Trending Now
We have updated our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use for Eurasia Group and its affiliates, including GZERO Media, to clarify the types of data we collect, how we collect it, how we use data and with whom we share data. By using our website you consent to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy, including the transfer of your personal data to the United States from your country of residence, and our use of cookies described in our Cookie Policy.
{{ subpage.title }}
U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD) speaks during an interview with Reuters in his office at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., September 13, 2023.
Thune takes the helm of the Senate
John Thune has ascended to the top position in the Senate, replacing Mitch McConnell, who held the position for 18 years. In the position, Thune will be tasked with managing Donald Trump's demands, keeping 53 Republican senators in line, and advancing a complex legislative agenda.
In the near term, he will need to oversee the confirmation of Trump nominees – many of which are cloaked in controversy – through a tightly divided Senate, where he can only afford to lose three Republican votes assuming Democrats remain united in opposition.
Thune also plans to pass a comprehensive bill combining border security, military spending, and energy production in the first month or so of the Senate’s term, which convenes on Friday. Doing so will require procedural maneuvers to avoid the filibuster, while simultaneously working to reform Senate operations.
But Thune’s greatest challenge will likely be pleasing Trump, who he has crossed in the past. During his term as the Senate’s second-most powerful Republican, Thune chose not to back Trump’s challenge to the 2020 election outcome and voted to certify the results.
Sen. John Thune (R-SD) speaks to the media after being chosen to serve as Senate majority leader at the United States Capitol.
Republicans win the House and elect new Senate majority leader
While the final margin is still being determined, the GOP cemented control after winning critical battleground seats in Arizona and California. Republicans, however, will likely have just a slight edge over the Democrats in the House, especially after GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz stepped down yesterday after being nominated to become Trump’s attorney general.
In the Senate on Wednesday, meanwhile, Republicans elected John Thune of South Dakota to serve as majority leader in the next Congress. He succeeds Mitch McConnell, who held the term for 18 years.
The appointment marks a continuation of a McConnell-like establishment Republican leading the Senate, and a pivot away from his MAGA-loyal opponent Rick Scott. Scott, who pitched himself as Trump’s closest ally in the race, came in third behind another traditional Republican, John Cornyn. Thune led after the first ballot, raking in 25 votes while Cornyn won 15 and Scott garnered 13 votes.
What’s first on Thune’s agenda? He will be under immense pressure to approve Trump’s growing list of cabinet picks. “The Senate will move as quickly as possible to confirm Trump’s appointees” says Eurasia Group’s US director Clayton Allen. “Thune recognizes that this will be a key point of (potential) contention with the White House and will work to avoid being pushed into a debate over recess appointments.”
Thune endorsed Trump’s picks to curry favor ahead of the majority leader race, but he “will bristle at actually giving up Senate authority or putting his moderate members in the difficult position of opposing an effort to force recess appointments.”
Beyond approving Trump’s cabinet picks, Republicans are expected to use their united government to expedite their legislative agenda, including tax cuts, loosening of regulations on domestic oil and gas production, and stringent border security measures.
To see all of Trump’s cabinet picks, read our run down here.