Senator John Thune of South Dakota Elected Senate Majority Leader, Replacing McConnell After 18 Years

Nov 13, 2024, 05:22 PM

Senator John Thune, 63, of South Dakota has been elected as the new Senate Majority Leader, succeeding Senator Mitch McConnell, who is stepping down after 18 years in the role but will remain in the Senate. Thune, previously serving as the Republican Whip since 2019, won the leadership position in a secret ballot among Senate Republicans. He defeated Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Rick Scott of Florida, securing a 29-24 vote over Cornyn in the second round. With the GOP set to take control of the Senate, Thune will lead the chamber as President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House.