The Senate has passed a bill to end the shutdown. Sunday, ahead of passage, 7 Democrats and an independent joined Republicans to end the stalemate.
The legislation would still need to clear the House before the government could reopen.
The Senate fails to advance legislation to end the government shutdown for the seventh time.
The House is not expected to be in session this week, focusing attention on the Senate to take the lead on any deal in the GOP-led Congress.
Thune beat out two other competitors, Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Rick Scott of Florida.
It’s a stunning return to the U.S. seat of government for the former president, who departed nearly four years ago.
Republican senators will gather behind closed doors Wednesday to decide who will replace longtime Senate leader Mitch McConnell.
As lawmakers return this week they will be joined by dozens of new names in the House and Senate who are in town for freshmen orientation.
Congressional Republicans say the investigation of special counsel Robert Mueller needs to run its course despite President Trump's call for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to shut it down.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has been a target of Republican ire since its creation after the 2008 financial crisis. Now it's also in the middle of a political tug-of-war over who will lead it.