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Rick Scott Gains Trump, Elon Musk Backing in Senate Leadership Race Ahead of Wednesday Vote

Nov 11, 2024, 06:55 AM

Rick Scott, the Republican senator from Florida, is mounting a bid to become Senate Majority Leader, gaining momentum with backing from allies of President-elect Donald Trump. Key Trump supporters, including Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and influential media personalities such as Tucker Carlson, are endorsing Scott over rivals John Thune of South Dakota and John Cornyn of Texas. Elon Musk has publicly named Scott as his top choice for the position and held a Twitter poll showing strong support for him. The hashtag #RickScottForSenateLeader is trending as grassroots supporters rally behind Scott. The leadership vote, set for Wednesday, will be conducted via secret ballot, prompting a push from the MAGA base and organizations like Club for Growth, which has endorsed Scott. Proponents argue that Scott will champion Trump's agenda in the Senate, with Scott himself stating, 'The American people gave Republicans a clear mandate to enact President Trump's agenda.' Polymarket prediction markets show odds favoring Scott to win the leadership race. Meanwhile, leaked whip counts suggest that Thune and Cornyn still have significant support among Senate Republicans, despite the grassroots campaign in favor of Scott. Some GOP senators, including Marco Rubio, have publicly endorsed Scott, emphasizing the need for new leadership aligned with Trump's policies. Critics of Thune and Cornyn point to their past criticisms of Trump, arguing that the party needs leadership fully committed to the MAGA movement. As the Senate Republican conference prepares for the closed-door vote, the contest reflects broader tensions within the GOP over the direction of the party post-election. Scott's supporters are urging constituents to contact their senators to demand a vote for Scott, emphasizing that the American people have delivered a mandate for Trump's agenda.