Thune Re-Elected Senate GOP Leader After Delay Bid Fails: Key Dates
Senate Republicans re-elected John Thune as leader unopposed on Tuesday, rejecting a delay push after midterm losses; he becomes minority leader on January 3.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / Gage Skidmore
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans re-elected John Thune of South Dakota as their leader on Tuesday, November 10, in a closed-door vote in the Old Senate Chamber, keeping him in charge after open dissent over the party's midterm losses. No senator challenged Thune, and the Senate Republican Conference confirmed he will remain its leader as the party prepares to give up its majority.
A two-hour morning meeting ended without a decision, and senators reconvened in the afternoon. Seven senators led by Ron Johnson of Wisconsin had pressed to postpone the election until after Thanksgiving, arguing the party needed time to assess losses of at least seven Senate seats. The conference declined, and the delay effort faded as ballots were cast.
Key Takeaways
- John Thune was re-elected Senate Republican leader unopposed on Tuesday, November 10, in the Old Senate Chamber.
- Seven senators led by Ron Johnson sought to delay the vote until after Thanksgiving; the conference refused.
- Republicans lost at least seven Senate seats in the midterms, with Alaska and Mississippi still uncalled.
- Thune becomes minority leader when the new Congress convenes on January 3, 2027.
Who Tried to Delay the Thune Leadership Vote and Why It Failed
Johnson collected the five signatures needed to request a meeting of the full conference and wrote to Conference Chair Tom Cotton of Arkansas asking for a delay. “After the stunning defeat, you just can't continue on business as usual,” Johnson said. “I mean, that kind of defeat demands change.”
Johnson offered no alternative candidate. When asked whether he would run himself, he replied: “That's part of the problem. Would you want it?” Senator Rick Scott of Florida, who had run for leader twice and most recently against Thune, joined the delay effort but declined to run again. “I think we have to acknowledge the voters are not happy,” Scott said. “We have to start listening to voters.”
Scott sought firm commitments on judicial nominees, funding without a large omnibus bill, a stock-trading ban, permitting reform, the National Defense Authorization Act and the SAVE America Act.
What Thune's Re-Election Means for the Senate GOP Minority
Thune first won the post in November 2024, defeating John Cornyn 29-24 in a secret ballot to succeed Mitch McConnell. He took charge in early 2025 and spent much of his tenure on relations with President Donald Trump, who said the choice belonged to senators and praised Thune's work.
Thune now leads a smaller conference into the minority. Democrats, who won the Senate majority, re-elected Chuck Schumer of New York as their leader; Schumer becomes majority leader in January. Across the Capitol, House Republicans chose Jim Jordan as their leader in a 106-73 vote over Steve Scalise.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| November 3, 2026 | Midterm elections: Republicans lose at least seven Senate seats |
| November 10, 2026 | Thune re-elected unopposed in the Old Senate Chamber |
| January 3, 2027 | New Congress convenes; Thune becomes minority leader |
The leadership votes come as Democrats press an impeachment effort against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with a procedural vote expected on Tuesday.
Key Dates: When Thune Becomes Senate Minority Leader
Thune remains majority leader through the lame-duck session. The remaining agenda includes government funding, judicial nominations and the defence authorisation bill.
The formal change comes on January 3, 2027, when the new Congress convenes and Democrats take the majority. Thune previously served as the conference's second-ranking Republican from 2019 until he succeeded McConnell.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was John Thune re-elected as Senate Republican leader?
Yes. Thune ran unopposed and was re-elected by acclamation in a closed-door vote on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. No senator challenged him.
Who tried to delay the Senate GOP leadership vote?
Seven senators led by Ron Johnson of Wisconsin — Rick Scott, Ted Budd, Mike Lee, John Kennedy, Jim Banks and Dave McCormick — asked to postpone the vote until after Thanksgiving. The conference declined, and the vote went ahead as scheduled.
When does John Thune become Senate minority leader?
Thune becomes minority leader on January 3, 2027, when the new Congress convenes and Democrats take the Senate majority. He remains majority leader through the lame-duck session.
How many Senate seats did Republicans lose in the 2026 midterms?
Republicans lost at least seven Senate seats, handing Democrats the majority. Two races, in Alaska and Mississippi, remained uncalled when the leadership vote was held.
The next test for Thune comes in the lame-duck session, where the conference must pass government funding and the defence authorisation bill before January 3, 2027.
