Speculation is abounding after Mitch McConnell announced he was stepping down from Senate leadership. After many decades the so-called RINO will no longer control Republican policy in the upper chamber of Congress.

Many are now wondering who will take his place. Several names have been floated, and most of them are top GOP leaders already.

Now, Donald Trump is wading into the discussion. He was hardly a friend to McConnell and no doubt is celebrating his departure. The former president revealed who he’d like to see take over. And this could send the election in a new direction.

From Politico:
Former President Donald Trump is encouraging Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) to run for GOP leader — a move that could significantly shake up the race to succeed Mitch McConnell later this year…

In a brief interview on Thursday, Daines said he’d “thanked” Trump for the encouragement and didn’t rule out a run for leader. But he shied away from making any firm commitments.

“I told [Trump] the most important thing I can do this moment is to make sure we have a Senate majority in November,” Daines said.

It appears Trump contacted Sen. Steve Daines, encouraging him to enter the race to become the new Republican leader in the Senate. According to Daines, he thanked Trump for his endorsement. The senator has not made any official announcement but said he was focused on helping Republicans retake the majority this election.

Republicans lost the majority after upset election victories in Georgia and other states. But more than a few seats are up for reelection this year, giving the party a chance to retake control of the Senate.

Should Republicans capture both chambers of Congress, they will be in a strong position going into 2025. It will take both the House and Senate to repeal Biden’s far-left policies. If a Republican is elected president, he will no doubt need all the help he can get.

Trump’s influence will no doubt influence the battle for the next Republican Senate leader. However, there appear to be more holdouts against Trump in the Senate than in the House. While he will be outspoken in his opinion, it is unknown how many Senate Republicans will heed his advice.

Key Takeaways:

• Donald Trump encouraged Sen. Steve Daines to run for Senate Republican leader.
• This comes as Mitch McConnell announced he was stepping down from the position.
• Daines said he was focused on helping Republicans retake the majority in this election.

Source: Politico