Republicans Officially Choose Mitch McConnell to be Next Senate Majority Leader

By Staff

Published November 13, 2014 at 3:57 PM EST

As expected, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell was chosen Thursday by Republican members to be the next Senate majority leader.

The vote was unanimous, according to the senator's office. McConnell officially takes up the post in January.

He becomes only the second Kentucky senator to hold the post. (The first was Democrat Alben Barkley, who was majority leader in the late 1930s and early '40s and later served as vice president under President Truman.)

McConnell is currently the Senate minority leader. He's served in the Senate since 1985 and won re-election earlier this month over Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes.

Republicans look to haveat least a 53-46 seat lead when McConnell officially becomes majority leader. (The outcome of one race isn't official.)

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