John Thune Elected Senate GOP Leader—Despite Musk’s Push For Rick Scott

 

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., arrives for the Senate Republican leadership elections at the U.S. Capitol on November 13, 2024 in Washington, DC

Republicans in the Senate elected Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., majority leader Wednesday, rejecting MAGA-backed candidate Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and a third contender, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, making Thune the first new Senate GOP leader in 18 years after Republicans regained control of the upper chamber in last week’s election.

Key Facts

Scott was eliminated on the first ballot after getting the fewest amount of votes, and Thune won on the second in a 29-24 vote, according to multiple reports.

The election was conducted Wednesday by secret ballot after Republicans won control of the upper chamber, 53-47, last week.

Thune replaces Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the longest-serving party leader in Senate history who announced his retirement from the post in February.

Thune and Cornyn, two establishment Republicans who are close allies of McConnell, were widely considered his most likely successors, but Scott emerged earlier this year as an insurgent candidate and racked up endorsements from President-elect Donald Trump’s allies over the past week, including Elon Musk and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., though Trump did not weigh in on the contest.

What To Watch For

Republicans are likely to secure a “trifecta,” after Trump won Tuesday’s election and the GOP is just two seats away from retaining control of the House. The unified government will make it easier for Republicans to move on their agenda, a stark shift from the dynamics of the 118th Congress when the Democrat-controlled Senate and the Republican-led House resulted in a frequent legislative stalemate.

Key Background

Thune, 63 is a 20-year Senate veteran who has served as GOP minority whip, the No. 2 GOP position in the Senate, since 2019. While Thune endorsed Trump’s most recent campaign, he criticized him in the wake of the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, and breaks with him on several key issues. Thune has supported aiding Ukraine in its war with Russia and has been critical of Trump’s proposal for steep tariffs, calling it a “recipe for increased inflation” in August, echoing many experts who say they could have negative impacts on the economy. Trump did not endorse a candidate in the race, but introduced a litmus test over the weekend when he called on the incoming leader to agree to “recess appointments,” which would allow him to make temporary cabinet and judicial appointments without Senate approval when the upper chamber is not in session. Thune said in a statement the Senate must “quickly and decisively” act to confirm nominees and that “all options are on the table to make that happen, including recess appointments,” but stopped short of giving a full-throated endorsement. Cornyn made a similar statement, but Scott was the only of the three contenders to express unwavering support for Trump’s demand, tweeting “100% agree.”