Dem
51
GOP
49
Speaking of Steve Daines, Donald Trump is trying very hard to get the Senator to declare his candidacy to succeed Mitch McConnell as Republican leader in the Senate. Trump already had a lapdog in the race, in the person of Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), but apparently that wasn't enough for the former president. He wants a lap dog who owes his very job to Trump, not unlike the situation in the House. Daines has yet to make a commitment either way.
Trump's arm-twisting did have one effect, however. Barrasso saw the writing on the wall, and recognized he wasn't going to have the Donald's full-throated support, and so dropped out of the leadership race. Instead, he will run for Senate whip, a job that is open because current whip John Thune (R-SD) is both term-limited and is running for a promotion to the top job. Per Republican Party rules, a person cannot run for multiple posts at once. The whip position is much more a sure thing for Barrasso, and it comes with cool perks like a prime office in the Capitol building and a security detail. He can always run for leader in 4-6 years, if he still wants it (he'll be 75-77 by then, which is youthful by U.S. Senate standards).
No matter what Daines does, two-thirds of the most popular Johns are definitely available. Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and John Cornyn (R-TX) are already in the race to replace McConnell. Daines could join in the fun if he wants to, but even with Trump's endorsement, he would be an underdog (underturtle isn't actually a word.) (Z)