Senate Republicans met behind closed doors Wednesday to vote by secret ballot, and have elected South Dakota Senator John Thune to serve as Senate Majority Leader when the new Congress convenes in January. Thune, currently the number two GOP leader, was viewed as the frontrunner leading up to the closed-door election. He replaces current GOP leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who announced in February he was stepping down from his leadership post after an 18-year tenure, marking the end of his run as the longest serving GOP leader.

Thune said in a statement: “I am extremely honored to have earned the support of my colleagues to lead the Senate in the 119th Congress, and I am beyond proud of the work we have done to secure our majority and the White House. This Republican team is united behind President Trump’s agenda, and our work starts today.”

Thune, who serves on the Senate Finance committee, was elected to the House in 1996 and served three terms. After losing his first Senate bid in 2002, he ran again in 2004 and defeated Democratic Leader Tom Daschle. Thune has held other posts in Senate GOP leadership since 2009 and chaired the Senate Commerce committee.

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