Republicans Select Thune as New Senate Leader

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) will take over as Republican Senate leader and majority leader in the new Congress, succeeding Mitch McConnell (R-KY), the longest-serving party leader in Senate history, in January.

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., was elected Senate majority leader on Wednesday, winning in the second round of voting and defeating Sens. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and John Cornyn, R-Texas.

“I am extremely honored to have earned the support of my colleagues to lead the Senate in the 119th Congress and am beyond proud of the work we have done to secure our majority and the White House,” Thune said in a statement released on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“This Republican team is united behind President Trump’s agenda, and our work starts today,” Thune concluded.

Joining Thune in Senate leadership are Sen. John Barrasso, R-WY, as assistant majority leader; Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., as Republican conference chair; Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., as Republican Policy Committee chair; Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., as Republican conference vice chair; and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., as chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.

More Worthy News

Ugandan Christian Convert ‘Killed By Muslim Father’ In Alleged Faith-Related Attack
Ugandan Christian Convert ‘Killed By Muslim Father’ In Alleged Faith-Related Attack
Monday, February 23, 2026

A 33-year-old man in eastern Uganda was allegedly killed by his Muslim father after converting to Christianity, local sources said, in what church leaders describe as part of a broader pattern of faith-related violence in the African nation.

Iranian Christians Face Surge In Arrests As Crackdown Deepens
Iranian Christians Face Surge In Arrests As Crackdown Deepens
Monday, February 23, 2026

Christian advocacy groups have expressed alarm over what they describe as a sharp rise in arrests and mistreatment of Christians in Iran, particularly converts, accusing the Islamic Republic of increasingly using national security laws to suppress religious dissent.

Hungarian Opposition Slams War Execution Video As Orbán Campaign Escalates
Hungarian Opposition Slams War Execution Video As Orbán Campaign Escalates
Monday, February 23, 2026

A campaign video distributed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party, showing a little girl weeping at a window and intercut with scenes of her father being executed in war, has sparked outrage among opposition leaders, including Budapest’s mayor.

Crowds March To Russian Embassy In Budapest As Ukraine War Nears Fourth Year
Crowds March To Russian Embassy In Budapest As Ukraine War Nears Fourth Year
Monday, February 23, 2026

Crowds marched to the Russian Embassy in Budapest on Sunday to mark nearly four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a war that is believed to have caused nearly 2 million military casualties.

Iran Pressures Hezbollah as Israel Warns of Severe Retaliation
Iran Pressures Hezbollah as Israel Warns of Severe Retaliation
Sunday, February 22, 2026

Iran is increasing pressure on Hezbollah to join any future war with Israel, even as Tehran appears reluctant to enter direct conflict for now.

Mexican Drug Lord Killed in Mexican Military Operation
Mexican Drug Lord Killed in Mexican Military Operation
Sunday, February 22, 2026

Major Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho,” was killed Sunday during a military operation in Jalisco state, Mexico’s Defense Department announced, delivering one of the most significant blows to organized crime in recent years.

Iran Campus Protests Resurface as Nuclear Talks Continue Under U.S. Military Pressure
Iran Campus Protests Resurface as Nuclear Talks Continue Under U.S. Military Pressure
Sunday, February 22, 2026

Anti-government protests have erupted at multiple Iranian universities, marking the largest campus demonstrations since January’s deadly nationwide crackdown, as nuclear negotiations with the United States proceed under the shadow of possible military action.