EXCLUSIVE TO FOX: Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas, achieved a significant fundraising milestone in the most recent quarter, as he gears up for the Senate Republican leadership race. He is aiming to combat challenges in succession to the current top fundraiser and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
Cornyn just concluded his highest fundraising quarter to date with his joint fundraising committee, the Cornyn Victory Committee (CVC), according to an insider familiar with his political activities. The CVC reportedly raised $3.5 million during the second quarter of 2024.
This brings Cornyn’s total in the 2024 election cycle to nearly $23 million. This figure encompasses his CVC contributions, the money he has raised for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), assisting candidates throughout Texas, and the contributions he has gathered for national Republican candidates.
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John Cornyn has reached a fundraising milestone as he pursues the role of Republican Senate leader. (Getty Images)
The Texas Republican has been the leading Senate fundraiser in the conference since 2009, only surpassed by McConnell.
He established CVC in 2021 in preparation for the 2022 midterm elections to support Republicans. During that cycle, Cornyn raised a total of $20 million, outpacing nearly all other Senate Republicans, aside from McConnell and NRSC Chairman Rick Scott, R-Fla., who is also competing for the leadership position.
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McConnell stated he will step down in November. (AP)
With several months remaining for fundraising for candidates this cycle, Cornyn has already exceeded that total by $3 million.
McConnell, aged 82, announced in February that he would resign from his party leadership role in November after serving as Republican leader since 2007, marking him as the longest-serving Senate leader in U.S. history.
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Thune, Scott, and Cornyn are all candidates for the Republican leadership position. (Getty Images)
Cornyn has established a reputation for his fundraising skills, which in turn support lower-tier Republicans as the party aims to solidify its standing in Congress. With McConnell and his associated fundraising entities generating around $400 million during the 2022 cycle, the next leader will need to rise to the expectations set by him.
Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., and Scott are also running for the leader position. However, there is a prevailing sentiment among Republicans that additional candidates may enter the race following the November general elections.
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Cornyn has increased his fundraising efforts as he aims for the leadership role. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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Thune, currently the second-highest ranking Republican in the Senate, has received endorsements from two GOP colleagues for the leadership position, similar to Cornyn. Thune has also showcased his fundraising capabilities, having raised $19 million thus far in the 2024 cycle, a source informed Fox News Digital.
Discussion among conference members regarding their next leader has sparked internal disagreements on implementing a term limit for the position, which McConnell has been strongly opposed to, according to sources familiar with the closed-door meetings of the conference. One argument put forth by McConnell is that having a lack of continuity in leadership could hinder fundraising capabilities.
