On November 13, the Senate GOP will select its leader and the next majority leader of the upper congressional chamber in Washington. The candidates for this position are Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.).
Here are three key points to know about each candidate:
Thune
1. Basketball Got Him Into Politics
Thune, 63, credits his entry into politics to his high school basketball days at Jones County High School in Murdo, South Dakota. After a basketball game in 1976, Rep. Jim Abdnor (R-S.D.) approached him at a department store and pointed out a missed free throw, sparking Thuneâs interest in politics. This led to a job offer from Abdnorâs office, and Thune ended up working for him for four-and-a-half years.
2. He Has Been in the Senate for Almost 2 Decades
Thune has been a Senator since 2005, serving in various leadership roles such as Senate minority whip, chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, Senate Republican Conference chair, and Senate majority whip. He also chaired the Senate Commerce Committee from 2015 to 2019.
3. Lost First Senate Race by Just Over 500 Votes
In 2002, Thune narrowly lost his first Senate race to incumbent Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) by just 524 votes. Despite this setback, Thune continued his political career and eventually became a prominent figure in the Senate.
Cornyn
4. Longest-Serving Member of All the Candidates
John Cornyn has been a Senator since 2002, succeeding Sen. Phill Gramm (R-Texas). Throughout his Senate career, Cornyn has held positions such as Senate minority whip, Senate majority whip, and chairman and ranking member of the Senate Narcotics Caucus.
5. Law Enforcement Background
Prior to his Senate tenure, Cornyn served as the attorney general of Texas from 1999 to 2002. He also has a judicial background, having served as a judge on a Texas judicial district court and as a justice on the Texas Supreme Court.
6. Led the Senate GOP Campaign, Finance Arm
During his leadership of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), Cornynâs party gained six seats in the 2010 election. Despite this success, the Democrats maintained control of the chamber.
Scott
7. Florida Governor
Rick Scott served as the governor of Florida from 2011 to 2019. During his time in office, he implemented various policies such as drug testing for welfare recipients, school choice initiatives, and raising the minimum age to purchase a firearm.
8. One of the Wealthiest Members of Congress
With a net worth exceeding $259 million, Rick Scott is one of the wealthiest members of Congress. His business background includes running Columbia Hospital Corporation and owning hospitals.
9. Led the Senate GOP Campaign, Finance Arm
Scott led the NRSC from 2021 to 2023, overseeing the GOPâs efforts in the 2022 midterms. Despite this, the party failed to regain control of the Senate, losing a seat in the process.
Please rewrite the following sentence so that it is clearer:
âDue to the fact that the market is currently saturated, it is difficult to find new customers.â
Rewritten sentence: Finding new customers is challenging because the market is saturated.
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