For instance, The Associated Press reported in 2020 that both McConnell and Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer had won their party's leadership elections in secret ballots (although which of the two would be the "majority" leader and which would be the "minority" leader was still up for debate, since runoff elections in Georgia had not yet taken place).

The president-elect said the next Senate majority leader should be open to bypassing Senate confirmation for administration appointees.