There, on a secret ballot, Republican senators will choose Mitch McConnell’s replacement and begin a new era for the Senate GOP. In an interview with POLITICO Magazine, Liam Donovan, a former GOP political operative and lobbyist who’s a close observer of Capitol Hill,

Thune, a 63-year-old in his fourth term, most recently served as the top lieutenant to Senator Mitch McConnell, the longtime Republican leader whose relationship with Trump has been famously difficult.

John Thune, John Cornyn and Rick Scott are vying to succeed Mitch McConnell as the Republicans leader in the U.S. Senate.