Senator John Cornyn is leveraging his fundraising capabilities in a discreet campaign against Senator John Thune for the position of the next GOP leader in the Senate. Cornyn, a former Senate GOP campaign chairman from Texas, has been utilizing his political operation to support incumbent senators and GOP Senate nominees in key states.
In the first quarter of 2024, Cornyn raised $5.6 million through his joint fundraising arm, the Cornyn Victory Committee, and contributed to the National Republican Senatorial Committee as well as directly to GOP incumbents and candidates. A source familiar with his political operation revealed that Cornyn has raised a total of $17.2 million for Senate Republican incumbents and candidates this cycle, marking his highest single-quarter fundraising since the establishment of his joint fundraising committee in 2021.
The fundraising race and the candidates’ connections with high-dollar donors are among the key considerations for senators as they decide who to support in the high-stakes race for GOP leadership. The next leader will be tasked with guiding the GOP’s legislative and political strategy, leading McConnell’s high-spending super PAC, the Senate Leadership Fund, and steering the NRSC, the main Senate GOP campaign arm.
However, the race for Senate GOP leader lacks a clear frontrunner as many Republicans remain uncommitted in the battle between Thune and Cornyn. Leadership races, conducted via secret ballot, are often challenging to predict. Furthermore, it remains uncertain if other candidates will enter the race.
Senator John Thune, the No. 2 Republican from South Dakota, has also increased his fundraising efforts, headlining fundraisers for candidates across the country. He has consistently maintained a substantial campaign account, with nearly $18 million in cash at the end of last year.
When asked about Cornyn’s fundraising, Thune responded, “He’s a good fundraiser. I’m a good fundraiser. We’ll all raise money. We all help the team.” A source familiar with Thune’s efforts revealed that no other senator has raised more money directly for the NRSC this cycle than Thune, except NRSC Chairman Steve Daines of Montana.
Meanwhile, a source close to Cornyn stated that, aside from McConnell, the Texas Republican has been the most proficient GOP Senate fundraiser since 2009. Cornyn’s fundraising efforts in the 2022 cycle totaled $20 million, behind McConnell and Scott, who was the NRSC chairman at the time.
Several senators expressed their trust in both Thune and Cornyn to expand their already robust fundraising operations if they were to become the GOP leader. Senator Mike Lee, a Utah Republican who has sparred with the current GOP leadership, acknowledged that fundraising can’t be completely ignored and “it probably needs to be part of a bigger conversation.”
Senators are considering a range of factors in deciding whom to back for the race, including their records, their leadership style, and their personal relationships. Some also pointed to the candidates’ relationship with former President Donald Trump. Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, an early supporter of Thune’s, said fundraising is important but that he backs Thune for other leadership qualities he sees in him.