Senate Republicans Prepare for Leadership Vote Amid Post-Election Dispute

Senate Republicans will meet on Tuesday to decide whether to keep South Dakota Sen. John Thune as their leader, just one week after steep losses in the midterm elections that cost them their majority. Thune is expected to be reelected as he remains popular and is running unopposed.

Some Republicans who returned to Washington on Monday say it is too soon to endorse the status quo. Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson circulated a letter asking for a delay in the closed-door, secret-ballot leadership elections, stating that such a defeat demands change.

“We need to have a tough, family conversation. We just lost seven Senate seats. And there may be more.”

Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota said he saw five signatures on the letter advocating for a delay. He argued that while colleagues need to talk, there is no need to change the leadership to do so.

The losses are attributed to several factors, including bad negotiations with Canada, tariffs, insufficient support for Ukraine, and allowing more foreign beef into the US. Sen. Joni Ernst described the Iran war as extremely unpopular.

Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri noted that the party lost seven Senate seats and there may be more. He called for a tough, family conversation and said it is time for Congress to take responsibility for its actions.

Two additional races remain uncalled in Alaska and Mississippi, which could further deplete Republican numbers. Thune stated that leadership is moving ahead with elections and that the final decision rests with Republican senators.

Thune, who replaced Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky in early 2025, has spent two years navigating President Donald Trump. While backing Trump on most policy, Thune refused to change Senate rules to scrap the filibuster for voting legislation requiring proof of citizenship.