Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota was elected new Senate majority leader, replacing Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who is stepping aside.

U.S. Senate Republicans elected John Thune to lead the chamber next year, opting for a well-regarded insider and shrugging off a public pressure campaign by supporters of Donald Trump to pick a loyalist to the president-elect.

Thune, of South Dakota, beat out Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Rick Scott of Florida in a secret ballot election to replace Mitch McConnell in the top job.