SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) — The race for the next U.S. Senate Majority Leader is over.
And the winner is a man who grew up in Murdo, South Dakota.
South Dakota’s Senior Sen. John Thune was named the winner of a secret ballot by Republican Senators, besting Sen. John Cornyn of Texas and Sen. Rick Scott of Florida. Thune received 29 votes in a second ballot, according to multiple national reports.
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Thune received 23 votes in the first ballot, ahead of Cornyn’s 15 and Scott’s 13. Scott was eliminated from the second ballot.
In an emailed statement after the vote, Thune said he was “extremely honored to have earned the support.”
“I am beyond proud of the work we have done to secure our majority and the White House,” Thune said in an emailed statement. “This Republican team is united behind President Trump’s agenda, and our work starts today.”
Sen. Mike Rounds, of South Dakota, and Sen. Steve Daines, of Montana, gave nominating speeches for Thune.
Thune, who is 63 and will turn 64 in January, told KELOLAND News back in May he would seek to replace Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell. McConnel announced he’d step down as the Senate Republican leader in February.
Thune, who first joined Congress as a member of the U.S. House in 1996, has been serving in the U.S. Senate since 2004 after he defeated South Dakota’s only other Senator to serve as Majority Leader — Tom Daschle.
Applause greeted Thune as he arrived to his first briefing as the Republican Senate leader Wednesday.
Thune has promised to work closely with President-elect Trump despite differences the two have had over the years and will be a crucial part of the incoming president’s efforts to push through his policy agenda.
“We have a mandate from the American people, a mandate not only to clean up the mess left by the Biden, Harris, Schumer agenda but also to deliver on President Trump’s priorities. We will make sure the President and his team has the tools and support that they need,” Thune said.
“I’m excited to get to work with this team right away and I want to thank my colleagues who placed their faith in me to serve as leader,” Thune said. “And to those who were supporting another candidate, I promise to be a leader who serves the entire Republican Congress.”
Thune has held the No. 2 position as Republican Whip since 2019. One fellow Senator says Thune has gained a reputation as someone who is well liked and a respected communicator.
