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On November 13, 2024, Republican members of the United States Senate held an election to determine the next leader of the Senate Republican Conference, who is poised to become the next majority leader of the United States Senate at the start of the 119th U.S. Congress. Republicans regained control of the chamber in the 2024 election, flipping three Democratic seats and securing a 53–47 majority.
Incumbent Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who has served in the position since 2007, announced in February 2024 that he would step down at the start of the next session, triggering the election to succeed him. The election was held by secret ballot, with only those who will serve as Republican senators in the 119th Congress allowed to cast a vote.
Senators John Cornyn, Rick Scott and John Thune were the only official candidates on the ballot. After receiving the fewest number of votes on the first ballot, Scott was eliminated. Thune won the election on the second ballot, after receiving a majority of the ballots cast.
Overview
Senator Mitch McConnell, the leader of the Senate Republican Conference since 2007, announced in February 2024 that he would step down from his leadership position following the 2024 United States Senate elections. Those elections resulted in a Republican majority in the Senate, meaning the winner of the leadership election would become Senate majority leader.
The Senate majority leader serves as the chief representative of their party in the Senate, and is considered the most powerful member of the Senate. The Senate's executive and legislative business is also managed and scheduled by the majority leader.
Key issues for the election include the proposed implementation of term-limits for the Senate Republican leader, a proposed expansion of the leaders power over appointments to Senate committees and how to pass president-elect Donald Trump's agenda.
The secret ballot election was held on November 13 by a conference of Republican senators. A candidate must receive a majority of votes cast to become leader; if no candidate receives a majority, the lowest vote getter is eliminated and the senators vote again.
Candidates
The following candidates declared their intent to run.
| Candidate | State | Other Senate roles | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
 John Cornyn |
Texas (Served since 2002) |
Republican Senate Whip (2013–2019) Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (2009-2013) |
|
.jpg) Rick Scott |
Florida (Served since 2019) |
Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (2021–2023) |
|
 John Thune |
South Dakota (Served since 2005) |
Republican Senate Whip (Since 2019) Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee (2015–2019) Chair of the Senate Republican Conference (2012–2019) Chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee (2009–2012) |
Endorsements
John Cornyn- Senators
- Josh Hawley, Senator from Missouri (2019–present)
- Senators
- Marsha Blackburn, Senator from Tennessee (2019–present)
- Ted Cruz, Senator from Texas (2013–present)
- Bill Hagerty, Senator from Tennessee (2021–present)
- Ron Johnson, Senator from Wisconsin (2011–present)
- Mike Lee, Senator from Utah (2011–present)
- Rand Paul, Senator from Kentucky (2011–present)
- Marco Rubio, Senator from Florida (2011–present)
- Tommy Tuberville, Senator from Alabama (2021–present)
- U.S. Representatives
- Byron Donalds, U.S. Representative from FL-19 (2021–present)
- Marjorie Taylor Greene, U.S. Representative from GA-14 (2021–present)
- Anna Paulina Luna, U.S. Representative from FL-13 (2023–present)
- Notable individuals
- Steve Bannon, former executive chairman of Breitbart News
- Glenn Beck, conservative political commentator
- Tucker Carlson, conservative political commentator
- Benny Johnson, conservative political commentator
- Jesse Kelly, anti-communist radio host
- Megyn Kelly, conservative political commentator
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr., environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist
- Charlie Kirk, conservative political activist
- Laura Loomer, far-right political activist
- Elon Musk, businessman and investor
- Vivek Ramaswamy, American entrepreneur
- Matt Schlapp, conservative political activist
- Senators
- Kevin Cramer, Senator from North Dakota (2019–present)
- Steve Daines, Senator from Montana (2015–present)
- John Hoeven, Senator from North Dakota (2011–present)
- Markwayne Mullin, Senator from Oklahoma (2023–present)
- Mike Rounds, Senator from South Dakota (2015–present)
Results
 | This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Candidate | First Ballot | Second Ballot | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | Percent | Votes | Percent | ||
| John Thune | 23 | 43.40% | 29 | 54.72% | |
| John Cornyn | 15 | 28.30% | 24 | 45.28% | |
| Rick Scott | 13 | 24.53% | Eliminated | ||
| Write-in | 2 | 3.77% | 0 | 0.00% | |
| Total | 53 | 100.00% | 53 | 100.00% | |
References
- Bolton, Alexander (November 13, 2024). "John Thune elected as Senate majority leader, succeeds Mitch McConnell". The Hill. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- Tackett, Michael (February 28, 2024). "McConnell will step down as the Senate Republican leader in November after a record run in the job". Associated Press. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- Hubbard, Kaia (November 8, 2024). "Republicans win majority in the Senate, flipping control of upper chamber, CBS News projects". CBS News. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- Wallner, James (August 1, 2018). "What makes Senate leaders so powerful?". Leg Branch. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- Kight, Stef W. (June 20, 2024). "Senate GOP wrestles with post-McConnell term limits". Axios. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- Perano, Ursula (June 26, 2024). "Senate GOP clamor over leadership changes grows louder as Lee insists on term limits". Politico. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- ^ Raju, Manu; Barrett, Ted; Fox, Lauren (November 4, 2024). "Battle to replace McConnell remains wide-open as top candidates quietly woo key senators — and Trump". CNN. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- Mondeaux, Cami; Touchberry, Ramsey; Sivak, David (November 9, 2024). "Majority makers: Guide to GOP leadership elections in the Senate and House". The Gazette. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- Choi, Matthew (February 29, 2024). "John Cornyn announces he's running for Senate GOP leader". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- McIntire, Mary Ellen (May 22, 2024). "Florida's Rick Scott enters race to be next Senate GOP leader". Roll Call. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- Figueroa, Ariana (March 4, 2024). "South Dakota's John Thune enters race to succeed McConnell as U.S. Senate GOP leader". Alabama Reflector. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- Bolton, Alexander (November 8, 2024). "Hawley will back Cornyn for Senate GOP leader". The Hill. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- Housler, Kaitlin (November 12, 2024). "Tennessee U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn Throws Support Behind Rick Scott for Senate Majority Leader". Tennessee Star. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
- Choi, Matthew (November 13, 2024). "Ted Cruz announces he's backing Rick Scott in Senate leadership vote, snubbing John Cornyn". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
- ^ Stef W., Kight (November 9, 2024). "Rick Scott scores major MAGA momentum for Senate Republican leader". Axios. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- ^ Stef W., Kight (November 7, 2024). "Scoop: Trump dismissed Rick Scott as Senate GOP leader". Axios. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- ^ Venegas, Natalie (November 10, 2024). "Trump Allies Line Up Behind Rick Scott to Be Next Senate Majority Leader". Newsweek. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ Stef W., Kight (November 10, 2024). "Rubio throws weight behind Rick Scott for GOP leader". Axios. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- Crown, Kayode (November 10, 2024). "Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville endorses Rick Scott for majority leader: 'America First agenda...now'". AL.com. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- Kapur, Sahil; Dixon, Matt; Tsirkin, Julie (November 11, 2024). "Senate Republican leadership fight becomes a proxy for MAGA influence under Trump". NBC News. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
- Chatelain, Ryan (November 11, 2024). "Some Trump allies lining up behind Rick Scott for Senate majority leader". Spectrum News. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
- Weaver, Al (November 11, 2024). "Senate GOP turned off by Rick Scott pressure campaign". The Hill. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
- Adragna, Anthony (November 10, 2024). "Trump presses next GOP Senate leader to allow 'recess appointments'". Politico. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
Endorsements have also rolled in for Scott from influential figures in the Trump-aligned MAGA movement such as... Glenn Beck
- "Rick Scott Makes Big Prediction On His Senate GOP Leadership Hopes". YouTube. November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- Schwartz, Ian (November 12, 2024). "Sen. Rick Scott: Trump Needs A Business Guy Running The Senate To Get His Agenda Passed". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- Kight, Stef (November 10, 2024). "Musk backs Scott for GOP leader, knocks Thune". Axios. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ Bade, Rachael; Daniels, Eugene (November 11, 2024). "Playbook: The Rick Scott backlash builds". Politico. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ Johnson, Julia (November 11, 2024). "John Thune snags 2 more endorsements in competitive GOP leader race to succeed McConnell". Fox News. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- Kight, Stef W. (October 31, 2024). "Trump ally Steve Daines privately backs Thune for Senate GOP leader". Axios. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
- Kenne, C.J. (October 9, 2024). "Rounds supports Thune for Senate leadership". South Dakota Public Broadcasting. Retrieved November 9, 2024.