Following two rounds of voting, Senator John Thune (R-SD) has been chosen as the new leader of the Senate Republicans, winning against Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) by a vote of 29 to 24.
Thune replaces Mitch McConnell, who held the position for nearly two decades.
Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), favored by hardline Republicans, was eliminated in the first round.
Thune now faces the challenge of uniting the party amid internal divisions and the return of Donald Trump to Washington.
Senator-elect Bernie Moreno (R-OH) expressed his support for Thune’s leadership in advancing Trump’s agenda.
Senator-elect Bernie Moreno (R-OH) said, “I congratulate Senator Thune on his election as Majority Leader of the Senate. Senator Thune will be instrumental in implementing President Trump’s America-First agenda and I look forward to working with him. I am grateful to all three candidates for their support in my election and their contributions to the Senate Republican caucus,” Moreno wrote.
