USA TODAY By Riley Beggin
Senate Republicans have elected Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., as the next Senate majority leader after rejecting public overtures from allies of President-elect Donald Trump who backed a different candidate.
Thune won in a secret-ballot vote of 29-24, beating out opposing candidate Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, in the second round of voting. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., also ran but was eliminated in the first round of voting after receiving the least votes of the three.
The 63-year-old Thune will succeed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has led his chamber’s Republicans since 2007 and is the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history.
The Senate majority leader is one of the most powerful people in Washington – and soon will have an important say over Trump’s agenda. Thune will have the power to set the schedule for the Senate, which has sole control over confirmation of the Cabinet, about 1,200 other high-level government jobs and a president’s judicial nominees.
“It’s a new day in the United States Senate and it’s a new day in America,” Thune told reporters after the vote. “This Republican team is united. We are excited to reclaim the majority and to get to work with our colleagues in the House to enact President Trump’s agenda.”
Thune’s win is even more significant because Republicans regained control of the upper chamber in the November election, putting the GOP on track to hold total control over Congress and the White House for the next two years.
Scott didn’t make it past the first round of voting despite having the support of prominent Trump allies including Tucker Carlson, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. The latter two were tapped by the president-elect on Tuesday to lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency” to slash federal government spending, waste and regulations.
However, Scott’s supporters expressed confidence that Thune would be an effective leader.
“I was for Rick Scott because I thought the communication was going to be better between him and President Trump because both of them are business guys,” said Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., who is close with Trump, but added that he’s “got no problem” with Thune or Cornyn…
READ FULL ARTICLE HERE… (usatoday.com)
Home | Caravan to Midnight (zutalk.com)
