Senate Republicans elected Sen. John Thune (R-SD) to become the next Senate Majority Leader in a “secret-ballot vote.”

Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) was eliminated from the race in the first vote.

The three candidates included:

  • Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL)
  • Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)
  • Sen. John Thune (R-SD)

Thune defeated Cornyn 29-24 in the final vote.

Per USA TODAY:

Senate Republicans have elected Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., as the next Senate majority leader after rejecting public overtures from allies of President-elect Donald Trump who backed a different candidate.

Thune won in a secret-ballot vote of 29-24, beating out opposing candidates Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Rick Scott, R-Fla.

The 63-year-old Thune will succeed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has led his chamber’s Republicans since 2007 and is the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history.

The Senate majority leader is one of the most powerful people in Washington – and soon will have an important say over Trump’s agenda. Thune will have the power to set the schedule for the Senate, which has sole control over confirmation of the Cabinet, about 1,200 other high-level government jobs and a president’s judicial nominees.

“Honored to serve as the next U.S. Senate majority leader,” Thune said.

A closer look:

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“John Thune is Senate Majority Leader. He has a short window to show us he will support President Trump, fill his cabinet, confirm his judges, and pass his agenda. If he does, we will support him. If he doesn’t, we will work to remove him,” Charlie Kirk commented.

Fox News reports:

The senator received at least 27 votes from the 53-member conference during a secret ballot in the old Senate chamber on Wednesday morning.

Each of the candidates made a final pitch to their fellow Republican senators late Tuesday night during a forum held by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.

Scott walked out of the meeting with two new public endorsements from both Lee and Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. A source familiar told Fox News Digital that Blackburn had asked multiple questions during the discussion, including “how they would give conservatives a more meaningful voice in the Senate and for specific details as to how they would immediately implement President Trump’s mass deportation operation.”

Despite this, one source with knowledge told Fox News Digital that Scott’s pitch didn’t convince everyone. “Scott’s remarks didn’t do much to impress or sway members,” they said. “He focused more on his time as a businessman instead of priorities for the Senate.”

Prior to the elections, Thune had received public endorsements from Sens. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., Mike Rounds, R-S.D., Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., John Hoeven, R-N.D., and a source confirmed to Fox News Digital that National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman Steve Daines, R-Mont., was privately encouraging other senators to support Thune.

 

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