Republicans in the US Senate elect Senator John Thune as majority leader

U.S. Senate Republicans on Wednesday elected Sen. John Thune to be majority leader when they regain control of the chamber next year.

In a secret vote, the South Dakota senator defeated Senators John Cornyn and Rick Scott to take the Republican leadership post that Mitch McConnell has held for 18 years.

Thune, 63, was elected to the Senate in 2004 and currently holds the No. 2 Republican leadership spot and serves as minority leader. He is considered a more mainstream choice than Scott, a conservative hardliner and close ally of President-elect Donald Trump.

Thune received 23 votes compared to Cornyn's 15 and Scott's 13. He will be Senate majority leader for at least the next two years.

Republicans will hold at least 52 seats in the 100-member U.S. Senate. Votes in the Pennsylvania Senate race are still being counted.

Trump has floated the idea of ​​bypassing the normal hearing process for Cabinet members, a significant departure from the normal process.

Trump on Wednesday endorsed House Speaker Mike Johnson, saying he should serve as leader in the 119th Congress. Since votes are still being counted in some states, the Republicans have a narrow majority over the Democrats in the US House of Representatives.