US Senate Republicans have elected John Thune of South Dakota as their leader for the upcoming term, favoring a seasoned insider over Donald Trump-aligned candidates, Reuters reports.
Thune, 63, is set to succeed Mitch McConnell as party leader after winning a 29-24 vote against Senator John Cornyn of Texas, while Senator Rick Scott of Florida was eliminated in the first round of voting. Thune’s election signals the Senate’s potential independence from Trump’s influence and reflects the Senate GOP’s preference for experienced leadership over Trump-aligned hardliners.
The vote occurred amid a White House meeting between Trump and outgoing President Biden, where both leaders committed to a smooth transition of power.
