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Republicans, Democrats vote for respective leaders in U.S. Senate

Xinhua, November 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

Both Republicans and Democrats elected their leaders in the U.S. Senate Wednesday, with Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer taking the helm of the two parties.

McConnell kept his position as the leader of Senate Republicans in a unanimous vote. The result is widely expected as the Kentucky senator enjoys wide support within the party for his rich experience.

The veteran politician first entered the Senate in 1984, and became the Senate Minority Leader in 2006. After the GOP took over the Senate in 2014, McConnell served as the Majority Leader.

McConnell is viewed as a moderate figure, who is reputed to be able to work with different parties and strike a balance between his conservative leaning and the willingness to negotiate.

Across the aisle Schumer of New York was chosen as the top Democrat in the Senate for the first time, replacing Harry Reid, who will be retiring.

Schumer first entered Congress in 1981, and served in the House of Representatives before becoming a senator in 1998.

The lower chamber of Congress on Tuesday produced its leaders, ratifying Paul Ryan as House Speaker and Kevin MaCarthy as Majority Leader.

The Republican Party now controls the White House and Congress, and is expected hold sway in the Supreme Court after President-elect Donald Trump appoints a conservative Justice. Enditem