Who is John Thune, the new Senate GOP leader replacing Mitch McConnell
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John Thune at the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 13. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) was elected Senate majority leader Wednesday, ushering in a new era for the Senate GOP after nearly two decades under the helm of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
Why it matters: Thune will be tasked with balancing the diverging wings of the Republican Party, from more traditional conservatives to President-elect Trump's MAGA allies.
Driving the news: Thune said in a statement Thursday that he was "extremely honored" to have been selected and "this Republican team is united behind President Trump's agenda."
- Thune, a more established Republican, won the race over Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who received the backing of Trump's allies and the MAGA movement.
- His election will help the GOP turn the page on the often contentious relationship between Trump and McConnell.
- McConnell announced in February that he intended to step down after the 2024 election, though he will complete his term in the Senate until 2027.
What is Thune's background?
Thune, 63, has served in Congress for nearly 30 years, having first been elected to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996, according to his biography.
- Born and raised in South Dakota, Thune earned a bachelor's degree in business from Biola University, a private Christian university in California, before earning a master's in business administration from the University of South Dakota, per the South Dakota Searchlight.
- Thune began his political career in Washington in the 1980s, working for former U.S. Sen. Jim Abdnor (R-S.D.) before joining the Small Business Administration during the Reagan administration, per his biography.
Zoom in: Thune and his wife, Kimberley Thune, have been married since 1984. The couple has two children and five grandchildren.
What was his role in the Senate before becoming leader?
Thune has served in the Senate since 2004 and is currently the Senate minority whip until he takes over as majority leader next year.
- His other leadership roles in the Senate GOP have included stints as the chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee (from 2009–2011) and as Senate majority whip (from 2019-2021).
- Thune has served on the Senate Finance Committee and the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, among other roles.
What's his relationship to Trump?
Thune has had a fraught relationship with Trump since the president-elect entered the political arena.
- In 2016, after the infamous Access Hollywood tape revealed Trump's boasts about groping women, Thune called on Trump to exit the race — but just days later he said he still intended to vote for him.
- Trump lambasted Thune in Dec. 2020 for refusing to back his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, labeling him a "RINO" (Republican in name only).
- Thune condemned Trump's conduct around the Jan. 6 Capitol riot as "inexcusable" but voted against impeaching him.
Zoom in: Thune hasn't been afraid to criticize some of Trump's policies.
- In August, he called Trump's tariffs "a recipe for increased inflation," the South Dakota Searchlight reported.
- However, Thune has worked to repair his relationship with Trump. He visited Mar-a-Lago in March and has spoken with Trump on multiple occasions since, CNN reported.
