Thune Survives Conservative Revolt to Keep Senate GOP Leadership

Sen. John Thune of South Dakota will lead Senate Republicans into the next Congress, but only after a bruising fight inside the conference on Tuesday.

Republican senators huddled in the Old Senate Chamber for nearly two hours before pausing their leadership election when conservatives demanded "a plan" for the lame-duck session and for life in the minority, The Hill reported ^[1]. By mid-afternoon, a Senate GOP aide announced that Thune had been re-elected leader by acclamation ^[2].

The pushback was real. Axios reported that eight Republican senators had called for the leadership votes to be delayed, with one promising to walk out rather than vote ^[3]. Just the News reported that conservatives were frustrated by Thune's refusal to change Senate rules to pass the SAVE America Act, the voter ID bill that was a top priority of the Trump White House ^[5].

Thune will go from Majority Leader to Minority Leader when the new Congress convenes in January. Republicans lost control of the Senate in last week's midterms, a defeat Bloomberg tied to voter frustration with the economy and the President ^[4]. CBS News reported the conference chose to stay the course rather than gamble on a new face ^[6].

For conservative voters, the test is what comes next. The senators who forced Tuesday's standoff said they want a fighting plan, not business as usual, and they will be watching whether Thune delivers one.