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John Thune is elected leader of the Senate - was not a favorite of Trump and Musk

John Thune is elected leader of the Senate - was not a favorite of Trump and Musk

Having hundreds of billions of dollars may be enough to buy a social media company or even be the favorite of the newly elected American president, but that does not apply when it comes to electing the head of the Senate.

Florida Sen. Rick Scott was Elon Musk's favorite candidate for Senate Republican majority leader — and, by implication, Donald Trump's preference.

But in a secret ballot, Senate Republicans quickly chose a more traditional candidate, namely Senator John Thune of South Dakota.


He won the internal race against Texas Senator John Cornyn in a runoff.

According to sources CNN, Thune won with 29 votes to Cornyn's 24, gaining enough support to take over the leadership of the political group.

This success for Thune means a lot for his career and for the leadership of the Republican Party in the Senate. As the successor to Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who has held the post for 17 years and led the party through numerous political challenges, Thune will face new challenges, especially given the divisive political climate in Washington.

McConnell, an immensely influential figure in American politics, is known for careful strategizing and long experience in bipartisan talks.

During his years as leader, he has played a key role in appointing conservative justices, including to the Supreme Court, and blocking Democratic legislation. Now, Thune is expected to take on the responsibility of steering the group towards the next election and addressing sensitive issues for the conservative electorate.

Thune is expected to focus on strengthening the party's position on key issues such as the economy, national security and immigration, while trying to maintain a collaborative approach to achieving long-term goals.

The 63-year-old's victory signals a possible shift in the Republican leadership's strategy, with a focus on new ideas and perhaps a more moderate style, in contrast to McConnell's more conservative approach.

Otherwise, Florida Sen. Rick Scott was Elon Musk's preferred candidate for Senate Republican majority leader — and, by implication, Donald Trump's preference. /Telegraph/