Mitch McConnell's reign as Senate Republican leader is set to end next January, capping off what will ultimately be an 18-year tenure — the longest of any Senate leader in American history.
Two men, among the "three Johns" who have long been viewed as potential successors to the Kentucky Republican, have already jumped into the race: Sens. John Thune and John Cornyn. But other candidates could emerge in the coming months, and the election isn't slated to happen until November.
Don't expect this race to bring kind of the public chaos that House Republicans have seen in the last year. The contest will take place behind closed doors, votes will be kept secret, and there's no such thing as a "motion to vacate" in the collegial upper chamber.
The race will, however, likely expose internal GOP divisions over the future of the party, and what it stands for. McConnell's penchant for bipartisanship and support for Ukraine aid in particular have rankled a small segment of GOP senators, and that cohort could be influential in determining who GOP senators succeed in November.
Here's what to know about the current and potential candidates.