Senate GOP rebels push to delay leadership vote after election losses
What's new: Ron Johnson secured five signatures, enough to force consideration of postponing Tuesday's internal vote.
A bloc of Senate Republicans is trying to postpone the party's leadership elections as lawmakers return to Washington after a bruising midterm defeat that cost the GOP control of the chamber. Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin sent a letter to conference chair Tom Cotton arguing the party should first examine what went wrong and decide how it will operate in the minority. Johnson said he had the support needed under conference rules, with Sens. Rick Scott, John Kennedy, Ted Budd and Mike Lee signing on. John Thune of South Dakota is expected to seek another term as the top Senate Republican. Democrats have secured 54 seats, with races in Mississippi and Alaska still unresolved.