will continue serving his term as a rank-and-file member that runs through 2026.
“We all remember what it was like when President Trump was in office and we had Republicans in charge of the Senate,” Cotton said this week, flanked by the new GOP leadership team. “We had low prices, we had high wages, we had a secure border, we had a strong military, we had a peaceful, stable world. Starting on January 3, that’s what we’ll all be working to build again with President Trump, with [House Speaker] Mike Johnson, and the rest of the House Republicans on behalf of the American people.”
Cotton may very well be on a path to higher office, an avenue that he’s already previously considered.
He weighed a 2024 presidential run but ultimately decided against it, attributing the decision to his family life that includes two young sons. It was also likely a factor for whether to join the Trump administration, according to those close to him.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
But that doesn’t mean White House aspirations may not someday be back on the table.
“People always say that every single senator can see themselves running for president,” Martin said. “I wouldn’t rule that out.”
David Sivak contributed to this report.