John Thune Elected Senate Republican Leader

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The Facts

  • Following a secret vote on Wednesday, US Sen. John Thune of South Dakota was elected by his Republican colleagues to be the next Senate GOP leader. He will be Senate majority leader for the upcoming 119th Congress.

  • Thune defeated Sen. John Cornyn of Texas 29-24 on the second ballot, which followed the first vote of 23 for Thune, 15 for Cornyn, and 13 for Florida Sen. Rick Scott. Scott, who was eliminated after the first ballot, was a favorite among many Trump influencers.

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The Spin

Narrative A

Thune is a younger version of McConnell, which is the opposite of what Republican voters wanted. Scott, on the other hand, believed not only in the Trump agenda but also in democratizing the entire Senate by giving legislative power to more than just the party leaders. The American people voted these men into office, and the GOP establishment stabbed them in the back.

Narrative B

Unlike some Republican politicians, Thune is an honest man who cares about achieving the party's goals. Not only is he well liked by all of his colleagues, he will use his popularity to achieve the entire Trump agenda. With Thune at the helm, Trump's appointments will be confirmed and his policies codified into law.

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Democratic narrative

Fingers are crossed that by choosing Thune, Senate Republicans are signaling they won’t fully yield to Trump’s influence. As Trump will try to push through unqualified appointees and unconstitutional legislation, Thune will hopefully stay committed to maintaining the Senate’s constitutional role and keep the president-elect at bay.

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Metaculus Prediction

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