(Washington, D.C.) — South Dakota Senator John Thune is one of the leading candidates to take over as Senate Republican Leader. It comes as Mitch McConnell announced in a speech yesterday that he will be stepping down from his role in November. McConnell has led the Senate GOP since 2007, making him the longest-serving Senate Leader in American history. Many South Dakota political analysts say they believe the Sioux Falls-native Thune would win the leadership role if he ran for it being the current Republican Whip. There is yet to be any official timeline set on replacing McConnell.
