Prior to Wednesday’s Senate leadership election, Trump demanded that Thune and his opponents, Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Florida Sen. Rick Scott, commit to allowing him to use a process known as “recess appointments,” where Cabinet officials are instated without Senate approval when Congress is out of session.

Republican U.S. Rep. John Curtis has won Mitt Romney’s open U.S. Senate seat in Utah. Curtis breezed to victory over Democrat Caroline Gleich, a mountaineer and environmental activist from Park City.