Senate Republicans have chosen John Thune, the long-serving senator from South Dakota, as their new leader in the House.

The 63-year-old won a secret ballot vote on Wednesday, defeating Senator Rick Scott of Florida – the preferred choice of many of Donald Trump’s most outspoken allies – and Senator John Cornyn of Texas. Scott was knocked out in the first round.

In a statement, Thune said he was “extremely honored” and “united behind President Trump’s agenda.”

The Republican Party won a 53-47 majority in the Senate last week, flipping control of the upper chamber as Trump secured his own return to the White House.

Thune will take over from Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving party leader in U.S. history, when the 119th Congress begins in January. McConnell, 82, announced earlier this year that he would step down after 18 years in the top job.

Thune will serve at least the next two years.

As Senate Majority Leader, he will be the primary spokesperson for the Republican Conference’s positions on issues, coordinate legislative strategies and manage business – including all legislative action – on the House floor.

His decision prompted expected bids from Thune, the current minority whip, and Cornyn, who previously served as Republican whip.

But Scott also threw his hat in the ring, and Trump supporters from Elon Musk to Tucker Carlson publicly backed his long-awaited bid in an effort to get senators to back him in the secret ballot.

Eight senators publicly announced their support for Scott, while Carlson and others urged Republicans to pressure their representatives to stand behind him.

But Scott ultimately won the support of 13 of his colleagues in the first round, with Cornyn receiving 15 votes and Thune receiving 23 votes, four short of the majority needed to win the race.

In the second round, Thune defeated Cornyn by a margin of 29 to 24.

Although Trump himself did not make public his views on the participants, Thune’s victory and Scott’s early defeat will be seen by some as a sign that Senate Republicans are reasserting their independence and electing a seasoned party leader who is respected by his colleagues. trusted.

Thune has raised more than $31 million to elect Republicans to the Senate this election cycle. This money helped the party flip three seats from Democrats last week and regain a majority in the Senate.

But he has long had an uneven relationship with President-elect Trump, from criticizing his “inexcusable” actions that led to the Capitol riot in January 2021, to initially supporting fellow Senator Tim Scott during the Republican presidential 2024 primaries.

However, Thune and Trump have spoken frequently on the phone this year. The new Senate majority leader also visited Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Over the summer he told the Associated Press that they had a good professional relationship and that, if both won their races, “we have a job to do.”