LANDER (WNE) — Wyoming’s senior Sen. John Barrasso won’t seek to replace Mitch McConnell as Senate Republican leader. 

Instead, he’ll bid for the Republican whip position, the second-highest Senate position in the party. 

Barrasso announced his run for whip Tuesday morning, less than a week after McConnell made public his decision to step down as minority leader. If Barrasso wins, he’ll serve as the assistant to McConnell’s replacement. 

Barrasso’s current role as the Senate Republican conference chair makes him the third-highest ranking member of the party. 

Several other high-profile party members have touted Barrasso to ascend to the top spot, including Wyoming junior Senator Cynthia Lumis. 

“I have had time to reflect on how I might best serve the Republican Conference,” Barrasso said Tuesday. “After a lot of thought, I will ask my colleagues for their support … as the assistant Republican leader.”

With Barrasso taking a backseat, current Whip Sen. John Thune of South Dakota and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas became the go-to front-runners in the race to lead the Senate Republican Conference. 

Together, Barrasso, Thune, and Cornyn are known as the “three Johns” – a rising core of influence within the party with nearly 60 years of Senate experience between them. 

There is still time for other candidates to pursue the roles of Republican leader and whip. A closed-door caucus will decide both elections in November.