Rick Scott won’t commit to backing Thune for GOP leader: ‘Let’s see who is going to run’

Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), who has mounted two bids for Senate Republican leader, says he is undecided on whether to support Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) if he runs for another term leading his conference.“We’re going to have a race again in November,” Scott said on the Charlie Kirk Show on Friday. “I don’t know if Thune will run. I don’t know who’s going to run. When they run, I’m going to listen to everybody. I want somebody that’s going to get things done.”His comments were spurred by a Bloomberg interview, during which Scott reiterated that he would not challenge Thune in November, as he did before Thune succeeded retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to the top leadership post in 2024. Tuesday’s story reported that Scott was backing Thune, leading hosts on the Charlie Kirk Show to ask whether Scott had committed to vote for him in the conference’s closed-door elections this fall.“Absolutely not,” Scott replied. “Let’s see who’s going to run. I assume he is going to run for reelection, and we’ll see who else runs.”In the Bloomberg interview, Scott said, “If someone decides to run, I’ll make a decision then, but I support John.”His neutrality comes as Thune navigates backlash over the Senate’s inability to pass the SAVE America Act, a voter ID and proof-of-citizenship bill that has stalled due to the filibuster and GOP reluctance to sidestep it.Scott is among those Republicans who think the 60-vote threshold should be eliminated, although his conference is sharply split on that question and whether to pursue a workaround known as a talking filibuster.Scott expressed frustration over the impasse on Friday, telling the hosts that he also wishes Republicans would take more steps to address the national debt while they hold unified control of Washington.But Scott in recent months has also been complimentary of Thune, who has a more input-driven leadership style than McConnell, and acknowledged he has a “hard job.” Scott challenged McConnell when the latter was still GOP leader in 2022.JIM JORDAN FANS LEADERSHIP BID SPECULATION AT TEXAS MIDTERM CONVENTIONThune told Punchbowl News this week that he “anticipates” he will run for another term as GOP leader but caveated that his decision might depend on the outcome of the midterm elections.Republicans are narrow favorites to hold the Senate, but could find themselves in the minority if a blue wave materializes for Democrats on election night.