WASHINGTON – Republicans elected South Dakota Senator. John Thune As the next Senate majority leader, they complete a significant shift in their leadership that elevates a top surrogate. Mitch McConnell A key position as president-elect Donald Trump He’s returning to the White House.

Thune, 63, is entering his fourth term in the Senate and has vowed to work closely with Trump despite their differences over the years, which will be a key part of the next president’s efforts to advance his policy agenda. The two spoke by phone shortly after Thune was elected, and the senator added in a post Wednesday afternoon that “Senate Republicans are excited and ready to work with the next president.”

Trump later congratulated Thune on his social media platform Truth Social. “He is moving quickly and will do an outstanding job,” Trump wrote. “I’m looking forward to working with him.”

Thune outlasted his other two rivals, the Sens. John Cornyn And Rick ScottBy gaining the support of a majority of GOP senators in two rounds of secret voting held behind closed doors. Scott was eliminated in the first round and the final vote between Thune and Cornyn was 29-24, according to multiple people who asked to remain anonymous to discuss the private meeting.

He replaces McConnell, the longest-serving party leader in the Senate, as Republicans prepare to capture the majority of the Senate with the 53 seats they won in last week’s elections. It was the first competitive election for the Republican leader in three decades and the first regime change for Senate Republicans since McConnell became GOP leader in 2007.

Thune’s election represents a major shift in the upper chamber’s GOP conference, as many senators are eager to break away from McConnell’s long and powerful reign. But it will also be a complicated test for Thune, as he will need to lead a conference often divided on policy, navigate Trump’s demands of the legislature and ensure the president wins on policy as he begins his second term.

“It’s a new day in the United States Senate,” Thune told reporters shortly after his election. He said most would work to strengthen border security laws, lower energy costs and reverse regulations they see as burdensome.

“We are excited to regain the majority and begin working with our colleagues in the House to implement President Trump’s agenda,” Thune said.

As the candidates tried to win the support of individual senators, all of their pitches focused on how close they would be to Trump. That was a tougher task for Cornyn and Thune, who publicly broke with the former president over his effort to overturn his defeat in the 2020 presidential election and the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. At the time, Thune called Trump’s actions “inexcusable.”

But in recent months, Thune has tried to mend that relationship by visiting Trump at his home in Florida and consulting with him on how to implement the incoming president’s agenda. Thune he told the Associated Press He views their potential relationship over the summer as a professional relationship. If they both win the election, “we have a job to do,” Thune said.

In his defense, Thune made clear that he would listen to Trump’s demands. When Trump X posted this on Sunday The new leader must “accept” Wanting to avoid confirmation votes, allowing him to appoint Cabinet members and others while the Senate is in recess, Thune quickly responded by stating that the Senate must act “quickly and decisively” to install nominees and that “all options are on the table.” to make this happen, including recess appointments.

Speaking to reporters after his election, Thune noted that “the Senate has an advice and consent rule in the Constitution” but that they will do their best to put their candidates into office.

“Time will tell how this will play out,” Thune said.

Thune’s victory is even more unusual because he was elected to the Senate in 2004, defeating then-Senate Majority Leader. Tom Daschle After arguing during the campaign that Daschle had lost his South Dakota roots during his years of Democratic leadership. Twenty years later, Thune will be the majority leader.

A well-liked and respected communicator, Thune was perceived as a leader for much of the year. Like McConnell, he comes from the more traditional wing of the Republican Party.

He is the former chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee and held the position of Republican whip — no. 2 in party leadership – since 2019. He took over for McConnell for several weeks last year while he was on medical leave; it was a move widely seen as an audition of sorts due to speculation surrounding McConnell’s future.