Senate Minority Whip John Thune will become the new Republican Senate leader and the Senate majority leader in the new Congress.

In January, he will succeed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the longest-serving party leader in Senate history.

Sources told Fox News Digital that no candidate reached a majority in the first secret ballot. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., received the fewest votes and was knocked out of the race. The second secret ballot took place only between Thune and Cornyn.

The senator received at least 27 votes from the 53-member conference during a secret ballot in the old Senate chamber on Wednesday morning.

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The new leader of the Republican Senate was elected on Wednesday. (Reuters)

Each of the candidates made a final pitch to their fellow Republican senators late Tuesday night during a forum held by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.

Scott left the meeting with two new public expressions of support from both Lee and Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. A source familiar told Fox News Digital that Blackburn asked several questions during the discussion, including “how they would give conservatives a more meaningful voice in the Senate and asking for specific details on how they would immediately implement President Trump’s mass deportation operation.”

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Blackburn supported Scott after the forum. (REUTERS/Mike Segar)

Still, a source with knowledge told Fox News Digital that Scott’s pitch didn’t convince everyone. “Scott’s comments did not make much of an impression on members,” they said. “He focused more on his time as a businessman rather than on Senate priorities.”

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Scott has received a number of high-profile endorsements from outside figures. (Reuters)

Before the election, Thune had received public support from Sens. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., Mike Rounds, R-S.D., Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., John Hoeven, R-N.D., and a source confirmed that Fox News Digital said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman Steve Daines, R-Mont., privately encouraged other senators to support Thune.

Scott had the most public support, with Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., Rand Paul, R-Ky., Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., are supporting him also.

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The new leader will succeed McConnell. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, file)

Cornyn had received just one public endorsement from Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo.

The majority of Republican senators did not announce in advance who they were voting for.

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Rubio and Hagerty gave the two nomination speeches for Scott, while Daines and Rounds did so for Thune. It is unclear who gave the nomination speeches for Cornyn.

The new leader will take up the role in January.