Johnson, staunch Trump ally, seeks to delay Senate GOP leadership election after big losses

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) obtained the five signatures he needs from GOP colleagues to request a meeting of the broader Senate Republican Conference to discuss postponing their leadership election, which is scheduled for next week.

Johnson, who chairs the Senate Budget Committee, is seeking a delay of the election after an adviser of President Trump questioned whether Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) should be reelected to lead the caucus, according to a Senate GOP aide familiar with the effort.

No senator, however, has publicly expressed an interest in challenging Thune, who remains popular among his GOP colleagues in the upper chamber. The group raised more than $800 million to protect the Senate Republican majority in this election cycle.

The conference rules provide for Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), the chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, to call a meeting of the group whenever requested to do so in writing by five or more colleagues.

The Senate Republican Conference is already scheduled to meet Tuesday morning to vote on its new leadership team.

Johnson’s letter requesting a pause on that timeline is a signal to colleagues that he wants to discuss postponing the vote before colleagues fill out their secret ballots on reelecting Thune and other members of his leadership team.

Senate conservatives also sought to delay their conference’s leadership contest after the 2024 election, when Republicans picked up four Democratic-held seats and captured the majority. That effort wasn’t successful.

Alex Bruesewitz called for Senate Republicans to find new leaders in the wake of Republicans’ losses across the country earlier this week, which will cost them control of at least seven seats in next year’s Congress.

“I saw a report that says Senator John Thune is gliding into the Senate Minority Leader role,” Bruesewitz posted on the social platform X. “Why do Hill Republicans insist on rewarding failure?”

He added, “He’s not exactly in touch with the interests of Republican voters. Perhaps it’s time to give someone else a chance?”