Thune, 63, is considered a level-headed lawmaker and is generally respected by many of his Republican peers. He currently serves as the Senate's Republican second-in-command and will succeed 82-year-old Mitch McConnell,

Sen. John Thune of South Dakota is set to lead the Senate as majority leader in the new Congress, after Republicans flipped the chamber in the 2024 elections.

As Congress returns to Washington, we must prepare the Senate to advance the GOP agenda legislatively and ensure that President-elect Trump can hit the ground running.