Following the election, Republicans will control the Senate with a 53 to 47 majority, but one question remains -- who will become the new Senate majority leader? Outgoing leader Mitch McConnell will remain in Congress but will step aside as the longest serving party leader in history.

For instance, The Associated Press reported in 2020 that both McConnell and Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer had won their party's leadership elections in secret ballots (although which of the two would be the "majority" leader and which would be the "minority" leader was still up for debate, since runoff elections in Georgia had not yet taken place).

The incoming Senate Republican majority made their very first major move, electing South Dakota Senator John Thune as their next leader. The Washington Post's Rhonda Colvin reports from the Capitol.

U.S. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota was chosen by his peers to lead his Republican senators in the 119th U.S. Congress.

U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD) walks on Capitol Hill on the day U.S. Senate Republicans meet to vote on leadership positions, including Senate Majority (Republican) Leader, for the 119th Congress in Washington,

John Thune, 63, defeated Sens. John Cornyn and Rick Scott in the secret-ballot vote to succeed Mitch McConnell as Senate majority leader.