Thune Reportedly Opposes Burchett for Senate Seat

Reports say outgoing Senate Majority Leader John Thune may be opposing Rep. Tim Burchett’s appointment to the Senate seat being vacated by Marsha Blackburn, who won Tennessee’s gubernatorial election. Burchett, a critic of Senate Republican leadership, said he heard Thune did not want him in the chamber because he would not follow leadership’s direction; conservative allies have promoted that resistance as a reason to support him. The claim remains unconfirmed: one report said Thune has not intervened in the succession process, and Blackburn is considering several candidates.