US Senate Republicans pick insider John Thune as their next leader

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), Senator John Thune (R-SD) and Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) speak to reporters after meeting with President Trump about their planned changes in the U.S. tax code, at the White House in Washington, U.S. October 18, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Senate Republicans elected John Thune to lead the chamber next year, opting for a well-regarded insider and shrugging off a public pressure campaign by supporters of Donald Trump to pick a loyalist to the president-elect.

The South Dakota senator's victory is a sign the Senate could retain some degree of independence from Trump next year, when Republicans will control the White House and both chambers of Congress. Republicans will hold at least 52 seats in the 100-seat Senate and were projected on Wednesday to retain a thin majority in the House of Representatives.