| John Thune will lead the Senate Republican conference next term, winning a three-way election to succeed Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in a closed-door vote on Wednesday. The South Dakotan will take over in January at the turn of the new Congress, when Republicans are expected to control the government trifecta: the House, Senate and the presidency. And he'll have some room to maneuver in his own chamber, with Republicans' 53-seat majority, as the party considers wide-ranging legislation that would tackle tax cuts, immigration and energy policy. Read the latest
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