South Dakota Republican John Thune elected Senate majority leader

(NewsNation) — Senate Republicans elected South Dakota Sen. John Thune to replace Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, who is stepping aside after 17 years at the top of the Senate GOP.

“I am extremely honored to have earned the support of my colleagues to lead the Senate in the 119th Congress and I am beyond proud of the work we have done to secure our majority and the White House,” Thune, who is in his fourth Senate term, said on X. “This Republican team is united behind President Trump’s agenda, and our work starts today.”

The 63-year-old won 25 votes for Senate majority leader, while Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, got 15 and Florida Sen. Rick Scott received 13 in a secret ballot, NewsNation partner The Hill reports. This meant Scott, a Trump ally, was eliminated after the first round of votes were cast.

“I may have lost the vote, but I am optimistic,” Scott said in a statement. “While it isn’t the result we hoped for, I will do everything possible to make sure John Thune is successful in accomplishing President Trump’s agenda.”

Thune promises to push Trump’s plans

Thune has been in the second highest-ranking position in Senate GOP leadership since 2019.

He promised to hold regular meetings with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to improve coordination with House Republicans, as well as with Vice President-elect JD Vance to stay in sync with President-elect Donald Trump’s White House, The Hill reports.

In addition, Thune agreed to host a Senate GOP issues conference in December where lawmakers can discuss strategies for advancing Trump’s agenda, and to prioritize bringing regular appropriations bills to the floor.

“It’s a new day in the Senate and a new day in America,” Thune told reporters Wednesday.

While Thune, according to The Hill, has broken publicly with Trump over his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, in recent months, the two have realigned. 

Trump spoke in front of Republican leaders in the House of Representatives on Capitol Hill on Wednesday before meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House. This is the first time he’s done so since winning the 2024 presidential election.

“We won it every way, all seven swing states by a lot,” he said in Washington at the House GOP conference.

McConnell called Thune’s election a “clear endorsement of a consummate leader.”

“The confidence our colleagues have placed in John’s legislative experience and political skill is well deserved,” he said.

On the Senate floor Wednesday, current Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, congratulated Thune on becoming his successor.

“I look forward to working with him. We’ve done many bipartisan things here in the Senate together and I hope that continues,” Schumer said. “I strongly believe that bipartisanship is the best and often the only way to get things done in the Senate.”

Senate GOP chooses leadership team for 119th Congress

Other members of the Senate’s GOP leadership team were picked on Wednesday as well, The Hill writes.

Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., is going to be the No.2 position in the  Senate GOP conference as majority whip.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va, ran uncontested to be the No. 4 Senate Republican and chair of the Senate GOP Policy Committee.

Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma is set to be vice chairman of the Senate GOP Policy Committee while Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton will be the Senate GOP conference chair.

South Carolina’s Tim Scott will be chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

NewsNation partner The Hill contributed to this report.