Senator John Thune of South Dakota will succeed Mitch McConnell as the party’s leader in the chamber. Mr. Biden hosted his successor at the White House, a courtesy Mr. Trump did not extend to him after losing in 2020.

But like the president-elect, Rick Scott could be in a position to push the country sharply to the right if Republicans in the U.S. Senate elect him as their leader on Wednesday. Scott, 71, is a relative newcomer to the Senate who lacks leadership experience,

Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott makes his case to his fellow GOP senators in the race for Majority Leader: SEN. RICK SCOTT: I'm very optimistic, I believe I'm going to win. Thune and Cornyn are friends.

U.S. Senator Rick Scott was eliminated in the first ballot in the contest for Senate majority leader, according to a source.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz announced Wednesday he was backing Rick Scott of Florida over fellow Texan John Cornyn in the vote for the next Senate majority leader. In a post of X, Cruz said he believed Senate Republicans needed a change in leadership.

Cruz made the announcement less than an hour before Republican senators were scheduled to vote for their next leader to replace longtime GOP leader Mitch McConnell.