Republican members of Congress are scheduled to elect their new leaders on Tuesday as the party regroups following significant losses in the midterm elections. The elections will mark a major shift in congressional dynamics, with Democrats having gained ground in areas that were previously solid Republican strongholds. With some races still undecided, Republicans are currently on pace to hold at least 256 seats in the House and at least 54 seats in the Senate for the new Congress.
In the Senate, Majority Leader John Thune is expected to be reelected as the minority leader without facing any formal challenges. However, a group of GOP senators is petitioning to delay the leadership elections, which are set to begin Tuesday morning. They argue that the conference needs more time to discuss the results of the elections before finalizing the leadership structure. Thune expressed sympathy for the desire to come together on a path forward but stated that the decision on whether to delay the votes would ultimately be made by the Republican conference.
Thune told CBS News on Monday that it is important to settle these issues as soon as possible to facilitate moving forward. He noted that the party will hear out the arguments for delaying the votes before seeing what the members think on Tuesday. The South Dakota senator emphasized the need for a robust conversation about the party's future direction while acknowledging that the final decision rests with the conference.
Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin is leading the push to delay the Senate leadership elections. He outlined the current situation on Monday night, noting that leadership had agreed to hold a conference meeting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Johnson argued that Senate Republicans cannot continue with business as usual after what he described as a stunning defeat. He stated that such a loss demands change and that the party needs to engage in soul searching and robust discussion to determine the strategy moving forward.
Johnson conceded that there is no clear alternative to follow him as leader, questioning who would want the job after such a defeat. He argued that at a minimum, Republicans need to hear from their leadership team about their plans. He criticized the timing, stating that it is obnoxious to expect members to come back to Washington a week after the election and immediately vote on leadership without adequate time to develop support or consider running for positions.
In the House, Speaker Mike Johnson is stepping aside, which has kickstarted a contest for the top GOP post. Johnson told reporters on Monday night that Republicans cannot delay their leadership elections due to logistical constraints. He explained that new members are already in Washington for orientation and that the dates were published in advance. Changing the schedule would interfere with the member orientation process, which is a complex logistical undertaking.
With Johnson bowing out, Reps. Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Jim Jordan of Ohio are facing off for the minority leader position. Johnson described both candidates as extraordinary and noted that he is close to both of them. The House GOP leadership is expected to see the most significant change among the parties in both chambers following Johnson's decision to step down. House Republicans are set to meet at 9 a.m. on Tuesday to begin considering their next leadership team.
Other positions are also up for election in the House. Rep. August Pfluger of Texas is challenging Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota for the position of minority whip. Additionally, Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain of Michigan faces two opponents, Reps. Erin Houchin of Indiana and Greg Steube of Florida, in the race for conference chair. These contests highlight the internal debates within the party about how to structure its approach in the minority.
Earlier on Monday, GOP Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri, who chairs the Ways and Means Committee, argued that the elections should be delayed to allow the conference to address rules that have allowed a small group of members to hold up legislative activity. He stated that failing to address these issues before choosing a new leader is a disservice to the party. Smith emphasized that the rules must never again permit a leader to be taken hostage to the whims of an individual member.
Mike Johnson did not explicitly commit to serving out the full two-year term for which he won reelection last week. He told reporters that the party is focused on finishing the 119th Congress strong and that he remains in charge until early January. Johnson stated that his objective after that is to help his team ensure the Republican Party has a very successful 120th Congress, leaving the specifics of his future role to develop over time.
