Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson has called for delaying the Senate Republican leadership election scheduled for next week, in which John Thune is expected to be reselected and become minority leader. The request follows midterm results that left Democrats with a projected majority, with Johnson stating the conference needs time for discussion before voting. A post sharing his remarks drew online reactions, as many commenters opposed Thune’s continued leadership.
The video shows Johnson responding to a question about whether he would support John Thune if the vote proceeds as scheduled on Tuesday. He states, “I’m not sure anybody else wants the job. Who would want it right now?” He continues, “I think we ought to delay these elections! We ought to have robust, soul-searching discussions in our conference!”
Later in the clip, Johnson adds, “Republicans have to recommit ourselves to limited government, lower spending. Unfortunately, now Democrats have a lot of leverage here.” The footage is limited to the interview exchange and does not show subsequent conference discussions or any formal vote.
According to the post text and contemporaneous reporting, Johnson has obtained the five signatures needed under conference rules to request a meeting to consider postponing the leadership elections, which were set for the week after the midterms. However, the signatures do not automatically delay the vote, and it remains unclear whether Republicans will agree to change the schedule. Democrats have secured at least 54 Senate seats following the midterms, with their majority potentially growing to 56 as the remaining races are decided. That means the Republican leader will become minority leader when the new Congress takes office in January.
Thune, the current majority leader, is running unopposed and is widely expected by colleagues to be reselected, according to reports from The Hill and other outlets. Johnson has described the push as a call for discussion rather than opposition to Thune personally, stating in separate interviews that it is “not being hostile to leadership or to John Thune.”
Responses to the Call for a Delay in the Senate Leadership Election
Many users rejected the idea of Thune continuing as leader. One wrote, “If they appoint Thune again, it will show what a bunch of spineless cowards they are,” while another said, “Electing Thune again would be insane. The base hates him, and he’s a huge reason for the midterm slaughter.”
Others stated simply, “Anybody but Thune,” “WE ABSOLUTELY DO NOT WANT TO DO NOTHING THUNE AS MINORITY LEADER!!!!,” or “KICK @LeaderJohnThune OUT! NOW!”
Some supported the delay itself as a chance to force a different outcome. One commenter urged senators to “Vote to DELAY the leadership elections scheduled for this week, and REJECT John Thune for Minority Leader,” and another wrote, “Rick Scott, John Kennedy, and Ron Johnson are right to call for delaying Tuesday’s vote.”
A few suggested alternatives, with one saying, “Elect @tedcruz he knows how to get *expletive* done.”
Others were skeptical of the push. One user replied to Johnson, “You have been talking for two years, and your robust BS hasn’t accomplished jack!”
Another argued the delay risked wasting limited time before Democrats take power, writing that senators “are talking about blocking John Thune from a majority vote… wasting time so that the judges we need them to confirm won’t get confirmed either.”
The call to delay the leadership elections has become part of the broader discussion among Republicans about the party’s direction after the midterms. Online reactions remain centered on whether the conference should proceed with the scheduled vote or allow more time for debate before selecting its next leader.
