Senate Republicans have elected John Thune, the long-serving senator from South Dakota, as their new leader in the chamber.

The 63-year-old won a secret ballot on Wednesday, defeating Florida Senator Rick Scott - the preferred choice of many of Donald Trump's most vocal allies - and Texas Senator John Cornyn. Scott was eliminated in the first round.

In a statement, Thune said he was "extremely honoured" and stands "united behind President Trump's agenda".

The Republican Party won a 53-47 majority in the Senate last week, flipping control of the upper chamber as Trump secured his own return to the White House.

Thune will take over from Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving party leader in US history, when the 119th Congress begins in January. McConnell, 82, announced earlier this year that he would step down after 18 years in the top leadership post.

Thune will serve for at least the next two years.

As Senate majority leader, he will be the chief spokesperson for the Republican conference's positions on issues, co-ordinate legislative strategies and manage business - including all legislative action - on the chamber floor.

His decision sparked expected bids from Thune, the current minority whip, and Cornyn, who has previously served as Republican whip.

But Scott also threw his hat into the ring and top Trump supporters, from Elon Musk to Tucker Carlson, publicly endorsed his long-shot bid in an effort to get senators to back him in the secret ballot.

Eight senators publicly announced their support for Scott, as Mr Carlson and others urged Republicans to pressure their representatives to get behind him.

But Scott ultimately won the backing of 13 of his colleagues in the first round, with Cornyn earning 15 votes and Thune receiving 23, four short of the majority needed to win the race.

In the second round, Thune beat Cornyn by a margin of 29 to 24.

Though Trump himself did not make his opinions about the contestants public, Thune's victory and Scott's early defeat will be seen by some as a sign of Senate Republicans reasserting their independence and electing a seasoned party leader trusted by his colleagues.

Thune raised more than $31m (£24m) to elect Senate Republicans this election cycle, funds that contributed to the party flipping three Democrat-held seats last week and retaking a Senate majority.

But he has long had an uneven relationship with President-elect Trump, from criticising his "inexcusable" actions that led to the US Capitol riot in January 2021 to initially backing fellow Senator Tim Scott in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.

Thune and Trump have, however, spoken frequently on the phone this year. The incoming Senate majority leader also paid a visit to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort home in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Over the summer, he told the Associated Press that they had a good professional relationship and, if both won their races, “we’ve got a job to do”.