Thune Bids to Be Senate GOP Conference Chairman

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.

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.