U.S. Senator John Thune of South Dakota, who was elected majority leader of the U.S. Senate and will lead the Senate Republican caucus in the next term, won a three-way race in a closed-door vote on Wednesday to succeed Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. In the Senate, given the Republicans' 53-seat majority, Thune will have some room to maneuver in the Senate. Thune, 63, has not committed to a term limit for the caucus leadership position, which means he has a good chance of holding the position for years to come. He doesn't face re-election until 2028, and South Dakota is a solid "red state" (a Republican-leaning state).