Thune warns Republicans against ‘counterproductive’ filibuster vote

Published March 19, 2026 4:24pm ET



EXCLUSIVE — Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) told the Washington Examiner he opposes a vote on eliminating the filibuster, warning that putting Senate Republicans on the record would only stoke GOP divisions over President Donald Trump’s marquee election bill.

“I don’t think that serves anybody’s interest,” Thune said in a sitdown interview at his Capitol office, calling the exercise politically damaging to the party.

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