Following major Republican losses in the November 2026 midterm elections, Senator Ron Johnson gathered five signatures to request a Senate Republican Conference meeting aimed at postponing leadership elections scheduled for November 10, 2026. Democrats flipped seven Republican-held seats and lead uncalled races in Alaska and Mississippi to secure at least 54 Senate seats. Despite conservative calls from allies of Donald Trump to delay votes, Senator John Thune currently runs unopposed for Minority Leader.
Effort to delay leadership elections
- ▪Senators Mike Lee and John Kennedy confirmed signing Senator Ron Johnson's letter requesting a conference meeting to discuss delaying Senate GOP leadership elections, while Senator Rick Scott expressed support for discussing a delay
- ▪Senator Ron Johnson requested that Senate Republicans delay leadership elections until members discuss conference governing models and strategy following recent Republican losses in the November 2026 midterm elections
- ▪Senate Republican Policy Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito is required by conference rules to call a meeting when requested in writing by five or more senators
- ▪Senator Ron Johnson obtained the five signatures required to call a Senate Republican Conference meeting to discuss postponing leadership elections scheduled for November 10, 2026
Statements supporting delay
- ▪Senator Mike Lee stated that Senate Republicans should not hold leadership elections until discussing election results and confirming the conference's final membership
- ▪Senator Ron Johnson described proceeding with closed-door Senate Republican leadership elections immediately after a defeat as political malpractice
Criticism of Senator John Thune
- ▪President Donald Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz publicly questioned reelecting Senator John Thune to lead the Senate Republican caucus following nationwide midterm losses
- ▪President Donald Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz stated on social platform X that Senator John Thune is not in touch with Republican voters
Midterm election results
- ▪Democrats flipped seven Republican-held Senate seats in South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, Maine, Ohio, Iowa, and Kansas during the November 2026 midterm elections
- ▪Democratic Senate candidates held leads in uncalled November 2026 races in Alaska and Mississippi, positioning Democrats for at least 54 Senate seats
2024 Senate election history
- ▪Senate conservatives previously attempted to delay conference leadership elections following the 2024 elections, but that effort was unsuccessful
- ▪Republicans picked up four Democratic-held Senate seats to capture the Senate majority in the 2024 elections
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