Thune wins secret vote and becomes the new Senate GOP leader, succeeding McConnell

Senate Minority Leader John Thune will be the new Republican Senate leader and upper chamber majority leader in the new Congress.

In January, he will succeed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who is the longest-serving party leader in Senate history.

Sources told Fox News Digital that no candidate received a majority in the first secret ballot. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, received the fewest votes and dropped out of the race. The second secret vote took place only between Thune and Cornyn.

The senator received at least 27 votes from the 53-member conference in a secret vote in the old Senate chamber on Wednesday morning.

Republicans will huddle behind closed doors to choose McConnell’s successor on Wednesday

Each of the candidates made a final pitch to their fellow Republican senators late Tuesday night during a forum held by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.

Scott left the meeting with two new public endorsements from Lee and Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. A familiar source told Fox News Digital that Blackburn asked several questions during the discussion, including “how they would give conservatives a more meaningful voice in the Senate and for specific details on how they would immediately implement President Trump’s mass deportation action.”

RICK SCOTT RECEIVES NEW SENATE SUPPORT FROM THE CANDIDATE FORUM AHEAD OF THE LEADERSHIP ELECTION

Blackburn supported Scott after the forum. (REUTERS/Mike Segar)

Still, a knowledgeable source told Fox News Digital that Scott’s pitch didn’t convince everyone. “Scott’s comments did not do much to impress or influence members,” they said. “He was more focused on his time as a businessman than on his priorities for the Senate.”

JOHN THUNE SECURES TWO MORE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE GOP’S COMPETITIVE RACE TO SUCCESS MCCONNELL

Scott has received a number of high-profile endorsements from outside personalities. (Reuters)

Before the election, Thune had public support from Sens. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., Mike Rounds, R-D., Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., John Hoeven, R-N.D. and a confirmed source Fox News Digital reported that National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman Steve Daines, R-Mont., privately encouraged other senators to support Thune.

Scott had the most public support, with Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., Rand Paul, R-Ky., Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., also supports him.

REP RUBEN GALLEGO DEFEATS KARI LAKE IN FIGHT FOR ARIZONA SENATE SEAT

The new leader will succeed McConnell. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Cornyn had received only one public endorsement from Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo.

The majority of Republican senators did not announce in advance who they would vote for.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Rubio and Hagerty gave the two nomination speeches for Scott, while Daines and Rounds did so for Thune. It is unclear who gave the nomination speeches for Cornyn.

The new leader will assume the role in January.