WASHINGTON — Republicans have elected South Dakota Sen. John Thune as the next Senate majority leader, completing a momentous shift in their leadership that elevates a top deputy of Mitch McConnell into a key position as President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House.
Thune, 63, is in his fourth Senate term and has promised to work closely with Trump, despite differences the two have had over the years, and will be a crucial part of the incoming president’s efforts to push through his policy agenda.
He beat out two other competitors, Sens. John Cornyn and Rick Scott , by gaining majority support from GOP senators in a secret ballot vote. Republicans are replacing McConnell, the longest serving Senate party leader, as they prepare to take majority control of the Senate with the 53 seats they won in last week’s elections.
Like McConnell, Thune hails from the Republican Party’s more traditional wing. He has held the Republican whip position — No. 2 in party leadership — since 2019.