John Thune has been elected Senate Republican leader to usher in Donald Trump's ambitious GOP majority in Congress after a private vote Wednesday morning.
Thune, 63, will replace outgoing Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky after the 82-year-old announced he would be stepping down from the leadership role.
He successfully fended off a left-field challenge from Sen. Rick Scott of Florida who had the backing of Trump's trusted advisor billionaire Elon Musk and other MAGA faithful.