On Wednesday, Nov. 13, Senator John Thune of South Dakota was chosen by Republicans in the United States Senate to lead them in the next Congress, officially marking an end to Senator Mitch McConnell’s longtime position as Senate Republican leader.
McConnell originally announced his intentions to step down in February of this year. During his announcement to the senate chamber, McConnell told his colleagues, “One of life’s most underappreciated talents is to know when it’s time to move on to life’s next chapter…So I stand before you today… to say that this will be my last term as Republican leader of the Senate.”
The senator later said in the chamber, “As I have been thinking about when I would deliver some news to the Senate, I always imagined a moment when I had total clarity and peace about the sunset of my work.” He followed by saying, “A moment when I am certain I have helped preserve the ideals I so strongly believe. That day arrived today.”
McConnell, who has been in the United States Senate since 1985, has served as the Republican’s leader in the chamber since 2007. He has presided as both Senate Minority Leader for a collective 12 years, and as Majority Leader for six years, from 2015-2021. He also set the record for longest-serving senate leader in history in 2023, beating out former Senate leader Mike Mansfield’s record, which was set in 1977.
As Senate leader, McConnell has led the GOP through the presidential terms of Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden, with him also being the leader at the tail end of former President George W. Bush’s final two years in office. He also presided over the senate confirmation of six justices of the United States Supreme Court. This includes when he refused to hold confirmation hearings of Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland in 2016, opting to instead hold hearings once a new president took office that following year.
Despite his stepping down from leadership of the chamber, McConnell will remain in the Senate until his term ends in January 2027. He has also expressed interest in taking a senior position on the Senate Appropriations Committee, specifically wanting to become Chairman of the committee’s Defence Subcommittee. He told reporters in early November, “I’m going to concentrate on defense and foreign policy. I think this is the most dangerous time since right before World War II.”
Senator Thune will take office as Senate Republican Leader in January 2025 and will also take the position of Majority Leader on Jan. 3, when the new Congress comes to session. Thune, who has represented South Dakota since 2005, told reporters right after his election as leader, “It is a new day in the United States Senate.”
Thune followed by saying “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 has not had any statements regarding McConnell since his ascension to leadership. McConnell did release a statement following Thune’s election, however, saying “John Thune’s election is a clear endorsement of a consummate leader. The confidence our colleagues have placed in John’s legislative experience and political skill is well deserved.”
McConnell is up for reelection in 2026. However, with health issues in recent years, and the senator having turned 82 this past February, it is unclear whether he will pursue an eighth term.
