Senate Republicans Choose John Thune to Replace Mitch McConnell as Majority Leader

by Liz Goodwin, Dylan Wells and Marianne LeVine (Washington Post) Senate Republicans chose Sen. John Thune of South Dakota to be their new leader, rejecting an outside pressure campaign from Donald Trump’s allies to break with the establishment in the secret-ballot election, according to two people familiar with the vote.

Thune, a close ally of retiring leader Mitch McConnell (Kentucky), has been critical of Trump in the past but has worked to repair that relationship in recent months. He reassured senators in a closed-door meeting that he would work hand in glove with the new administration and would not butt heads with Trump even on issues such as continuing U.S. aid for Ukraine, which Trump opposes, senators said.

Trump has made it clear he expects deference from the chamber after a decisive election win.

While he has stayed out of the race, Trump made clear he wants the Republican-led Senate to bend to his will when it comes to his appointments, asserting that he plans to go around the chamber for some nominees.

“Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner,” he wrote on Truth Social on Sunday.

All three leadership candidates quickly said allowing recess appointments, which requires the Senate to be adjourned for at least 10 days while the president unilaterally appoints nominees, would be an option they would consider.

Such a move could allow Trump to push through controversial nominees who do not have the support of all Republicans. The Senate majority will include 53 seats. READ MORE

Related articles (see also White House for information about other appointments)

Excerpt from DTN Progressive Farmer: Thune has a long record of supporting ethanol and other biofuels, during his 19 years on the Senate. ...

Having Thune at the top of Senate leadership would be one of the more fortuitous developments for the ethanol industry in quite some time.

Two national biofuels groups said it believes Thune's election is significant for the industry.

"With Sen. Thune as majority leader, American biofuel producers and their farm partners will have one of their strongest champions setting the Senate's legislative agenda," Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor said in a statement.

"We commend the Senate for elevating him to this position and we look forward to building on the majority leader-elect's track record for supporting growth, investment and innovation in the American renewable fuels industry."

Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper said in a statement that Thune's election is important to the industry.

One of the more pressing biofuels issues that come to mind immediately is needed help from Congress to pass legislation to allow permanent year-round national E15 sales.

In 2023, Thune led a bipartisan group of federal lawmakers in calling on the Biden administration to allow year-round E15 sales that year. In addition, Thune also introduced legislation to fully recognize greenhouse gas emissions reductions resulting from ethanol. He also introduced another bill that would permanently allow for E15 sales.

In 2022, Thune signed a letter with 12 other senators asking EPA Administrator Michael Regan to set corn ethanol volume numbers above 15 billion gallons in the Renewable Fuel Standard, https://www.dtnpf.com/…, as well as raising other biofuels issues including regulatory barriers as it pertains to sustainable aviation fuel production.

In 2021, Thune was among a group of Republican senators who requested a meeting with President Joe Biden to address the role of biofuels in the administration's greenhouse gas emissions reductions plans, https://www.dtnpf.com/…. READ MORE