Who Will Be the Next Senate Majority Leader After John Thune?

Republican Senator John Thune of South Dakota has been elected as the next leader of his party in the Senate, paving the way for him to become the Senate majority leader next year. Thune, currently serving as minority whip, won the leadership vote 29-24 against Senator John Cornyn. As a key ally of Mitch McConnell, Thune will be tasked with shepherding President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda through Congress. In an op-ed, Thune emphasized the importance of supporting Trump’s priorities, including immigration reform, lowering prices, increasing energy production, and passing tax legislation. Thune also expressed support for Trump’s demand for recess appointments to fast-track his nominees. Despite a complex relationship with Trump, Thune, who previously called for Trump to drop out of the 2016 race, has made efforts to mend relations with the former president. Thune endorsed Senator Tim Scott in the 2024 presidential primary but ultimately sought to restore ties with Trump once it became clear he would secure the GOP nomination. Thune met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago and with members of Trump’s transition team, indicating a willingness to work with the former president moving forward. Thune’s election as Senate majority leader signals a Republican-led Senate that is eager to advance Trump’s agenda and work closely with the former president.

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