Cornyn Joins Race for GOP Senate Whip

Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl of Arizona announced his retirement Thursday, and already there are two candidates to take over his position as the No. 2 Senate Republican after next year’s elections. Texas Sen. John Cornyn, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, is one who will make a bid for the job, one of his senior aides told Politico Friday.

Cornyn

“Let there be no mistake about it: Sen. Cornyn is running for whip,” the aide said.

Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander, the No. 3 Republican in the Senate as conference chairman, declared his intention to run just after Kyl’s retirement announcement Thursday.

South Dakota Sen. John Thune also may compete for the whip job if he decides against running for the Republican presidential nomination.