Senate Republicans on Tuesday, Nov. 10, reelected Sen. John Thune of South Dakota as leader of the GOP conference, the Associated Press reported. Thune ran unopposed in the secret-ballot election.
The vote followed three meetings in which senators discussed losses of at least seven Senate seats. Some Republicans, including Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson and Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, had urged a delay. Johnson, who circulated a letter asking to postpone, walked out as voting began, the AP reported. West Virginia Sen. Jim Justice said there was a "legitimate argument" about keeping the same leadership after a heavy defeat, but also said current leaders "didn't cause this problem to happen."
Thune, who became leader in early 2025 after Sen. Mitch McConnell, had said the conference would have a "very fulsome, robust conversation." Two Senate races in Alaska and Mississippi remained uncalled. NBC News reported the same result, and The Guardian said Thune won without a challenger. Related: the uncalled Alaska and Mississippi races and Jim Jordan’s House election.