Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) confirmed Monday that hes throwing his hat in the ring to become the Senate Republican leader once Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) steps down.

Thune, the Senate minority whip, shared the news with KELO-TV in Sioux Falls, South Dakota .

Well, I hope to be, and Im going to do everything I can to convince my colleagues, Thune replied when asked if he was gunning for the leadership position. Theyre the voters. Theyre the ones who ultimately make the decision. But that, as we look at a new generation of consistent, principled, conservative leadership in the United States Senate that empowers our Senate Republicans , that puts a [check and balance] against ... what has been the, a very liberal Schumer/Biden agenda, Im prepared to lead that effort, referring to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and President Joe Biden .