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Sen. John Thune voted new Senate majority leader, ending Sen. Rick Scott's bid for position

By and FOX 13 News Staff
Updated  November 13, 2024 12:29pm EST
Politics
FOX 13 News

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    TAMPA, Fla. - Sen. Rick Scott of Florida fell short in his bid to become Senate majority leader, with GOP senators electing Senate Minority Whip John Thune to assume the role.

    Thune will succeed longtime Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky in January when the new Congress is sworn in.

    Sources told FOX News that Scott received the fewest votes on the first secret ballot, narrowing the finalists down to Thune and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas. Thune then won the second vote.

    FILE - U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-SD) at the U.S. Capitol on March 28, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

    FILE - U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-SD) at the U.S. Capitol on March 28, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

    Thune has served in the Senate since 2005 and has held the number two position in Senate Republican leadership since 2021.

    In a statement posted on social media Wednesday, Thune said he is "extremely honored to have earned the support of [his] colleagues," adding that Republicans are united behind President-elect Donald Trump's agenda.

    Sen. Scott's failed bids

    This was not Scott's first time vying for Senate majority leader. He was among the senators who challenged Sen. Mitch McConnell for the GOP leadership role two years ago, but he only received ten votes.

    This time around, Scott campaigned as the candidate who's closest to Trump. Unlike Cornyn and Thune, who’ve been openly critical of Trump in the past, Scott has remained a staunch loyalist through the years.

    Scott, who previously served as Florida's governor from 2010 to 2018, was elected to a second term in the Senate last week. During his victory speech, Scott said Florida is now the center of the Republican Party, and should be representing the nation.

    Sen. Rick Scott addresses supporters after winning his bid for reelection on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

    Sen. Rick Scott addresses supporters after winning his bid for reelection on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

    "We have a great Republican Party all across this country. We need a Republican Party in DC. We need problems solved. Florida is the center of the Republican Party of this country," said Scott on Election Night.

    Trump did not endorse a candidate for Senate majority leader, but Scott received an outpouring of support from Trump allies, including billionaire Elon Musk.

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