The day after the election, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) stood before assembled reporters. “Good morning, everyone,” he said with a slight smile on his owlish mien. “It is certainly a happy day for the GOP.

John Thune, John Cornyn and Rick Scott are vying to succeed Mitch McConnell as the Republicans leader in the U.S. Senate.

Republican senators will cast a secret ballot on Wednesday, and whoever is elected to replace McConnell will inherit a solid majority in the upper chamber.