U.S. Sen. Rick Scott is making waves in his bid to become that chamber’s majority leader — even though his opponents may have better odds in a process that typically favors insiders.
The Republican from Naples received support from technology titan Elon Musk on Sunday and immediately signed on to a request from newly elected President Donald Trump to push through appointments while the House is in recess and aggressively courting the diehard Trump wing of the Republican Party .
Scott’s opponents for the position are Sens. John Thune of South Dakota and John Cornyn of Texas. Whoever wins will control the Senate and will likely help push Trump’s legislative agenda through the House, in addition to shepherding his appointments through the confirmation process.
But the winner would also have major influence in funneling federal funds back home for major transportation and infrastructure projects and for federal disaster relief, something hurricane-prone Florida often needs.
“Rick Scott for Senate Majority Leader!” Musk posted on X, the social media site he owns. The post was a response to Scott’s promise to push through recess agreements on behalf of Trump, who wants to quickly fill his Cabinet after taking office in January.
“100% agree. I will do everything I can to get your nominations through as quickly as possible,” Scott wrote on X in response to Trump.
What is a break appointment?
A recess appointment is an attempt to temporarily fill an administrative gap created by a president when the Senate is not in session. It is a controversial maneuver, however, because it avoids a Senate vote to confirm the appointed nominee, and is often used to introduce unpopular nominees or those who would face a politically turbulent confirmation.
“Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we cannot get people confirmed in a timely manner,” Trump wrote on X on Sunday.
“Sometimes the votes can take two years or more. This is what they did four years ago, and we can’t let it happen again. We need the vacancies filled IMMEDIATELY!”
Thune and Cornyn both said they would be willing to push through the recess agreements, but stopped short before Scott fully supported that option.
“It is unacceptable for the Senate to block President (Trump)’s Cabinet appointments,” Cornyn stated on X. “If they do, we will remain in session, including on weekends, until they relent. Furthermore, the Constitution expressly grants the president the power to make recess appointments.”
In a statement, Thune said “all options are on the table” to quickly confirm Trump’s appointments.
However, Trump has not endorsed a candidate in the race.
Scott: A deficit and debt hawk, pushing for a balanced budget
Scott, 71, has consistently tightened the federal government’s debt, which stands at nearly $36 trillion, and has made it one of his top priorities to reduce the deficit to eventually achieve a balanced budget. But his role as head of the Senate could still help ensure the Sunshine State receives federal largesse.
Thune, 63, and Cornyn, 72, have been in the Senate longer and have longer relationships with fellow senators than Scott, who arrived in 2019. That could tilt the odds in their favor as the Senate leader election process focuses on insiders.
But Scott’s relative “outsider” status may be more in line with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” base.
At the same time, Scott previously tried to become Republican Senate leader but failed. He challenged Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky after the 2022 election and was defeated 37-10. McConnell is stepping down from his leadership post, though he will remain a senator and leave the role open.
The vote will take place soon. The candidates will give their pitch to the members on Tuesday evening, after which voting will take place on Wednesday at 9.30 am.
To become leader you need a majority. If no one receives an outright majority in the first round of voting, the third seed is eliminated, putting the remaining candidates in a head-to-head battle to determine the winner.
Gray Rohrer is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at grohrer@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @GrayRohrer.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Trump-wooing Rick Scott shakes up U.S. Senate leadership race
