John Thune’s election to become the Republican Senate leader means that at least one vestige of the GOP’s establishment will still hold significant power in Washington.
But even as Thune claimed a landmark victory, the South Dakota senator showed that the Republican center of gravity is still Donald Trump.
“We are excited to reclaim the majority,” Thune told reporters after the vote confirming him as the next Senate leader, and “to enact President Trump’s agenda.”
He won a tight race Wednesday against another longtime institutionalist, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Trump-aligned Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), despite opposition from Elon Musk and other prominent evangelists of MAGA Republicanism.
Thune, come January, will control the procedures and schedules in the Senate, and negotiations with Democrats. Trump will set the agenda.
Some Contrasts
Thune, however, could present a contrast, in some cases, to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) at the other end of the Capitol. The two congressional leaders come to their power positions in vastly different ways.
Thune, first elected to the House in 1996, has slowly built his career in Congress, creating relationships that span several eras. He joined the Senate in 2004 as an ally of then-President George W. Bush. Johnson arrived in Congress in 2017, the same year Trump took office, and has hugged himself close to the former president throughout.
Thune, now the GOP’s second-ranking senator, in January will replace Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the GOP leader for nearly 20 years who largely supported Trump’s policies but clashed with the former president at times, most notably over Ukraine and foreign affairs.
Thune has also been at odds with Trump on occasion. He initially endorsed a Trump primary opponent last year, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and has balked at Trump’s policies on trade and attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Thune quickly vowed Wednesday to keep one traditional Senate firewall in place, saying he would preserve the filibuster. That rule requires 60 votes for most legislation and gives some power to the minority party, despite Trump’s opposition to the rule.
“The minority has a voice in our process,” Thune told reporters. But, he added, Trump’s “mandate election” requires lawmakers to follow through on his priorities.
Thune has tried to warm up to Trump in recent months. He’s made clear since the last week’s election that he’s committed to confirming Trump’s appointees and supporting the incoming president’s goals, whatever past hesitation he had.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close Trump ally, said Thune will do what outgoing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) did for President Joe Biden’s plans.
“Schumer tried to help Biden,” Graham said. “We’re going to try to help Trump.”
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) was more blunt, telling Fox News, “President Trump and JD Vance are going to be running the Senate.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), citing his past work with Thune, instead hoped for cooperation.
“Senator Thune and I have done lots of things together in a bipartisan way,” he said Wednesday. “I’m very hopeful that will continue.”
Warmer Public Posture
Thune, with a genial demeanor, is well-liked among his Senate colleagues and telegenic. While he faces a challenge in matching McConnell’s tactical skill, Thune will present a more engaging, warmer public face for the Senate GOP.
He’ll need all the charm he can muster.
Even with a sizable majority by Senate standards, 53 votes, the GOP conference will face divides between the remaining orthodox Republicans and the newer class of Trump-aligned populists and disrupters, itself embodied by Vice President-elect JD Vance’s presence at the closed-door vote Wednesday. (The outgoing Ohio senator had a vote in the process).
While Vance didn’t speak “his presence was very much felt,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.).
As if to drive home Thune’s new challenge, hours after his victory Trump set up a series of likely difficult Senate confirmations by nominating polarizing Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to become attorney general and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a one-time Democrat, to be director of national intelligence. Both faced immediate skepticism even in a Trump-friendly Senate.
The announcements were a reminder of the roller-coaster nature of a Trump presidency.
And Trump has pressed for “recess appointments” to effectively bypass normal Senate confirmation for his nominees.
Despite Wednesday’s events highlighting the potential turbulence of the coming years, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said Thune’s leadership skills will help smooth the ride.
“Thune is a very experienced lawmaker, she said. “He’s particularly effective as a communicator, and he works well with all factions of the conference.”
Thune comes to the job steeped in traditions and norms. The two-decade senator was previously chairman of the Commerce Committee and is now the GOP whip, the second-ranking Republican. For several weeks last year he had a test run as the Senate GOP’s lead messenger when health problems sidelined McConnell.
Part of his victory hinged on a promise to return to more power to rank-and-file lawmakers to shape bills in committees and through amendments, though Thune didn’t go as far as Scott in that area.
“I don’t think it’s any big secret that most people’s No. 1 complaint about Mitch was that he kept everything very, very close,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.).
Thune showed he’ll preserve some power in the leader’s office. He pushed back Tuesday on efforts to limit the leader’s ability to block amendments, saying it’s a useful way to prevent Democrats from forcing politically risky votes, according to Cramer.
The pitch was enough to win on the second ballot, 29-24. But with nearly half his conference voting for a rival, it’s a sign, even in victory, of the challenges Thune now faces.
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