U.S. Senate Republican Leader John Thune, of South Dakota, speaks to reporters during a press conference in the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)
WASHINGTON — South Dakota Sen. John Thune will remain Republican leader next Congress despite the GOP’s loss of the chamber’s majority in this year’s midterm elections.
GOP senators voted behind closed doors Tuesday to keep Thune at the helm and reelected Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso as their whip. Neither was challenged.
The other members of Senate Republican leadership will include Republican Conference Chair Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Republican Policy Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Vice Chair of the Republican Conference James Lankford of Oklahoma and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Bernie Moreno of Ohio.
‘Listening intently’
Thune said after the meeting that he and other Republicans were not happy with the results of the midterm elections but will focus more on voters’ concerns in the years ahead.
“As we move forward, we are going to be listening intently to what the American people are saying,” he said. “And I think right now the issue that matters the most to them, like I said, is the cost of living.”
Thune pledged to extend the lame duck session that spans November and December to give Republicans more time to confirm nominees and approve legislation before handing over power to Democrats in early January. Republicans now hold 53 seats and The Associated Press projects they will have 44 next year, with results in Alaska and Mississippi still not called.
“Our conference is committed to being here to do whatever it takes to get as much done as we can,” he said. “That means extending the calendar here, the number of days we’re here, the number of hours we’re here, the number of votes we may end up taking. But we are going to finish this legislative session strong.”
Push for nominations
There was an attempt by several Republican senators to delay decisions about leadership for at least a week, but they were ultimately unsuccessful.
Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt said after the meeting that Republican leaders had committed to clear as many nominees through the chamber as possible. Democrats are unlikely to approve President Donald Trump’s picks for the federal bench or administration roles after January.
“We’re definitely going to maximize the next 54 days for sure,” he said.
Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley said ahead of the vote that he wanted to delay until later this year to give Republicans an opportunity to “change course” following the election results.
“It’s easy to blame other people, but we need to look at what has happened here,” he said, questioning why Republican leaders didn’t put bills on the floor to lower the cost of gasoline and healthcare.
“If you don’t put people first, sooner or later people turn on you,” Hawley said. “And I think that this party thought we can just do whatever we want. People voted for us in ’24, we’ll do whatever we want. No you can’t. You’ve got to do stuff that actually helps people.”
‘Never disappoint voters again’
Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson said following a morning conference meeting that Republicans were “voicing opinions on all sides of the issues.”
“It’s one of those times in the Republican Conference, you kind of go, ‘We got … some smart people, and we’re having a very good respectful conversation,’” Johnson said.
Ohio’s Moreno said later in the day that Republicans are committed to “never disappoint voters again.”
“We’re firmly aware of the consequences now, and that’s the strategy we’re going to employ in 2028,” he said.
60 votes needed
Thune will still have considerable power as minority leader as long as Democrats keep a rule that requires 60 senators vote to advance legislation.
The hurdle forces bipartisanship on major proposals. But even if Democrats were to remove it next Congress, bills would still need Trump’s support to become law, unless there are supermajorities in each chamber to override a veto.