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WASHINGTON — Sen. John Cornyn lost his election Wednesday to become the next Senate majority leader to Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, ending a years-long effort to lead his party conference.
Sen. Mitch McConnell announced earlier this year that he would not seek another term leading the party, ending his 17-year tenure. He is the longest serving party leader in the history of the U.S. Senate. The opening led to the first competitive, open campaign for GOP leader in decades, the stakes of which were raised after Republicans won control of the upper chamber last week.
[John Cornyn spent years preparing to run for Senate majority leader. Will it be enough?]
Cornyn had spent decades climbing the ranks of the Senate GOP, building relationships and raising money so he could one …