Rick Scott knocked out of Senate leader race on first ballot as Thune and Cornyn advance

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., was knocked out of the Senate leader race after the first secret ballot on Wednesday morning, during which none of the three candidates received a majority of the votes.

Sources told Fox News that Scott received the least amount of votes during the first ballot. 

The senators advanced to a second secret ballot between only Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.

Thune received the most votes on the first ballot with 23, but fell short of a majority, needing four more. Cornyn posted 15 votes, despite having only one public endorsement beforehand. Scott received 13 votes in the ballot before being knocked out of the race.

A candidate must receive 27 votes, a majority of the 53-member conference, in order to win.