John Thune Elected Senate Majority Leader

Senator John Thune of South Dakota has been elected as the new Senate Majority Leader, succeeding Mitch McConnell, who stepped down citing age and health issues. Thune, who has served as the Senate Republican whip since 2019, won a secret ballot against Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Florida Sen. Rick Scott, with a final vote of 29-24. His election marks a shift towards traditional GOP leadership despite pressure from Trump-aligned factions supporting Scott. Thune's leadership is expected to bridge differences with President-elect Trump, focusing on advancing the Republican agenda in the Senate. Thune's victory suggests a potential balance between Trump’s influence and institutionalist GOP values in the upcoming term.