Cornyn’s Record-Breaking Fundraising Earns Him Leadership Contender Status

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) has raised a staggering $18.3 million during the current election cycle to support Republican Senate incumbents and candidates in their bids, surpassing fellow GOP senator John Thune of South Dakota as both men compete for the position of next Senate Republican leader following Mitch McConnell’s announcement that he would be stepping down from his role this November. The forthcoming post will entail responsibility for overseeing political and legislative strategy, heading up a super PAC (the Senate Leadership Fund) formerly run by current Senator McConnell himself as well as guiding the National Republican Senatorial Committee – the main campaign arm of the Senate GOP – in addition to identifying key candidates during future cycles. Cornyn has raised almost $5.6 million this quarter, with these figures being the most substantial sum he’s garnered throughout his 15-year tenure as a top fundraiser for Republican senators (second only to McConnell). Brian Walsh – former staffer of Sen. Cornyn – emphasized that “other than current leader Mitch McConnell, there is no one who has worked harder and longer or raised more money for Republican senators” than John Cornyn, owing largely in part to his tenure as a campaign chairperson and whip at the NRSC during previous cycles. Thune – currently ranked second among Senate Republicans on seniority rankings after McConnell himself – has so far secured $13.1 million from political backers with fundraisers extending over states that span both coasts, including Washington D.C., and beyond; this figure makes him the NRSC’s second-highest benefactor behind Steve Daines (MT). As of yet, it remains unclear who will ultimately emerge victorious in the leadership race as votes are typically cast via secret ballot – a fact that adds to its inherent uncertainty. Other factors may also come into play for senators considering their options over the coming months; however, some observers suggest Cornyn’s legislative background could be seen by others as an Achilles heel due in part to his role in pushing through bipartisan gun legislation back in 2013 – a stance that may have cost him support from more conservative members of Congress. Walsh dismissed this line of criticism, though; stating “What [Cornyn] did was take a tough vote and took a politically volatile issue off the table for the good of the conference.” He added: “[Senator Cornyn’s] consistently had one of the top ratings on Second Amendment issues in the Conference. He is the primary sponsor of constitutional carry in the Senate, so I think that those are his fellow Senators – they know his record on these kinds of things; it’s not something folks should be concerned about.”