John Thune of South Dakota Elected as Next Senate Majority Leader

Republican John Thune of South Dakota has been elected as the next Senate Majority Leader, marking a significant milestone in his political career. Thune, who has been a fixture in the Senate since his victory over Democratic Senate Leader Tom Daschle in 2004, won the leadership role in a secret ballot among GOP senators on Wednesday in Washington.

Thune’s election comes after serving as the Republican whip, the No. 2 role in the chamber behind longtime Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who is relinquishing his post. This transition occurs at a crucial time, as Republicans have regained the Senate majority, wrested control of the White House, and likely secured a majority in the House of Representatives and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Thune’s relationship with President-elect Donald Trump has been complex. Despite past tensions, including Thune’s call for Vice Presidential nominee Mike Pence to take over the GOP ticket in 2016 and his later vote to acquit Trump in the 2021 impeachment trial, Thune has since endorsed Trump for the 2024 election. This mending of their relationship is seen as significant given Thune’s new leadership role.

Thune’s candidacy was supported by several fellow senators, including Mike Rounds of South Dakota, Steve Daines of Montana, Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, and Kevin Cramer of North Dakota. His colleagues praised his leadership qualities, understanding of the legislative process, and ability to bring people together to find solutions.

In his new role, Thune has outlined key priorities such as border security, tax relief, military strength, and energy deregulation. He emphasized the need for Republicans to “roll up our sleeves and get to work” to fulfill their mandate to govern.