Senate conservatives are crafting a list of demands in anticipation of the GOP leadership race this fall, as the group looks to shape how the conference operates in a post-Mitch McConnell (R-KY) future.
The group is currently discussing changes to conference rules that would steer more power to the conservative wing of the Senate, according to a source familiar with the matter. Term limits for the Republican leader and changes to the amendment process are among the suggestions being floated, while members also want to press candidates running for the top post on how committee assignments are doled out and campaign funds managed.
The senators met on Tuesday to discuss the possible changes in a meeting that included Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Mike Lee (R-UT), and J.D. Vance (R-OH).
“We’re looking at what we need to do to make the governing model more collaborative, the leader more accountable to the conference,” Johnson said on Thursday, declining to discuss the meeting in detail. “We’re all dissatisfied with the way leadership has been all held within one individual, setting the strategy for the conference without really consulting the conference in any meaningful way. All that has to change.”
This isn’t the first meeting that has taken place among the group — the conservative lawmakers have been huddling to craft a set of demands they hope will guide the outcome of the race to replace McConnell, the outgoing Republican leader. Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and John Thune (R-SD) are the only ones officially running for the gig, but there could be others who jump into the race. Scott, for example, said back in March that he’s “seriously considering” a run following a failed challenge of McConnell back in November 2022.
The source mentioned discussions on the new Republican leader’s role in campaigns, specifically on whether or not they would get involved in Republican primaries, help direct funds from the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and continue to use the McConnell-backed Senate Leadership Fund.
Conservatives have long criticized SLF as undermining their favored candidates in GOP primaries over the years. McConnell has been focused on what he calls “candidate quality” – the notion that the party should focus resources on the Republicans most likely to win the general election, a strategy that often comes at the expense of further right candidates.
Senate conservatives want to know who will run the fund and whether or not the leader-to-be will seek input from the rest of the conference on decisions relating to it.
Following the 2022 midterm elections, there were open clashes between Scott and McConnell over their failed efforts to reclaim the Senate majority, with McConnell questioning Scott’s hands-off approach to running the NRSC during Republican primaries. Meanwhile, Scott panned the majority leader for not putting forward a formal GOP agenda should they win the majority.
The feud between the two was deep, with Scott going as far as to launch a challenge to McConnell’s leadership.
Some of those running for GOP leader have been open to the conservative demands. For example, Cornyn came out in favor of term limits shortly after announcing he was running for leader. Every Senate Republican leadership position is term-limited currently, with the exception of leader.
Conversations over the legislative process include when it is appropriate for the Republican leader to allow amendments to a bill. The group has been discussing whether to institute a rule that would allow an open amendment process unless most of the conference agrees to close it. A 41-vote threshold has been floated, but it has not been finalized.
“Why can’t we get 41 people to stand together to help each other get amendment votes?” said one Republican senator. “I think that’s the one thing that frustrates a lot of people.”
The request for committee assignment changes comes after McConnell’s decision to boot Lee and Scott off the Senate Commerce Committee, after Lee backed Scott’s leadership challenge to McConnell. Conservatives, who perceived the decision as retribution, were also frustrated at McConnell for refusing to grant Schmitt a waiver to be on the Senate Judiciary Committee — which was not allowed because his state counterpart, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), was already on the panel when Schmitt came to Congress.
Back in March, some of the conservative lawmakers announced they would call a special conference meeting to craft a mission statement that would seek to guide the race to replace McConnell. Cornyn had endorsed the move on X.
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Johnson mentioned on Thursday that “nothing’s been decided, a lot of things have been discussed,” but noted that much will depend on who “actually runs for leader” and what reforms they’ll embrace.
Spokespeople for Thune, Cornyn, and McConnell declined to comment on the meeting.