Dan Bongino Weighs In, Endorses Florida Republican For Next Senate Majority Leader

With Republicans in control of the next Congress and current Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) stepping down from the post at the end of this session, the party is already thinking about which lawmaker might replace him.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) has emerged as a top contender and is busy building a coalition behind his campaign.

We have been given a mandate by the American people to support President Trump’s agenda and Make Washington WORK again.

I’m running to be the next Senate Majority leader to do just that.#LetsGetToWork pic.twitter.com/qwe9Oj4Cid

— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) November 6, 2024

As his campaign website reported this week:

Following Senator Rick Scott’s resounding re-election win, he has turned his attention to the race for the next Senate Republican Majority Leader – where he has committed to working every day to bring Florida’s winning conservative record to Washington and be a true ally to President Trump and his agenda.

Conservative commentator Dan Bongino, who previously served as a U.S. Secret Service agent, recently added his name to Scott’s list of endorsements.

Rick Scott for Leader.

— Dan Bongino (@dbongino) November 8, 2024

The statement attracted significant social media attention:

Dan Bongino endorsing Rick Scott for Senate leader signals growing support for Scott. It’ll be interesting to see how this shapes the upcoming leadership race

— Ranjeet kushwaha (@iranjeevdsBJP) November 8, 2024

He's the right guy… President Trump deserves a successful second term. There is so much that needs to be done and he needs a supportive majority leader in the Senate. Rick Scott is that man. No more RINOS!

— Rina Interiors (@Rinainteriors) November 8, 2024

Other prominent Republicans have also expressed support for Scott’s bid.

We all need to support Rick Scott (R-FL) for Senate Majority Leader.

Otherwise, it will be a repeat of 2016 & you’ll have Paul Ryan saboteurs.

Call your Senators & tell them they need to vote for Senator Rick Scott.

We also demand a public vote.

— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) November 8, 2024

As for whether President Donald Trump is on board with such a campaign remains to be seen, according to Axios:

Weeks before the election, President-elect Trump privately dismissed Sen. Rick Scott’s (R-Fla.) leadership bid, telling allies it is “not serious,” two sources familiar with what was said told Axios.

Why it matters: With Trump’s decisive victory and the Senate majority secured, potential replacements for Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell are hustling to get the support they need before the Nov. 13 vote.

• A senior Trump campaign official pushed back on Axios’ reporting, saying Trump “hasn’t weighed in on the leadership race and anyone who says differently is wrong.” 

Zoom in: People very close to Trump have privately signaled their support for Scott as leader, which the senator hopes could turn into public backing by Trump, three sources familiar with the dynamic have told Axios.

Here’s a clip of Scott making his case on Fox News earlier this year: