When a position of power opens in Washington, it generally doesn’t take long for aspirants to go after it. So it is that Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., announced his bid for Senate Republican Conference chairman Tuesday, shortly after Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee announced he is leaving the position in January,
The Hill reports.
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| Sen. John Thune |
The conference chairmanship represents the No. 3 Republican leadership position in the Senate. Thune now holds the No. 4 spot as Republican Policy Committee chairman.
Thune’s decision to take a crack at conference chairman shows he’s unlikely to run for Senate minority whip when Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl abandons that position. Kyl isn’t running for re-election after his Senate term ends next year.
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