After 18 years of Mitch McConnell, Senate Republicans officially have a new top dog: South Dakota Senator John Thune will step into the Majority Leader role at the beginning of next year, after being selected by his colleagues Wednesday.

John Thune’s elevation to Senate Republican leader is being welcomed by many ag, biofuel and conservation groups. No Senate majority or minority leader has come to the job with a background in ag and biofuel policy as deep as the South Dakotan’s since,

John Thune, 63, defeated Sens. John Cornyn and Rick Scott in the secret-ballot vote to succeed Mitch McConnell as Senate majority leader.