Senate Minority Leader John Thune will become the new Republican Senate Majority Leader and the Senate Majority Leader in the new Congress.
He will succeed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in January, the longest-serving leader in Senate history.
Officials told Fox News Digital that no candidate achieved a majority in the initial secret ballot held Wednesday morning in the Old Senate Chamber. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) received the fewest votes and was eliminated from the race. The second secret vote was between Thun and Cornyn.
In the second round, Thune received 29 votes to Cornyn’s 24 votes, according to Thune’s office.
Republicans will meet behind closed doors on Wednesday to choose McConnell’s successor.
The new Senate Republican leader was chosen Wednesday. (Reuters)
Each candidate gave their final speeches to their fellow Republican senators late Tuesday night at a forum hosted by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah).
Mr. Scott came out of the session with two new public endorsements from Mr. Lee and Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). During the debate, Blackburn spoke about how to give conservatives a more meaningful voice in the Senate and immediately implement President Trump’s mass deportation campaign, sources told Fox News Digital. They asked multiple questions, including “specific details about the method.”
Rick Scott receives new Senate support from candidate forum on eve of leadership election
Mr Blackburn endorsed Mr Scott after the forum. (Reuters/Mike Seeger)
Still, one expert told Fox News Digital that Scott’s proposal didn’t sit well with everyone. “Mr. Scott’s comments did little to impress or upset members,” they said. “He focused more on his time as a businessman than his priorities in the Senate.”
John Thune wins two more endorsements in Republican leadership race to succeed McConnell
Mr. Scott has received numerous high-profile endorsements from outside celebrities. (Reuters)
Prior to the election, Mr. Thune spoke with Sens. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Mike Rounds, RS.D., Kevin Cramer, RN.D., and John Fox News Digital has received public support from Hoeven, R.N.D., one source confirmed, and National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman Steve Daines (R-Mont.) reported that he had privately encouraged other senators to support Thun.
Scott has the highest public support, ahead of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), and Sen. Rand Paul. (R-Ky.), Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Marco Rubio, R-Florida, also support him.
Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego defeats Kari Lake in Arizona Senate seat race
The new leader will replace Mr. McConnell. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Mr. Cornyn received only one public endorsement from Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri).
Most Republican senators did not say in advance who they would vote for.
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Mr. Rubio and Mr. Hagerty gave the two nomination speeches for Mr. Scott, and Mr. Daines and Mr. Lowndes gave speeches for Mr. Thune. It is unclear who gave Cornyn’s nomination speech.
A new leader is expected to assume the role in January.
