Senator John Thune (R-SD) was elected Senate Majority Leader on Wednesday, taking over from Senate Republican boss Mitch McConnell (R-KY). McConnell, the longest-serving Senate leader in history, announced that he would step down at the beginning of this year.&nbsp;

Also running for the position were Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and John Cornyn (R-TX). Scott, widely considered the most populist-aligned of the trio, failed to make it past the first ballot, and Thune was elected with a majority of 29 votes on the second ballot.

Thune is a sometime Trump critic, having issued a sharp condemnation of the president for his actions on January 6, although he voted against impeachment in the Senate trial that followed. His selection may be evidence for a Republican Senate that continues to act relatively independently from the rest of the party.

State of the Union: The South Dakotan prevailed over Rick Scott and John Cornyn.{ai:summary}<p>Senator John Thune (R-SD) has been elected as the new Senate Majority Leader, succeeding Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who announced his retirement earlier this year. Thune secured the position with 29 votes on the second ballot, after Rick Scott (R-FL) was eliminated.</p><p>Thune has a complex relationship with former President Trump, having criticized him following the January 6 events but voting against impeachment. His election suggests a Republican Senate that may operate with some independence from the broader party dynamics. #politics</p>

Thune Elected Senate Majority Leader

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