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Republicans in the Senate have officially elected Senator John Thune as their new majority leader.

What’s the deal: Earlier today, Republican senators anonymously elected Sen. John Thune as their new majority leader in a tightly contested race. Thune received 29 votes in the final round, surpassing Senator John Cornyn, who received 24 votes. Senator Rick Scott, who received a public endorsement from Elon Musk and was considered Trump’s desired pick, was eliminated in the first round with only 13 votes.

In a statement, Senator Thune said, “I am extremely honored to have earned the support of my colleagues to lead the Senate in the 119th Congress, and I am beyond proud of the work we have done to secure our majority and the White House. This Republican team is united behind President Trump’s agenda, and our work starts today.”

In addition to Thune, Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) was elected Senate Majority Whip, making him the second-highest official in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Digging into Senator Thune: Senator John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, is a well-known lawmaker who has served in the Senate since 2005. He has held significant leadership positions, including as the Senate Republican whip, where he was responsible for managing party discipline and floor strategy. He first entered public service as a congressional aide before being elected to the US House of Representatives in 1996.