Cory Gardner Joins Ranks of Senate GOP Leadership

Sen. Cory Gardner joined the ranks of Senate GOP leadership on Wednesday as Republicans voted to retain most of their principals for the 115th Congress.

The Colorado Republican joins the following sitting members of leadership:

• Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky
• Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas
• Republican Conference Chairman John Thune of South Dakota
• Republican Policy Committee Chairman John Barrasso of Wyoming
• Republican Conference Vice Chairman Roy Blunt of Missouri

Gardner is the only new member of the team, and the cat has been out of the bag on that appointment for about a week. He’ll take the reins of the National Republican Senatorial Committee from Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi for the 2018 election cycle.

McConnell thanked voters re-electing a Republican majority in the Senate.

“It’s an honor to be chosen once again by my colleagues to continue serving as leader,” McConnell said during a floor speech Wednesday. “I know I speak for every Republican senator in expressing gratitude to the American people for entrusting us with this new majority.”

While the leadership slate is set for the next Congress, committee assignments haven’t been announced. Those posts haven’t been finalized yet, according to a McConnell aide.

Jon Reid contributed.