Headline Roundup • November 13th, 2024
Senate Republicans Elect John Thune as Majority Leader
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Senate Republicans chose John Thune (R-SD) on a secret ballot to lead their new majority, rejecting Rick Scott (R-FL), the top choice of Elon Musk and other figures close to Donald Trump.
The Details: Thune led the first ballot with 25 votes, while John Cornyn (R-TX) received 15 and Scott received 13. On a second-round runoff ballot, Thune won the contest with 29 votes to Cornyn's 24. Trump had declined to endorse a contender, but Musk, Tucker Carlson, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Vivek Ramaswamy had all endorsed Scott as the best choice to help execute the president-elect's agenda.
Key Quote: Thune said in a statement, "This Republican team is united behind President Trump's agenda, and our work starts today."
For Context: Thune will replace Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who led the Senate Republicans for a record 17 years and through four presidential administrations. In late 2020, Thune coordinated opposition to some Senators' attempts to reject the 2020 election results, prompting Trump to call for him to be challenged in a primary.
How the Media Covered It: Fox News (Right bias) went into detail on the Senate Republicans' internal discussions leading up to Wednesday's votes, quoting an anonymous source who said Scott "didn’t do much to impress or sway members." USA Today (Lean Left) included in its headline that "Trump allies' pick" was rejected and pointed out Thune's new influence over confirmation hearings for Trump's Cabinet. The Hill (Center) went further into internal disagreements around the contest, noting Thune's "affable, humble approach" to leadership and Cornyn's promise to "give rank-and-file Republicans more opportunity to debate and amend legislation."
Featured Coverage of this Story
Reuters
Senate Minority Whip John Thune will be the new Republican Senate leader and the majority leader of the upper chamber in the new Congress.
In January, he will succeed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who is the longest-serving party leader in Senate history.
"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," Thune said in a statement. "This Republican...
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) has been elected Senate majority leader, setting the stage for him to replace retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.), who has held the top Senate GOP leadership job for the past 18 years.
Thune has served as Senate Republican whip, the No. 2-ranking position in the Senate GOP leadership, since 2019, and largely managed operation of the Senate floor after McConnell suffered a concussion from a fall in 2023.
Leah Millis / Reuters
Senate Republicans have elected Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., as the next Senate majority leader after rejecting public overtures from allies of President-elect Donald Trump who backed a different candidate.
Thune won in a secret-ballot vote of 29-24, beating out opposing candidates Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Rick Scott, R-Fla.
The 63-year-old Thune will succeed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has led his chamber's Republicans since 2007 and is the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history.
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