Senate Republicans pick insider John Thune as their next leader
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Republicans elected John Thune to lead the chamber next year, opting for a well-regarded insider and shrugging off a public pressure campaign by supporters of Donald Trump to pick a loyalist to the president-elect.
The South Dakota senator’s victory is a sign the Senate could retain some degree of independence from Trump next year, when Republicans will control the White House and both chambers of Congress. Republicans will hold at least 52 seats in the 100-seat Senate and were projected on Wednesday to retain a thin majority in the House of Representatives.
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At a news conference, Thune said he would aim to confirm Trump’s nominees quickly and work to help him cut spending and bolster border security.
“We are excited to reclaim the majority and begin to work with our colleagues in the House to enact President Trump’s agenda,” he said.
Thune said he would not lower the Senate’s traditional 60-vote “filibuster” threshold needed to advance most legislation, which will require him to secure Democratic support much of the time.
Thune, 63, is seen as an even-tempered institutionalist and seasoned legislator who has close relationships with many of his fellow Republicans. He currently serves as the chamber’s No. 2 Republican and will succeed 82-year-old Mitch McConnell, the longest serving party leader in Senate history. He was first elected to the Senate in 2004. Thune prevailed over Senator John Cornyn of Texas, another long-serving institutionalist, by a 29-24 vote. Rick Scott of Florida, a close ally of Trump who was backed by influential outsiders like billionaire Elon Musk and conservative commentator Sean Hannity, was eliminated in a first round of voting. Scott’s bid made the normally clubby election an early test of Senate independence under Trump, who had not endorsed a candidate but called on the next Republican leader to give him leeway to bypass the normal system of hearings and votes to approve Cabinet nominees. All three contenders quickly signaled their openness to the idea.
