Sen. Ron Johnson spent Saturday morning on X arguing that Senate Republicans should slow down next week’s leadership vote after their midterm losses.
What Johnson posted
Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, has been pushing his colleagues to delay the closed-door vote set for Tuesday, Nov. 10. On Saturday, he made his case in public.
- Fri., Nov. 6, 5:38 p.m. ET: “The Senate GOP must recommit to the enduring principles that made America great,” he wrote, calling for “goals and a strategy” to counter Democrats.
- Sat., Nov. 7, 9:03 a.m. ET: “Since 1934, leadership elections have occurred about 40 days after an election. Since 2006, that timeline has shortened to just nine days.” He added: “There’s no reason to rush a leadership election — especially after a defeat.” The post included a clip of his interview on CBS News 24/7’s “The Takeout.”
- Sat., 11:36 a.m. ET: “Our supporters expected us to drain the swamp, but it seems like the swamp won.”
How the delay push works
On Friday, Johnson collected the five signatures he needed to request a meeting of all Senate Republicans, according to Just the News and The Daily Signal. The Senate Republican Conference is simply the group of all GOP senators. Its leaders are picked by secret ballot.
- Conference rules say Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, who chairs the Republican Policy Committee, must call a meeting when five or more senators ask in writing, Just the News reported.
- The Washington Examiner reported that Johnson’s letter calls it “political malpractice” to hold the vote so soon after a “stunning defeat.”
- Sen. Mike Lee said publicly that he signed, according to the Examiner.
- Johnson planned to keep gathering signatures through the weekend, The Daily Signal reported.
Why now
Democrats flipped at least seven Republican-held Senate seats on Tuesday, giving them control of the chamber in January, the Examiner reported. Two races, in Alaska and Mississippi, were still uncalled.
The push also followed criticism from Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz. “Why do Hill Republicans insist on rewarding failure?” he wrote on X about Majority Leader John Thune, according to The Hill.
The other side
Thune, of South Dakota, is running unopposed to lead Senate Republicans as minority leader. No GOP senator has said they will challenge him, Just the News reported. Republican senators and aides told reporters they still expect the vote to happen Tuesday.
A Senate aide told The Daily Signal that Thune and President Trump spoke on Wednesday and “talk frequently.” As of Saturday afternoon, Thune had not publicly answered Johnson’s new posts.
What happens next
- A conference meeting could be held before ballots are cast on Tuesday.
- Senators would then decide whether to vote or wait.
- A similar push to delay leadership votes after the 2024 election failed, Just the News reported.
Sources: @SenRonJohnson on X (Nov. 7, 9:03 a.m.); @SenRonJohnson on X (Nov. 7, 11:36 a.m.); @SenRonJohnson on X (Nov. 6); Just the News; The Daily Signal; Washington Examiner
