Senator John Thune Elected Senate Majority Leader

Senator John Thune of South Dakota has been elected for the pole position to succeed retiring senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

Transcript

00:00The Senate has a new majority leader.

00:03Senator John Thune of South Dakota

00:05has been elected for the poll position

00:07to succeed retiring Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky,

00:10who led Senate Republicans for 18 years.

00:13Thune, who has served as Senate Republican whip since 2019,

00:17took on a more prominent leadership role

00:19after McConnell suffered a concussion in 2023.

00:23Thune defeated Senator John Cornyn of Texas

00:25by a narrow vote of 25 to 24.

00:28While liked for his affable and humble leadership style,

00:31Thune earned the trust of his colleagues

00:33and announced his bid for leader

00:35shortly after McConnell's retirement announcement

00:38in February.