GOP Sen. John Thune of South Dakota has won the Senate leadership race, beating Texas Sen. John Cornyn on the second round of votes, according to three sources in the room.
The vote total was 29-24.
Thune will replace Sen. Mitch McConnell as the Republican leader in the chamber. McConnell is the longest serving Senate party leader in history.
In choosing Thune — who is presently serving as minority whip, the No. 2 role in GOP Senate leadership — Republicans are elevating a leader associated with the establishment wing of the party over Florida Sen. Rick Scott, who was championed in recent days by several prominent Trump allies, including Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy and Tucker Carlson.
In a Monday op-ed on Fox News’ website, Thune, making his case for the leadership role, urged fellow Republicans to prioritize backing Trump’s agenda, including the president-elect’s plans to crack down on immigration, bring down prices, increase domestic energy production and pass tax legislation.
“We cannot afford to take this coalition for granted. If we fail to deliver on President Trump’s priorities, we will lose their support,” Thune wrote. “They have trusted us with their votes. Now we have to roll up our sleeves and get to work.”
The 63-year-old Thune will be the first non-McConnell GOP Senate majority leader since Bill Frist of Tennessee, who held that post for four years before giving way to McConnell (R-Ky.) following the Republican wipeout in the 2006 midterms
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