5 Things to Know About John Thune, the Next Senate Majority Leader

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Header

Thune said he got into politics thanks to his high school basketball days.

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) was elected by his Republican colleagues on Nov. 13 to be Senate Majority Leader, succeeding Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Thune, 63, has been married to his wife, Kimberley Weems, for four decades. They have two daughters and five grandchildren. His hobbies include hunting pheasant and running, according to his Senate website.

Below are six things to know about the next leader of the Senate and Senate GOP conference.

1. Basketball Inspired His Political Career

In a video posted to the social media platform X in March, Thune, 63, recalls getting into politics thanks to his high school basketball days.

He played as a freshman on the varsity team at Jones County High School in Murdo, South Dakota.

After a basketball game in 1976, he was at a department store when someone tapped him on the shoulder and reminded him that he had missed one of the six free throws he attempted. The person was Rep. Jim Abdnor (R-S.D.).

โ€œHe kind of started following my sports career. I started paying more attention to politics. And when I got out of grad school, I get a call from his office,โ€ Thune said. โ€œAnd by then heโ€™s in the Senate and offering me a job out here, so my wife and I were like โ€˜Eh, weโ€™ll do this for a year or two.โ€™โ€

He ended up working with Abdnor for 4 1/2 years.

2. Has Served in the Senate for Nearly 2 Decades

Thune has been in the Senate since 2005 after upsetting Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) in the 2004 election. Thune won by a margin of 1.16 percent. The senator ran unopposed in 2010, winning reelection with 100 percent of the vote. When Thune was up for reelection in 2016, he prevailed with more than 70 percent of support, and won by a similar margin in 2022.

In addition to serving as Senate minority whip, Thune has served as chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, which sets the agenda for the conference, the chair of the Senate Republican Conference, and the Senate majority whip.

Byย Jackson Richman,ย Jacob Burg

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

With or without

The mullahs of Iran have been at war with the West, particularly the US, for half a century and Iran is also the worldโ€™s foremost champion of terrorism.

Artificial Intelligence Equals Awful Iniquities

WSJ article โ€œAI is Learning to Escape Human Controlโ€ said in 79 of 100 trials, the o3 AI code systems edited their own code to prevent human shutdown!

VIDEO: Deranged Feminist vs. Mating Ducks in Epic Public Meltdown

A middle-aged white lady lib harasses mating ducks to โ€œstop it!โ€ because the rough sex they enjoy appears non-consensual on the part of the female.

RFK Jr. Slashes ALL U.S. Funding For Bill Gatesโ€™ Global โ€˜Vaccine Allianceโ€™

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. recently pulled all U.S. government funding from Bill Gatesโ€™ Global โ€˜Vaccine Allianceโ€™ GAVI.

Seven Things Democrats Are Doing Wrong

Ask Democrat voters why Donald Trump was elected president again and you will get answers that show a lack of self-reflection and a ton of deflection.

Nevada Seen as Case Study in Rapid Urban Sprawl Amid a Water Crisis

Nevadaโ€™s rapidly growing population has reached a critical intersection with the regionโ€™s worsening water crisis, according to experts.

US Streamlines Rule for Fining Illegal Immigrants, Will Issue Nearly $1,000 Daily Fines for Noncompliance

DHS and DOJ announced a new joint federal rule that streamlines the process of issuing fines for illegal immigrants, making it easier and more efficient.

Man Indicted on 12 Hate Crime Charges in Attack on Boulder Demonstration for Israeli Hostages

Boulder, CO man accused of hurling Molotov cocktails at demonstrators supporting Israeli hostages indicted by grand jury on 12 hate crime counts.

Newsom Signs California Budget Aimed at Addressing $12 Billion Deficit

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed California budget projected to close a $12 billion deficit through spending reductions on some of the stateโ€™s ongoing programs.

Termination of โ€˜Wasteful Contractsโ€™ Saves US Government $470 Million Last Week: DOGE

Over the past seven days, various government agencies have terminated 312 โ€œwasteful contractsโ€ with a ceiling value of $2.8 billion, the DOGE said.

Trump Says He Will Only Appoint Fed Chair Who Wants to Cut Interest Rates

President Trump said he may appoint someone who is more inclined to lower interest rates to succeed Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

Trump Says US Ending All Trade Talks With Canada

Trump posted he is ending โ€œallโ€ trade negotiations with Canada due to their plan to impose a digital services tax which affects U.S. tech companies.

White House Confirms US, China Have Reached Additional Trade Agreement

A White House official said the United States and China have reached an additional agreement as trade talks between the two nations continue.
spot_img

Related Articles