For instance, The Associated Press reported in 2020 that both McConnell and Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer had won their party's leadership elections in secret ballots (although which of the two would be the "majority" leader and which would be the "minority" leader was still up for debate, since runoff elections in Georgia had not yet taken place).

Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota was elected the next Senate majority leader on Wednesday after the GOP won control of the Senate last week. Thune will replace GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky,