Politico and The Hill report that Texas Senator John Cornyn is set to become the Republican Party Whip in the Senate - which means he is second in command of the party, just behind the party leader - the minority leader - which will continue to be Mitch McConnell.
Without a race for the whip’s job, the Senate Republican leadership hierarchy will stay the same. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will keep his job and Senate Republican Policy Committee Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Senate GOP Conference Vice Chairman Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) are expected to win easy reelection to their posts.
Politico points out that Cornyn is up for re-election in 2014, that is certain to affect his behavior during the 113th Congress in order to prevent a primary challenger within his party. Expect him to tilt to the right - but this will be worth monitoring.
The Washington Monthly finds the appointment curious since Cornyn has been in charge of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and was tasked with leading his party's efforts in taking over the Senate from Democrats - but it he was unable to despite having several factors which should have made this easy. They ask if this was social promotion.
