Politics Politics & Government News John Thune Elected to Replace Mitch McConnell as the Republican Senate Leader, Fending Off MAGA Challenger McConnell is resigning his leadership role after a record 18 years in the position, just in time for Thune to become the Senate majority leader in January By Kyler Alvord Kyler Alvord Kyler Alvord is a news editor at PEOPLE, leading the brand's political coverage. He joined the publication on the crime beat. People Editorial Guidelines Published on November 13, 2024 12:20PM EST Comments Sen. John Thune stands beside Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell at a news conference on Oct. 17, 2023. South Dakota Sen. John Thune was chosen to become the new Republican Senate leader on Wednesday, Nov. 13, replacing Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell. Thune, 63, has been one of McConnell's right-hand men in Congress. He beat out two other candidates in a closed-door vote to secure the position: Texas Sen. John Cornyn, another McConnell ally, and Florida Sen. Rick Scott, a fierce defender of Donald Trump who routinely criticized McConnell's leadership. Republicans Take Control of Senate for the First Time in 4 Years McConnell, 82, served a record-breaking 18 years at the helm of the party's conference. He announced in February that he would step down from his leadership role following the general election to make way for "the next generation of leadership." “I turned 82 last week. The end of my contributions are closer than I’d prefer," McConnell said in a speech on the Senate floor at the time. "I am no longer the young man sitting in the back, hoping colleagues would remember my name." He continued: "One of life’s most under-appreciated talents is to know when it’s time to move on to life’s next chapter." Colleagues check in on Mitch McConnell after he stopped talking during a news conference on July 26, 2023. Drew Angerer/Getty Images Prior to McConnell's announcement that he would step back, voters and colleagues had expressed concerns about his health in response to two public freezing incidents in which he suddenly stopped talking and moving while delivering remarks into a microphone. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer. McConnell previously said that he will carry out the remainder of his Senate term despite handing over the reins of the conference. His seat is up for election in 2026. Republican Senate Whip John Thune of South Dakota. Shutterstock Thune and Cornyn, 72, were long seen as the front-runners in the race to replace McConnell, but a late boost in support for Scott among Trump's most loyal Senate followers made the outcome more challenging to predict. Sen. John Thune Says Trump's Last Hope to Challenge 2020 Election Will 'Go Down Like a Shot Dog' Thune joined the Senate in 2005 after previously serving in the House of Representatives for six years. He succeeded Cornyn as the Republican whip in 2019, which made him the No. 2-ranked GOP senator. The 2024 elections positioned Republicans to take control of Senate with a 53-47 majority on Jan. 3, at which point Thune will become the Senate majority leader. Close