Republicans seize U.S. Senate control

In a dramatic shift in leadership following the Nov. 5 elections, Republicans reclaimed control of the Senate by taking seats in West Virginia, Montana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

The GOP seats in Texas and Florida effectively closed any paths for Democrats to maintain power.

This takeover comes amid the impending departure of Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, marking the end of an era as he steps down after decades of serving as the Senate's longest-tenured party leader.

Senate Republicans have elected South Dakota Sen. John Thune as the next Senate majority leader.

Thune is in his fourth Senate term and has promised to work closely with Trump, despite differences the two have had over the years, and will play a crucial role in the incoming president’s policy agenda in his upcoming term.

The two spoke on the phone shortly after Thune was elected, the senator posted on X Wednesday afternoon. “Senate Republicans are excited and ready to get to work” with the incoming president.

Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, currently the Republican Conference Chairman, is expected to rise unopposed as the party's next whip, succeeding Thune.

Joni Ernst of Iowa appears poised to ascend as the GOP Conference Chair, facing competition from Arkansas' Tom Cotton. Meanwhile, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia is set to claim the Policy Chair role without opposition.

On the Democratic front, the Senate's upper echelons remain mostly intact under Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow's upcoming retirement from the Senate creates an opening for the chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee.

Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota are among the leading candidates to fill the position.

Annelise Hanson is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email amh8563@psu.edu.