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WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz plans to vote for fellow right-wing firebrand Sen. Rick Scott of Florida over his fellow Texan Sen. John Cornyn to be the subsequent Senate majority chief.
“This morning, I’ll be voting for Rick Scott for GOP Leader, as I did two years ago. In 2022, I helped lead the charge for Rick against McConnell & I’m proud to stand with him again,” Cruz posted on social media. “For 12 yrs, I’ve been unequivocal that we need to change GOP Leadership—and now we finally will.”
Cruz made the announcement lower than an hour earlier than Republican senators have been scheduled to vote for his or her subsequent chief to interchange longtime GOP Chief Mitch McConnell. Cornyn, a longtime ally of McConnell serving as his whip from 2013 to 2019, has lengthy signaled his need to develop into the subsequent chief. He’s working in opposition to Scott, who beforehand served as chair of the Nationwide Republican Senatorial Committee, and the present Republican whip, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, one other McConnell acolyte.
The election will go to a runoff if nobody secures a majority within the first spherical of voting. It’s doable for senators to change their votes between rounds. The vote will likely be performed by secret poll amongst senators-elect and present senators who will serve within the subsequent Congress.
Cruz has lengthy beefed with McConnell, lamenting his strict management over the higher chamber and his aversion to Cruz’s extra bombastic techniques. Cruz has additionally expressed frustration with McConnell’s unwillingness to again extra right-wing candidates in Republican primaries and for refusing to spend money on his costly reelection marketing campaign this yr in opposition to Democrat Colin Allred.
Cruz blamed McConnell for Republicans not taking management of the Senate in 2022. That yr, Scott challenged McConnell for chief, posing the primary ever actual problem to McConnell’s management. Cruz voted for Scott on the time.
McConnell introduced earlier this yr that he wouldn’t search one other time period main the get together, ending his 17-year tenure. He’s the longest serving get together chief within the historical past of the U.S. Senate. The opening led to the primary aggressive, open marketing campaign for GOP chief in many years (previously, senators made it clear who would win nearly all of votes earlier than the election).
Cornyn has courted his friends citing his many years fundraising for his fellow Republicans, together with elevating almost $33 million for Republican candidates and incumbents this election cycle. He campaigned with Cruz and gave him greater than $500,000 in what was finally probably the most costly Senate races in Texas historical past.
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Voting FAQ: 2024 Elections
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When is the subsequent election? What dates do I must know?
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What’s on the poll for the final election?
Decrease-level judges and native county workplaces will even seem on the poll:
– Numerous district judges, together with on felony and household courts
– County Courts at Regulation
– Justices of the Peace
– District Attorneys
– County Attorneys
– Sheriffs
– Constables
– Tax Assessor-Collectors -
How do I be certain I’m registered to vote?
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What if I missed the voter registration deadline?
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What can I do if I’ve questions on voting?
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