WASHINGTON – Allies of President-elect Donald Trump are stepping up to influence this week’s crucial vote to choose a replacement for Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who will be instrumental in shaping the upcoming administration’s agenda.

The pressing question is whether their efforts will succeed.

<p.McConnell, who has held the position of Senate party leader longer than anyone in U.S. history, plans to step back from his role in January. The election to fill his spot is set to take place behind closed doors on Wednesday.

However, several key supporters of Trump, including Musk, are rallying behind Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., for McConnell’s successor. Senators linked to Trump, like Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala.; Marco Rubio, R-Fla.; and Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., are also endorsing Scott.

The argument for Scott is that he has shown loyalty to Trump and would best represent the incoming president’s interests. Some supporters are highlighting the ongoing tensions between Trump and McConnell that intensified after the events of January 6, 2021.

“Voting for Rick Scott means putting an end to the anti-Trump agenda that Mitch McConnell represents in the U.S. Senate,” wrote conservative host Benny Johnson on X. “Thune and Cornyn represent a continuation of McConnell’s failures.”

Additionally, Musk recently posted on X, “Rick Scott for Senate Majority Leader!” while Carlson criticized Cornyn’s stance, saying it was “no different from Liz Cheney’s,” a prominent critic of Trump. Kennedy also chimed in, stating, “Without Rick Scott, the entire Trump reform agenda is shaky.”

Thune and Cornyn have been active in fundraising and campaigning for their fellow senators, earning respect from their peers. Their backers believe both would bring substantial experience and an ability to advance Trump’s agenda quickly.

.Still, Trump has yet to publicly indicate whether he will endorse any candidate in this three-way race, which will be conducted through secret ballot. If he chooses to intervene, it could greatly influence the outcome, although senators could also dismiss his preference.

.Here’s what you should know about each candidate.

John Thune

Thune, who is 63 years old, was first elected to the Senate in 2004. As the Republican whip, he is tasked with ensuring that his party has enough votes to achieve its objectives in the Senate.

Following the January 6 incident, when a mob of Trump supporters invaded the Capitol, Thune joined many senators in denouncing the riot and opposing Trump’s attempts to reverse the 2020 election results. Afterward, Trump called for a primary challenger against Thune, but no one came forward, and Thune won re-election.

Initially, Thune backed Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., in the 2024 GOP primary, but later switched his support to Trump after Scott exited the presidential race.

Since then, Thune has been making efforts to mend his relationship with Trump, including visiting Mar-a-Lago and having several discussions over the phone.

However, Thune urged the president-elect during a recent CNBC interview not to “exert” influence over the Senate leadership election.

As the vote approaches, many senators are keeping their endorsements private. To date, Thune has received endorsements from three colleagues: NRSC chair Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont.; Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D.; and Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla.

John Cornyn

At 72 years old, Cornyn has been a U.S. Senator since 2002. He previously held the position of GOP whip and chaired the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) from 2009 to 2013. Before that, he served as Texas Attorney General.

Cornyn publicly criticized Trump’s actions during the events of January 6, 2021, stating that he doubted Trump could successfully run for president again. Despite this, he endorsed Trump for reelection earlier this January.

While Cornyn started with a less adversarial stance towards Trump, he has since worked to strengthen that relationship. He campaigned alongside Trump in Texas and Nevada, and even visited Mar-a-Lago to discuss campaign strategies.

Currently, he has a notable endorsement from Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo.

Rick Scott

Rick Scott, at the age of 71, successfully secured a second term in the Senate last week. He was first elected in 2019, following his tenure as Florida’s governor, during which he developed a rapport with Trump.

Prior to his governorship, Scott led a for-profit hospital chain that was penalized with a $1.7 billion fine for defrauding Medicare and Medicaid, as determined by the Department of Justice. During his 2010 gubernatorial campaign, Scott claimed that his company was unfairly targeted but later acknowledged that he had made “mistakes” in his position.

Scott has emerged as a key figure among Republican Senators who challenge Mitch McConnell and have a closer affiliation with Trump. In 2022, he ran for a leadership role against McConnell but lost substantially, with a vote count of 37 to 10. Some of his peers express discontent over the GOP’s performance under his direction as NRSC chair during the 2022 elections.

As he vies for a leadership position, Scott emphasizes his strong connection with Trump, noting that Trump’s upcoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles, previously managed his gubernatorial campaign, creating a strong tie to the next administration.

“We must revise how the Senate operates to effectively implement Trump’s agenda,” Scott stated on Fox News. “I have spoken with my colleagues, and there’s a consensus that changes are necessary. The question is: Who will ensure we accomplish these goals?”

He has secured endorsements from Senators Johnson, Rubio, Hagerty, Tuberville, and Rand Paul, R-Ky.

Confirmation Demands

Although Trump has not yet indicated his intention to support any particular candidate in the race, he has begun to issue demands to those running.

On Sunday, Trump posted on Truth Social, stating: “Any Republican Senator aspiring for the prestigious LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to utilize Recess Appointments. Without it, we won’t be able to confirm individuals promptly.”

By calling for “recess appointments,” he is urging leaders to allow the Senate to adjourn temporarily so he can appoint interim nominees without the usual prolonged confirmation debates. This strategy was once employed by former President Barack Obama and led to a Supreme Court case. Trump also urged Republicans to block any further judicial confirmations while Joe Biden remains president.

The three candidates quickly reacted in favor of Trump’s suggestions.

“I fully support this. I will do everything possible to expedite your appointments,” Scott tweeted on X shortly after Trump’s post, which led to an endorsement from Musk for Scott’s leadership bid.

Thune expressed on Fox News that “everything is being considered.”

“It is clear: We must move swiftly and decisively to confirm the president’s Cabinet and other nominees, allowing us to fulfill our mandate. All possibilities are being explored to achieve this, including recess appointments,” he stated.

Cornyn added on X: “It’s intolerable for Senate Democrats to obstruct President @realDonaldTrump’s cabinet nominations. If they do, we’ll continue to work throughout weekends and beyond until they comply. Moreover, the Constitution grants the President the authority to make recess appointments.”