By MARY CLARE JALONICK and STEPHEN GROVES

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans elected South Dakota senator. John Thune as the next Senate Majority Leader, accomplishing a momentous change in their leadership that elevates a top aide to the Mitch McConnell to a key position as president-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House.

Thune, 63, is in his fourth term in the Senate and has promised to work closely with Trump, despite the differences they have had over the years, and will play a crucial role in the new president’s efforts to make advance its political agenda.

He beat two other competitors, Sens. John Cornyn And Rick Scottby obtaining the majority support of Republican senators in a secret vote. Republicans are replacing McConnell, the party’s longest-serving leader in the Senate, as they prepare to take majority control of the Senate with the 53 seats they won in last week’s elections.

Like McConnell, Thune comes from the more traditional wing of the Republican Party. He served as Republican whip – no. 2 in the party leadership – since 2019.

At times, Thune has thwarted Trump’s wishes with Congress, and he publicly broke with Trump over efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, which he called “inexcusable.” But in recent months, Thune has realigned himself with Trump, visiting him at his Florida home, and the two have consulted on how to implement the new president’s agenda. Thun told the Associated Press over the summer, he views their potential relationship as a professional one. If they both win their elections, Thune said, “we have a job to do.”