Senate Majority Leader John Thune is still expected to run for a second term atop the Republican conference despite the heavy losses incurred by his party in the midterms.
A source close to the leader confirmed the plans to The Washington Sun. Leadership elections for Senate Republicans are slated for Tuesday, Nov. 10.
The South Dakota Republican has indicated in past months that he would run to keep his leadership post, but he stopped short of making a definitive announcement. So far, no other Republican has publicly said they would challenge him.
Thune would be running for minority leader after his party saw at least six seats flip, most in ruby-red states that President Donald Trump won handily in 2024.
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In a social media post, Thune signaled the Republicans’ need in the coming months and years to “stop the worst impulses of Democrat extremism.”
“Over the last two years, Senate Republicans have put up a strong record of accomplishment that’s created safer streets, more money in Americans’ pockets, and new opportunities for families and businesses to get ahead,” Thune wrote on X. “After fighting Democrat obstruction at every turn, we prevented the largest tax hike in American history, secured our border in an unprecedented way, confirmed the president’s Cabinet at the fastest pace in two decades, and put strong conservative judges on benches across the country faster than we have since the Reagan administration.”
“I’m proud of our team and everything we’ve done for the American people, and I’m looking forward to the important work we have in front of us over the next few months. As we head into 2027, Senate Republicans will not stand idly by as the far-left, socialist wing of the Democrat Party attempts to unwind everything we’ve done,” Thune continued. “Thankfully, we still have President Trump in the White House, and we’ll work with him to stop the worst impulses of Democrat extremism. We cannot let their fringe positions become the mainstream.”
Thune is up for reelection in 2028. He told The Sun in an interview last week that he plans to put the “wheels in motion fairly quickly” on that front, having said separately in August that it was his “assumption” that he will seek a fifth term.
“We’ll start putting the wheels in motion fairly quickly on that,” he said about a timeline for a decision. “I’m fully confident that we can survive both primary and general elections, but it’s got to be the right thing to do. That’s always a conversation my wife and I have — kind of about where we are in life, and where we think we can make the biggest difference, and I feel like the job I have right now is a bit of a calling.”
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