WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans selected Sen. John Thune of South Dakota to be their leader in the next Congress, three sources with knowledge of the vote said, replacing longtime leader Mitch McConnell, who is stepping down after a record 18 years.

Thune, the Senate Republican whip, ran against two other senators: John Cornyn of Texas, a former whip, and Rick Scott of Florida, an underdog candidate who just won a second term.

Thune, first elected to the Senate in 2004, has climbed his way up the leadership ladder, previously serving as chair of the Republican conference and chairing the Commerce Committee before ascending to the position of whip in 2019.

Thune ran for leader on a platform of carrying out President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda, although the two men have not always seen eye to eye: Thune rejected Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

“I am extremely honored to have earned the support of my colleagues to lead the Senate in the 119th Congress, and I am beyond proud of the work we have done to secure our majority and the White House,” Thune said in a statement. “This Republican team is united behind President Trump’s agenda, and our work starts today.”