South Dakota Senator John Thune has been elected as the Senate Majority Leader, succeeding Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, who held the top Senate GOP leadership job for the past 18 years. Thune, 63, is considered relatively young for leadership and has served as Senate Republican whip since 2019.
He won the leadership race in a closed-door vote on Wednesday (November 13), beating Texas Senator John Cornyn by a vote of 29 to 24.
Thune will officially take over in January at the turn of the new Congress, when Republicans are expected to control the House, Senate, and the presidency.
Thune's election comes at a critical time for the Senate GOP, with the party considering wide-ranging legislation that would tackle tax cuts, immigration, and energy policy. Thune has not committed to imposing a term limit on the role of conference leader, meaning he's well-positioned to hold the job for years to come. He is not up for reelection until 2028, and South Dakota is solidly red.
In a statement released shortly after the vote, Thune said, "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."