IT'S THUNE: South Dakota Senator to Replace McConnell as GOP Leader, Wins Secret Ballot

According to Fox News, Senate Republicans have voted to appoint South Dakota Senator John Thune as the new GOP Leader in the Senate. In January, he will succeed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) — the longest-serving party leader in Senate history.

Thune will serve as Majority Leader and be tasked with helping President-elect Trump pass his agenda.

From Fox News:
Sources told Fox News Digital that no candidate reached a majority on the first secret ballot. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., received the least amount of votes and was knocked out of the race. The second secret ballot was between only Thune and Cornyn.

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