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On Wednesday, Senate Republicans held an election to appoint a new leader in the Senate after capturing the chamber’s majority in last week’s general election.
Ultimately, South Dakota Sen. John Thune was elected to be the party’s new Senate majority leader, replacing Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, the longest serving party leader in the chamber’s history. Thune’s victory came out of the first competitive election for Senate Republican leader in three decades and marks the party’s first shift in leadership since McConnell first became the party leader in 2007.
Thune beat out Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Rick Scott of Florida in two rounds of secret ballots. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-AL, publicly supported Scott’s bid for the position after the Floridian promised to send the Senate into recess following President-elect Trump’s inauguration, so that Trump can bypass the traditional confirmations process and install his cabinet immediately — a move which would be wholly unprecedented.
“As most of you know, I endorsed Rick Scott of Florida earlier this week,” Tuberville told reporters following Thune’s victory. “While I count all threee senators friends, I appreciate Senator Scott’s business and military background. He’s not a career politician, and that’s why I felt he was best for the job.”
“During my meeting with Senator Thune, I shared with him the importance of uniting behind President Trump’s agenda,” Tuberville continued. “The American people sent a clear mandate last week: they want it now. We as a party need to do our part to help President Trump pass his priorities through Congress. I look forward to working with the new leader, Thune, and President Trump to deliver wins for the American people and continuing to advocate for issues important to everyone in Alabama.”
Tuberville’s colleague, Sen. Katie Britt, R-AL, declined to publicly endorse any of the three prospective leaders ahead of the election, but announced that she had also cast her first ballot for Scott in a Wednesday morning press release.
“I have tremendous respect for my three colleagues who ran to serve as the next Senate Republican Leader. Heading into Senator Mike Lee’s forum on Tuesday evening, I reiterated I was looking for a leader who’d significantly overhaul how the Senate has been operating and make it actually work for the American people,” Britt stated. “I urged candidates to showcase the ability to successfully advance President Trump’s agenda through Congress; a commitment to restore regular order in the appropriations process and end omnibuses; and a plan to empower committees and decentralize power within the chamber.”
“Following that forum and the multiple conversations I’ve had recently with each of the candidates, I cast my vote for Senator Rick Scott on the first ballot,” she continued. “Throughout this process, I proudly kept my promise to put Alabama’s values, people, and priorities first. Now, it’s time to rally behind Senator Thune, come together as unified Senate Republicans, and hit the ground running to advance President Trump’s agenda and deliver real results for the American people.”
Far-right influencers had been pressuring Britt into supporting Scott ahead of Wednesday’s vote.
It is unclear who Tuberville and Britt voted for in the second round of secret ballots after Scott was eliminated from contention. According to the Associated Press, the final vote between Thune and Cornyn was 29-24.
