Thune wins secret ballot to become new Senate GOP leader, succeeding McConnell

Senate Minority Whip John Thune has been elected as the new Republican Senate leader and majority leader of the upper chamber in the upcoming Congress. In January, he will succeed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who holds the title for the longest-serving party leader in Senate history. Thune’s election came after a series of secret ballots, where no candidate initially reached a majority.

Sources disclosed that Sen. Rick Scott of Florida received the least amount of votes and was eliminated from the race, leaving Thune and Sen. John Cornyn as the final contenders. Thune secured at least 27 votes from the 53-member conference during a secret ballot held in the old Senate chamber on Wednesday morning.

Prior to the elections, Thune had garnered public endorsements from several senators, including Markwayne Mullin, Mike Rounds, Kevin Cramer, John Hoeven, and privately from NRSC Chairman Steve Daines. On the other hand, Scott had the most public support from senators like Ted Cruz, Ron Johnson, Bill Hagerty, Rand Paul, Tommy Tuberville, and Marco Rubio. Cornyn, however, had only received one public endorsement from Sen. Josh Hawley.

During a forum held by Sen. Mike Lee, Scott received two new public endorsements from Lee himself and Sen. Marsha Blackburn. Despite this, Scott’s pitch did not sway all members, with sources stating that he focused more on his business background rather than Senate priorities.

Thune, on the other hand, had the support of prominent senators who gave nominating speeches for him, including Daines and Rounds. The majority of GOP senators kept their ballot choices undisclosed.

The new Senate GOP leader will take on the role in January, leading the Republican party in the upper chamber. Thune’s election marks a shift in leadership within the party, as McConnell’s tenure comes to an end. It will be interesting to see how Thune navigates the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the Republican party in the Senate.

Julia Johnson, a politics writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, will continue to lead coverage of the U.S. Senate, providing insights into the new leadership dynamics and political landscape in the Senate. Follow Julia’s reporting on @JuliaaJohnson_ for the latest updates and send tips to Julia.Johnson@fox.com.