Thune forges ahead with leadership elections

Senate Republicans are plowing ahead with plans Tuesday to hold internal leadership elections for the new Congress in January when they’ll be in the minority, even as a vocal faction demand they be postponed to debate the fallout from the GOP’s electoral bloodbath.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), who’s served in his role since Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) relinquished the post in January 2025, said Monday he was “open to hearing what the arguments are” on delaying the elections but cast doubt that such a vote is productive.