WASHINGTON—Senate Republicans on Wednesday selected Sen. John Thune of South Dakota as their new leader in the 119th Congress, succeeding Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who held the post for nearly two decades.
Thune was elected after two rounds of secret ballot voting by 29 to 24 votes against contender Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas.)
The third contender, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), was knocked out after the first ballot.
Republicans will hold a 53–47 majority in the upper chamber of the new Congress that was elected Nov. 5 along with President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance.
As vice president, Vance, 40, will serve as the Senate’s presiding officer—the third youngest man ever to hold the post….