McConnell picked as US Senate Republican leader

WASHINGTON, Nov 15 (Reuters) Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was elected today to be US Senate Republican leader as his party prepares to turn over control of Congress to Democrats in January, a Republican aide said.

McConnell, now Senate Republican whip, was elected unanimously during a closed-door meeting of the Senate Republican Caucus, the party aide said. McConnell was unopposed.

McConnell's election as leader was to be announced later in the day, as well as the outcomes of races for other Senate Republican leadership posts since the party lost control of the Senate and House of Representatives in last week's congressional elections.

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