WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans will meet Tuesday for a “robust conversation” on their future and to decide whether to keep South Dakota Sen. John Thune as their leader, just a week after steep losses in the midterm elections that cost them their majority.
Thune is expected to be reelected, given that he remains popular with fellow Senate Republicans and is running unopposed. But some Republicans who returned to Washington on Monday for the first time since the election wipeout that cost them at least seven seats say it’s too soon to endorse the status quo.
“We need to have some real soul-searching,” said Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, who has circulated a letter to the conference asking for a delay in the closed-door, secret-ballot leadership elections. “We can’t just continue on business as usual — that kind of defeat demands change.”
Still, Johnson conceded that there’s no one else on the ballot.
“That’s part of our problem, who would want the job?” he said, turning to a reporter and joking, “Do you want it?”
The angst comes as the party is just beginning to reckon with what the election results mean for GOP lawmakers and how soon they can try to rebuild their ranks. Two additional races remain uncalled in Alaska and Mississippi that could further deplete their numbers.
Thune made clear Monday that the leadership is moving ahead with Senate elections, which will include contests for other party leaders as well. But senators could still seek a vote to delay as they gather Tuesday morning.
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