McConnell reelected Senate majority leader

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is keeping his spot as the Senate’s top Republican.

 

{mosads}The Kentucky Republican on Wednesday was reelected the GOP leader “by acclimation by his colleagues with a standing ovation,” McConnell spokesman Don Stewart said.

Stewart said the decision was unanimous.

“It’s an honor to once again have been chosen by my colleagues to continue serving as their leader,” McConnell said. “We are eager to work with House Republicans and President-elect Trump to bring the national and economic security our nation is asking for.”

McConnell was nominated and seconded by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Sen.-elect Todd Young (R-Ind.).

He was widely expected to keep the top GOP spot, with no senator publicly mulling a challenge.

Republicans also chose Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) to take over the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC.).

Gardner is replacing Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) as NRSC chairman. He’ll be working with a favorable 2018 map, with Republicans expected to play offense as Democrats defend seats in red states.

Aside from the NRSC switch, Senate Republicans left their leadership team intact for 2017.

They reelected Sen. John Cornyn (Texas) as Senate Republican whip,  Sen. John Thune (S.D.) as Senate Republican Conference chairman, Sen. John Barrasso (Wyo.) as Senate Republican Policy Committee chairman, and Sen. Roy Blunt (Mo.) as Senate Republican Conference vice chairman.