Senator John Thune of South Dakota has been elected as the next Majority Leader by Republican senators, succeeding Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Thune, a traditional GOP figure similar to McConnell, won the position over Senator John Cornyn of Texas in a 29 to 24 vote, conducted by secret ballot. Senator Rick Scott of Florida, who represented a faction more aligned with President-elect Donald Trump's MAGA movement, was eliminated in an earlier voting round after receiving support from only 13 senators.