“I’ll conclude by grinning at how Mitch’s critics keep giving him nicknames intended as an insult that he keeps adopting with glee,” Cotton plans to say, according to prepared remarks. “A few weeks ago, someone called him the Apex Predator of American politics, which may be the best yet. I nominate as our leader, the Apex Predator of the United States Senate, Addison Mitchell McConnell Jr.”
While control of the Senate is still up for grabs, both parties are not expected to see major changes in leadership.
On the Republican side, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D) is slated to be re-elected as whip, Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) as conference chairman, Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) as policy committee chair and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) as vice chair of the GOP conference.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) is running to lead the GOP campaign arm and does not have any public opposition.
For Democrats, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) is expected to serve as whip again, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) as assistant Democratic leader and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) as chair of the policy and communications committee.
Democrats will not select a chair of their campaign arm, though newly-elected Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) is a possible candidate.
Other committee leaders and party rules will be determined at a later date.
Republicans are headed into next year with a narrow majority. But if Democrats win two runoff races in Georgia on January 5, they will take back the majority with a 50-50 Senate and Joe Biden as president.