Sen. Ron Johnson urges Senate GOP to pause leadership vote after midterm loss
A group of five Republicans wants to delay Tuesday's leadership elections to discuss strategy following the party's defeat in the 2026 midterm elections.
By Samuel Hayes ·
Senate Republicans face a leadership election this Tuesday morning, but a faction of senators is asking for a pause before they vote. The party is preparing to choose its next top leaders after losing its majority in the chamber.
Senate Democrats flipped the chamber last week, securing 54 seats. The final count may rise as results are confirmed in Mississippi and Alaska. With the Republicans now heading into the minority, some members want to slow down the process to plan their next steps.
Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin led the push for a delay. He sent a letter to Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who serves as the conference chair. Johnson argued that holding elections without a full discussion of strategy would be a mistake. He described the recent election results as a stunning defeat and said the group needs to evaluate how to improve outcomes by 2028.
The letter stated that leadership candidates should explain their plans for a collaborative governing model to counter the Democrats. Johnson said the group needs serious discussions about how to lead in the new environment. He called the current plan to vote on Tuesday political malpractice.
The Senate rules allow for this delay if five senators sign the request. Johnson secured signatures from Sens. Rick Scott of Florida, John Kennedy of Louisiana, Ted Budd of North Carolina, and Mike Lee of Utah. Lee posted on social media that the group needs to digest the events of last week before making plans. He noted that moving straight to elections would put the cart before the horse.
Other Republicans who did not sign the letter also support taking a break. Sen. Jim Banks of Indiana said the conference needs a frank discussion about where the party fell short. He emphasized the need to focus on working families who sent them to Washington.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota is expected to seek another term. He is currently popular with his colleagues because he is willing to take feedback rather than rule strictly. A GOP aide noted that Thune values input from lawmakers. Thune is expected to run unopposed, as possible challengers have signaled they may not bid against him.
Sen. Rick Scott said on a radio show that he does not want to run again because he has already served two terms. However, when asked if he would support Thune, Scott said the outcome was still open. He said he would wait to see who else decided to run for the position.
