The Republicans in the US Senate on Wednesday elected John Thune of South Dakota as the chamber's next majority leader. The Republicans secured a majority in the Senate in last week's US election, which also swept Donald Trump back into the White House.

Senator Jamie Pederson was voted in Monday as the new Senate Majority Leader in the Washington State Senate.

U.S. Senate Republicans elected John Thune to lead the chamber next year, opting for a well-regarded insider and shrugging off a public pressure campaign by supporters of Donald Trump to pick a loyalist to the president-elect.

Republicans have won enough seats to control the U.S. House, completing the party’s sweep into power and securing their hold on U.S. government alongside President-elect Trump.

Republicans win 218 US House seats, claiming a majority and completing the party’s sweep into power alongside Trump

Following the election, Republicans will control the Senate with a 53 to 47 majority, but one question remains -- who will become the new Senate majority leader? Outgoing leader Mitch McConnell will remain in Congress but will step aside as the longest serving party leader in history.

President-elect Donald Trump's Republican Party has kept control of the House of Representatives, networks NBC and CNN projected on Wednesday, a week after a sweeping election victory delivered him a second term.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson, who with Donald Trump's endorsement won the Republican Conference's nomination to stay on as speaker next year.