John Thune wins GOP vote to be next Senate Majority Leader

CV NEWS FEED // Sen. John Thune, R-SD, on Wednesday won the vote of the Senate Republican Conference to become the next Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate.

Thune, who has been the second-highest-ranking Republican in the Senate since 2019, prevailed in a secret ballot vote, defeating Sen. John Cornyn, R-TX, and Sen. Rick Scott, R-FL.

Scott, who notably had the backing of billionaire Elon Musk, was eliminated from the leadership contest in the first round of balloting. In the second and final round, Thune bested Cornyn by a tally of 29 votes to 24.

Thune has stated on multiple occasions that he and his incoming Senate Republican leadership team support President-elect Donald Trump’s policy agenda as well as the various nominees Trump appointed to positions in his administration, who are pending Senate confirmation.

“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 wrote in a statement following his Wednesday election as Majority Leader. “This Republican team is united behind President Trump’s agenda, and our work starts today.”

Also on Wednesday, the incoming Majority Leader told reporters that his Republican Senate leadership will commit to fast-tracking Trump’s Cabinet picks.

“The Senate has an advise and consent role in the Constitution,” he said. “So, we will do everything we can to process his noms quickly, get them installed in their positions so they can begin to implement his agenda.”

Thune had indicated the same commitment in an X (formerly Twitter) post the day before.

“As Congress returns to Washington, we must prepare the Senate to advance President Trump’s agenda legislatively and ensure that the president-elect can hit the ground running with his appointees confirmed as soon as possible,” he had written in a Tuesday post.

Trump congratulated Thune via a statement posted to TRUTH Social Wednesday afternoon.

“He moves quickly, and will do an outstanding job,” Trump wrote, indicating that he “looks forward to working with” Thune and the rest of Senate Republican leadership to “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

The lawmaker from South Dakota will become the first new leader of the Senate’s Republicans in 18 years, replacing Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-KY. 

Although McConnell is stepping down from his leadership role, he remains in the Senate and has not announced whether he will seek reelection in 2026.

Thune has been a member of the Senate since 2005. He upset Democratic incumbent Sen. Tom Daschle, who had served as Senate Majority Leader from 2001 to 2003. 

Therefore, Thune will become the first Senate Majority Leader to have defeated a previous Senate Majority Leader in an election.

Also on Wednesday, the Senate Republican Conference elected Sen. John Barrasso, R-WY, to succeed Thune as the number-two Senate Republican. 

Barrasso, who will become Senate Majority Whip at the start of the next Congress, is known to be a staunch ally of the president-elect.