Ron Johnson seeks delay in Senate Republican leadership election after big losses in the midterms

Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson obtained the five signatures he needed Friday to request a meeting of the Senate Republican Conference to discuss postponing next week's leadership election in light of the midterms.

Johnson made the request after Republicans lost at least seven seats in the upper chamber in Tuesday's midterms and after President Donald Trump's adviser Alex Bruesewitz questioned whether Senate Majority Leader John Thune should remain the GOP leader next year, according to The Hill.

No Republican has publicly sought to challenge Thune for the role so far.

It is not clear when the new meeting would take place, but conference rules instruct Senate Republican Policy Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito to call a meeting of the group whenever requested to do so in writing by five or more colleagues.

The Senate Republican conference is already scheduled to meet next Tuesday morning to vote on its new leadership team. 

The request also comes after Republicans attempted to delay the leadership votes in the 2024 election, in which Republicans flipped control of the Senate by picking up four seats. If elected leader, Thune would become Senate Minority Leader next term.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.