Rushmore State News

South Dakota Grassroot Republicans are mobilizing against Senator John Thune’s push for Senate Majority Leader, calling for a leader who better aligns with President Trump’s America First agenda.

As the race for the next Senate Majority Leader heats up, a group of South Dakota grassroots Republicans is throwing their weight behind an opposition campaign against U.S. Senator John Thune’s bid for the top Republican leadership post in the Senate. The group, expressing concerns over Thune's stance on key issues, has issued a resolution rejecting his candidacy and urging Republican Senators to elect a leader who will champion President Trump’s America First policies.

“Whereas, the U.S. Senate must have a majority leader with a conservative voting record that represents Trump and the America First agenda,” according to a release by South Dakota Grassroot Republicans. “Whereas, John Thune, who has verbally rejected President Trump, has stated that Trump did a “disservice” to the American people by talking about 2020 election fraud, has sided with Democrats in funding omnibus bills and has supported the ruthless pursuit of January 6ers, is being considered a top contender for this role.”

The resolution, which has been shared on social media and sent to Republican Senators, suggests that Thune should be replaced by figures such as Senator Rick Scott of Florida or Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, who are seen as more aligned with Trump's base. 

Thune, 63, currently the Senate Minority Whip, has been in Republican leadership since 2006 and was widely viewed as a natural successor to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. His relationship with Trump has been turbulent. According to AP News, in 2020, Thune publicly criticized Trump’s legal efforts to overturn the election results, a stance that many grassroots conservatives view as a departure from the party’s base.

Despite these challenges, Thune has remained committed to his campaign for Majority Leader. His track record includes significant financial support for GOP Senate campaigns, pledging $4 million to the party’s Senate campaign arm, as well as efforts to strengthen relationships with key figures within the GOP. He has also worked to build rapport with Trump, including a visit to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate earlier this year.

Thune’s bid for Majority Leader has also attracted competition from Senators Rick Scott and John Cornyn, both of whom represent different wings of the party. Scott, a staunch Trump supporter, is campaigning on his alignment with the MAGA movement, while Cornyn, a former whip, is presenting himself as an experienced leader with a focus on bipartisan collaboration.