Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) has vowed to walk out of the room if Senate Republicans proceed with their scheduled leadership elections on Tuesday, escalating an intra-party clash over the GOP's future following a disappointing midterm cycle.
In an interview with the Washington Examiner on Monday, Johnson said he would refuse to participate in the secret-ballot leadership votes, insisting that the conference first hold a broader discussion about the party's direction. "If you hold the election, I'll leave the room," he said. "I'm not going to participate in elections for leadership tomorrow."
To postpone the internal elections, Johnson would need the support of a majority of the Senate GOP conference. His push comes as some conservatives express frustration with Senate Minority Leader John Thune (R-SD), who is expected to face a leadership contest as Democrats prepare to take control of the Senate in January.
Johnson, who has previously denied any interest in the top leadership post, again downplayed such ambitions on Monday but did not entirely rule them out. "I don't think so," he told the Examiner. "It's not my intention. I don't want to be leader."
He framed his call for a conference meeting as a necessary step for the party to assess whether a change at the top is warranted, not as a personal attack on Thune. "We all like John Thune. We like him, OK?" Johnson said. "I don't want to say anything bad about him, but again, at some point in time, our supporters absolutely believe we have to hold people accountable, and probably are looking for a new face, or new faces."
Thune, for his part, acknowledged the tension but signaled he would press ahead. "We'll see where it goes from there, but, yeah, I'm running for leader, and I think it's important that we have that discussion, and we will," he told reporters Monday, according to Bloomberg.
No other Republican senator has publicly declared a challenge to Thune, but Johnson is not alone in seeking a delay. Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA) has also backed the push to postpone the leadership vote, echoing concerns about the party's post-midterm turmoil.
Johnson also criticized former President Trump's role in the midterm campaign, arguing that the GOP's losses in key races and the loss of both chambers of Congress stemmed from a flawed strategy. "I think there's plenty of blame to go around," he said. "But I mean, the president was the one out there saying, 'Pretend I'm on the ballot,' and people did, and we see the result."
The internal GOP fight mirrors broader leadership battles in the House, where conservatives are also demanding changes after the party's setbacks. The outcome of Tuesday's Senate vote will likely shape the GOP's approach as it transitions to the minority.
