Tuberville says that new Senate leadership should pass President Trump's America First Agenda.

November c13, 2024 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) spoke with Alabama reporters following the selection of Sen. John Thune of South Dakota as the Republican leader in a closely watched vote. Tuberville said that voters have given President Donald J. Trump (R) a "mandate" to bring change to Washington.

"The people overwhelmingly rejected Kamala Harris's radical agenda and decided to send President Trump back to the White House," Sen. Tuberville said. "This wasn't just an election, this was a mandate from the majority of Americans – both Democrats and Republicans."

"Republicans also gained the majority here in the United States with 53 seats," continued Tuberville. "Now with this power comes great responsibility. That is why we will be ready to hit the ground running come January 20th 2025 when President Trump is inaugurated."

"Today we also elected a new Senate Republican leader for the first time in nineteen years," said Tuberville. "For the last few weeks Senators Thune, Cornyn and Scott have all been meeting with members of our conference telling us why they are the right man for the job. I met with all three of them personally several times and shared my ideas for moving our country forward."

Sens. Tuberville and Katie Britt (R-Alabama) both voted for Sen. Rick Scott.

"I endorsed Senator Rick Scott of Florida earlier this week," explained Tuberville. "While I count all three Senators as friends, I appreciate Senator Scott's business and military background. He is not a career politician which is why I though he was perfect for the job."

Scott finished third in the voting.

"This morning, today in our meeting our Republican Conference voted to make Senator John Thune of South Dakota our new leader," said Tuberville. "During my meeting with Senator Thune I shared the importance of uniting behind President Trump's agenda. The American people sent a clear mandate last week. They want President Trump's America First agenda and they want it now. We as a party need to do our part to help President Trump pass his agenda through Congress. I look forward to working with the new leader Thune and President Trump to deliver wins for the American people and continuing to advocate for issues important to everyone in Alabama."

Former State Rep. Perry O. Hooper Jr. (R-Alabama) praised Thune for his leadership and bipartisanship.

"The selection of John Thune as Senate Majority Leader is a resounding testament to his leadership, experience, and remarkable ability to bridge divides," said Hooper who writes commentary for the Alabama Gazette and other publications. "Throughout his career, Thune has shown an impressive capacity to work across the aisle, earning respect from both Republicans and Democrats for his pragmatism and collaborative approach. His understanding of policy issues ranging from agriculture to infrastructure, combined with a clear commitment to bipartisan solutions, makes him well-suited to guide the Senate through an era where cooperation is crucial for implementing the policies that President Trump has promised America. Thune's even-handed leadership and dedication to finding common ground promise a productive and forward-looking legislative agenda, positioning him as the ideal choice to steer the Senate toward meaningful results for all Americans in implementing the Trump Agenda and Making America Great Again."

Hooper – like Sens. Tuberville and Britt – had preferred Scott for the position of Senate Majority Leader.

"Rick Scott and John Cornyn were both outstanding candidates for Senate Majority Leader, each bringing distinct strengths and impressive records of public service to the role," continued Hooper. "Rick Scott's background as a successful governor of Florida and his commitment to fiscal responsibility have made him a key voice for economic growth and limited government. Meanwhile, John Cornyn's deep experience in Senate leadership and his track record of legislative achievements reflect his dedication to both his constituents and the country as a whole. Both Scott and Cornyn have demonstrated the qualities of effective leadership, and their candidacies exemplify the depth of talent within the Senate Republican Conference, setting a high standard for guiding the party forward."

Thune replaces Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) who has led the Senate Republicans for the last 18 years. In January Thune will become the new Senate Majority Leader when the new Congress is sworn in. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-New York) will continue to lead the Senate in this lame duck session which is tasked with passing legislation to keep the government funded and other important legislation.

The Republican Party has also retained a small majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. With majorities in both Houses of Congresses Republicans are hopeful that President Trump will be able to pass much of his legislative agenda in the next two years.

Tommy Tuberville was elected to the Senate in 2020. January will mark the first time in Tuberville's Senate career that Republicans controlled the Senate.

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