US Senator John Thune wins majority leader election

South Dakota US Senator John Thune has been named the new Republican caucus leader in the Senate making him the senate majority leader. Senators voted him in via a secret ballot Wednesday morning. He defeats fellow Republicans John Cornyn of Texas and Rick Scott of Florida. Thune has been serving as number two in leadership within the Senate as Republican whip, behind former majority leader Mitch McConnell who has stepped down from that roll. Thune has been a US Senator from South Dakota for two decades, winning his first senate election back in 2004 when he defeated then senate minority leader Democrat Tom Daschel.