Ramsey Touchberry writes for the Washington Examiner about reaction to the selection of a new U.S. Senate majority leader.
Democrats are searching for whatever silver lining may present itself fresh off the GOP securing a clean sweep of Congress and the White House.
One has materialized with Republicans’ selection of Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) as the next majority leader.
The pragmatic conservative is someone who Democrats say can keep bipartisanship alive in a Washington under one-party control. He is taking over from Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), whose institutional streak meant the two parties periodically struck deals and kept the government open.
“I think John Thune would be a good leader. I think he’s somebody who has good relationships across the aisle and obviously respected by his colleagues,” said retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), the third-ranking Senate Democrat. “We’ve worked together on the Agriculture Committee, and he’s been somebody good to work with.”
A Senate Democratic aide offered a similar assessment. “My hope is that Thune could be Paul Ryan 2.0, essentially an adult in the room,” the aide said, referring to the former Republican speaker of the House.
Of the 53 Republicans who will be in the Senate come Jan. 3, Thune received 29 votes on the second ballot on Wednesday. Former GOP Whip John Cornyn (R-TX) came in a close second with 24, and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) was eliminated in the first round after receiving the fewest votes.
Each of the candidates had signaled a break in McConnell’s leadership style, promising more member input and a return to regular order, but Thune was viewed as the candidate most aligned with McConnell and had a slight advantage as his deputy.
“Our politics are different, but I think he’s a serious man,” said Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA). “I do think of all the potential choices, I think that seems like one that’s most compatible with a leader that’s going to want to work with our caucus.”
