After considering other posts within the Senate Republican leadership, Sen. John Thune (S.D.) today said he would run for re-election as Republican Conference chairman.

“America continues to face enormous challenges and the consequences have never been greater,” Thune said in a release. “Our country is at a crossroads and communicating our positive Republican vision to grow the economy, create jobs, and restore our nation’s fiscal health couldn’t be more important. Senate Republicans have solutions and we will work hard to aggressively take our message directly to the American people.”

Thune has served as Conference chairman since January.

Earlier this year, Thune had been mulling running for Nation Republican Senatorial Committee chairman or Minority Whip.

Currently, there appears to be a race shaping up for NRSC chairman as both Sens. Rob Portman (Ohio) and Jerry Moran (Kan.) are seeking the post.

Sen. John Cornyn (Texas), the current NRSC chairman, continues to be the frontrunner for the Whip spot, as no one else one has expressed interest in challenging him. But sources told Roll Call on Wednesday that discontent within the party over Tuesday’s election losses generated speculation about whether he would face a new challenge. Thune was perhaps the strongest potential challenger to Cornyn, who has been running for the No. 2 spot for more than a year.

Thune previously served as chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee and as vice chairman of the Senate Republican Conference.