Thune, 63, is considered a level-headed lawmaker and is generally respected by many of his Republican peers. He currently serves as the Senate's Republican second-in-command and will succeed 82-year-old Mitch McConnell,

Sen. John Thune has won an internal election among Republican senators to become the chamber’s next majority leader

Before the Senate, Thune represented in the House, worked as the executive director of the South Dakota Republican Party and served in the Small Business Administration under President Ronald Reagan.