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Jimmy Williams
Sen. John Thune of South Dakota has been chosen by Senate Republicans to lead their caucus in the next Congress, taking over from Mitch McConnell after his record 18-year leadership stint. Thune, currently the Senate Republican whip, defeated fellow GOP Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Rick Scott of Florida in a closed-door, secret-ballot election on Wednesday. The win cements Thune’s position at the helm of a newly empowered GOP Senate majority, following the party’s recent victories in securing control of the Senate and the White House.
“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 said in a statement after the vote. “This Republican team is united behind President Trump’s agenda, and our work starts today.”
Thune, elected to the Senate in 2004, has steadily ascended within the GOP ranks, previously serving as Republican conference chair and as chair of the influential Commerce Committee before becoming Senate whip in 2019. His leadership election victory signals the party’s desire for continuity and institutional experience as it prepares to enact President-elect Donald Trump’s legislative priorities. Despite some disagreements with Trump in the past—particularly over the 2020 election outcome—Thune ran on a platform of collaboration with Trump to swiftly advance the incoming administration’s goals.
The leadership election saw Thune secure a majority after two rounds of voting. In the first round, Thune received 23 votes, Cornyn 15, and Scott, a prominent Trump ally, garnered 13, eliminating him from the race. Thune then defeated Cornyn in the final tally, winning 29 to 24, according to sources familiar with the results.
In his new role, Thune pledged to expedite the Senate’s agenda to support Trump’s policies, including a focus on confirming his Cabinet picks and swiftly passing legislation. “As Congress returns to Washington, we must prepare the Senate to advance [Trump’s] agenda legislatively and ensure that the president-elect can hit the ground running,” Thune wrote in an op-ed published on Fox News. “The Senate Republican majority will work with President Trump to ensure the Senate calendar allows us to confirm his nominees and pass our shared agenda as quickly and as efficiently as possible.”
Rick Scott, seen as the underdog candidate, ran on a platform appealing to the MAGA-aligned wing of the party, touting endorsements from prominent Trump supporters, including conservative commentator Tucker Carlson and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Although confident in his support among the party’s grassroots, Scott ultimately fell short in Wednesday’s vote.
Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., a supporter of Thune, highlighted the similar policy priorities between Thune and Cornyn. “There’s very little difference between them in terms of what they stand for,” Cramer said.
In addition to Thune’s election, Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming was elected by acclamation as majority whip, replacing Thune in the No. 2 GOP leadership role. The third-ranking position, Senate GOP Conference chair, went to Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who defeated Joni Ernst of Iowa in a close race.
As Senate leader, Thune faces the critical task of unifying a caucus with a range of views on issues like spending, immigration, and social policy while prioritizing swift action on Trump’s core promises. The South Dakota senator’s strong track record of fundraising and consensus-building is expected to help him steer the GOP majority through legislative challenges in the coming term.
