The GOP conservatives, led by Sens. Mike Lee (Utah), Ted Cruz, Ron Johnson and Rick Scott are all vying to be the kingmaker when it comes to the election of the next Senate Republican Leader.

They want to be involved in the direction of the Senate GOP Conference as McConnell steps down, especially in the hope of a Senate majority.

The senators are seeking political and procedural changes to benefit themselves and their fellow conservatives. JD Vance, R-Ohio; Josh Hawley, R-Mo. ), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) Rand Paul (R. Ky.) and Eric Schmitt (R. Mo.) more say in their conference’s leadership.

They want to do everything they can to stop the next Republican leader exercising the same power and control over GOP conference that McConnell exercised for the past 17 year.

A Republican strategist who is familiar with the discussions of Senate conservatives says they want to be a decisive voting bloc in the race to become the Senate Republican Leader, which will likely come down to the contest between Senate Republican whip John Thune (S.D.). Former Senate GOP Whip John Cornyn of Texas.

“From a conservative’s perspective, they have been preparing since McConnell announced that I would serve out the rest of my term. The strategist said that’s what they are thinking.

The source stated that “there will have to be discussions between the candidates and conservatives and I don’t believe John Thune or John Cornyn could take their support as granted.”

McConnell’s refusal to reveal his plans for the future fueled speculation among colleagues about whether he would run for a second term as leader.

He said, “I don’t have any announcements on that topic,” in September when reporters asked him about his future after he had frozen for the second consecutive year in front television cameras.

He said, “I will finish my term as Senate leader and I am going to complete my Senate term.”

Lee began Friday to lay out the concessions that he, along with other conservatives, will be looking for from the next president.

He posted on X (formerly Twitter), the social media platform, that the next Senate GOP leader must have the confidence to relinquish the discretionary control of committee assignments.

Lee’s remarks appeared to be directed at McConnell for kicking him and Scott out of the prestigious Senate Commerce Committee in the last year, after Lee supported Scott’s challenge against McConnell after the midterm elections in 2022.

Conservatives were angry at McConnell for refusing to give Schmitt the waiver to serve as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Schmitt was not allowed to do this because Hawley, who is also from Missouri, was already seated on the committee when Schmitt arrived in Congress.

The denial of Schmitt’s request was seen as a retaliation against the Missouri freshman for declaring in the campaign of 2022 that he would not support McConnell’s leadership.

Lee said on Friday that the next Republican leader should not let his political ambitions influence decisions about who to support during the contested GOP primary elections.

He wrote that the next Senate GOP leader should not fund primaries to ensure future Senators remain loyal to him.

Lee and Cruz were the leaders in calling for McConnell to resign during the bitter fight among GOP senators about the bipartisan border deal that McConnell had hailed as success.

Cruz said at a press conference on February 6 that a Republican leader would be best suited to lead the conference and advance Republican priorities.

Scott, on Friday, hailed McConnell’s retirement as an “important opportunity” to alter the direction of Senate GOP Conference.

He said that Lee and Johnson will convene a special meeting of conservatives to create a mission statement which they hope will help guide the outcome in the race to succeed McConnell.

Scott said on “The Charlie Kirk Show” that “We’ve called Ron Johnson, Mike Lee, myself and others for a conference and asked, “Hey, what are we going to be?”

Scott, a “former entrepreneur”, wants to create a mission statement that explains “what we stand for.”

He explained that after senators have discussed what they believe in, the next step is to decide who will be elected to represent them.

Scott has said that he is “seriously weighing” the possibility of replacing McConnell. He was a candidate for the top leadership position in November 2022, but lost to a vote of 37-10.

Senate conservatives are looking to align their conference with House conservatives who are more aligned towards former President Trump, and who are pushing for ambitious policy reforms and deep spending cuts.

Thune and Cornyn are generally respected by conservative senators. They have clashed with them both.

Thune is the GOP’s Senate floor leader since McConnell was injured in March last year. McConnell had a concussion, and he fractured his rib. McConnell was away for weeks recovering from a concussion and fractured rib. Thune served as the de facto GOP Leader.

Thune’s experience running McConnell’s legislative operations caused tensions with conservative colleagues. This was evident during the bitter battle last month over a bipartisan deal on border security, which conservatives called a “gift” for Democrats.

Cornyn has been a member of the Senate Steering Committee for many years. Senate conservatives use this committee on Wednesdays to discuss their concerns and priorities.

Some senators believe that Cornyn’s affiliation could give him an edge with conservatives, because Thune isn’t a member Steering.

Cornyn, however, disappointed conservative senators in 2022 by negotiating bipartisan gun violence legislation. Thune was among the majority of Republicans who voted against the bill.

Thune and Cornyn both increased their efforts in recent days to appeal to conservatives.

Cornyn supported conservatives’ calls to give rank and file senators a greater say in strategic decisions

He pledged on Thursday that “we will improve communication, enhance transparency, and include every member’s opinion and expertise.” “We will restore Senate committees’ important role and reinstate the regular appropriations processes.”

Both candidates tout their leadership records in implementing Trump’s agenda.

Cornyn was the Senate’s No. Thune was the No.

Cornyn endorsed Trump Jan. 23 and Thune did the same a month later.

Johnson, who joined Lee and Cruz to attack McConnell for his handling of Ukraine funding and border security agreement, has acquitted himself.