With DeMint hitting the road, Thune moves up
South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint’s decision to resign and take over the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank will mean that John Thune will be the ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee during the next Congress.
DeMint and Thune were both elected in 2004. Two other Republicans currently on the committee that have more seniority are retiring this year: Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe.
That would put Thune in line for the committee chair if Republicans win control of the Senate in 2014.
