Majority Leader McConnell has been elected to another term. He won a new term by acclamation Wednesday.
The rest of the GOP line-up below the Kentucky Republican is expected to shuffle slightly. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the GOP whip, is being forced out by term limits. That allows Sen. John Thune of South Dakota to move up to the No. 2 spot. Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming and Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri are expected to take over the third- and fourth-ranking spots.
Republicans are welcoming the first woman to their leadership team in years, with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst winning a down-ballot spot as the party tries to address the optics of its side being dominated by men.
Ernst on Wednesday called her election to leadership "a great honor."
Republicans haven't had a woman in their leadership ranks in nearly a decade, since Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski stepped away from her post after losing a primary challenge. Murkowski went on to twice win re-election in Alaska and chairs the Senate Energy Committee.
Senate Democrats are keeping their team headed by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York even though one of the two new Democratic senators-elect, Kyrsten Sinema (SIN'-uh-muh) of Arizona, has said she wouldn't vote for him.
Democrats re-elected their party leadership by acclamation during a closed-door meeting Wednesday.
Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois was re-elected as minority whip, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington state won a new term as assistant leader. Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan was re-elected as Democratic policy committee chair.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy has been elected to take over the Republican caucus next year.
The California Republican, an ally of President Donald Trump, fended off a challenge from conservative Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio in a closed-door election. Jordan is a leader of the far-right House Freedom Caucus.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is challenging the Democrats who are fighting to stop her from becoming speaker to put forward an alternative.
Asked about the opposition Wednesday, Pelosi noted the lack of a challenger. The California Democrat says, "Come on in. The water's warm."
The Democrats seeking to stop Pelosi's rise claim they have the votes to block her. Rep. Kurt Schrader of Oregon has said Pelosi "doesn't have the votes" to become speaker again, in part because of the newly elected members who have promised to oppose her.
House Democrats will not hold their leadership elections until after Thanksgiving. The full House will elect a new speaker in January, after the new Democratic majority is sworn into office.
