Thune beat out two other competitors, Sens. John Cornyn and Rick Scott, by gaining majority support from GOP senators in a secret ballot vote.

Cornyn had for years signaled he wanted to succeed his close ally GOP leader Mitch McConnell. On Wednesday, he lost in a vote decided by the Republican members of the Senate.

Reports on social media from Washington have Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, who serves as Senate Republican whip, winning the leadership role after two rounds of voting by secret ballot. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, who had earned the support of several allies of President Donald Trump, was reportedly eliminated during the first round of voting.