Three men named John: Senators begin jockeying to replace Mitch McConnell

WASHINGTON — The jockeying to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell as Republican leader has begun after the Kentuckian announced he will step down in January following a record 18 years in the position.

The list of prospects begins with "three Johns" — as they've become known on Capitol Hill — who are current or former deputies to McConnell and are widely seen as the frontrunners for the post. One thing they have in common: All have endorsed Donald Trump for president as the ex-president's influence with the Senate GOP grows.

Though Trump could be a factor if he decides to weigh in on the race, Senate Republicans will vote for their next leader behind closed doors in November. McConnell's successor will take over in January.

Here are the names in the mix for top Republican leader, including the three Johns and some non-Johns who may make a long-shot bid.

John Cornyn

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, became the first Republican to announce his bid Thursday, doing so in a statement. He said he hopes to fix a "broken" Senate.

“I am asking my Republican colleagues to give me the opportunity to succeed Leader McConnell," Cornyn said. "We will improve communication, increase transparency, and ensure inclusion of every Member’s expertise and opinion. We will restore the important role of Senate committees and reestablish the regular appropriations process, rather than lurch from one crisis to another. And we will return power back to our members; there will be no more backroom deals or forced votes on bills without adequate time for review, debate, and amendment."

Cornyn, 72 and first elected in 2002, served as McConnell's whip in the minority and majority from 2013 until 2019 when he was term-limited out of the post. As he said in his