Senate Republicans Including Cornyn and Cassidy Reaffirm Support for Leader John Thune

Senate Majority Leader John Thune secured public backing from key Republicans for another term as several GOP candidates in upcoming primaries withheld criticism of the leader despite their campaigns against Washington incumbents. Sens. John Cornyn and Bill Cassidy confirmed they will back Thune.

Cornyn, who ran against Thune for leader in late 2024, saw his office state that he supports Senator Thune continuing to serve as leader. Bill Cassidy said he supported Leader Thune previously and plans to support him again. Trump-endorsed Rep.

Andy Barr will support Thune according to his campaign. Rep. Buddy Carter will back Thune according to his campaign. John Fleming said in a text message that he was not taking a position on Thune. The next Congress starts in January 2027.

If elected, the GOP candidates’ first unofficial vote would be on a secret ballot whether to extend Thune’s tenure. Thune took over as leader in January 2025 and has faced minimal criticism since then. Sen.

Mike Lee considers the notion of replacing Thune unrealistic on procedural grounds and because Senator Thune is beloved by colleagues and very popular within the conference. Sen. Rick Scott ran against Thune and Cornyn for leader in 2024.

Rick Scott told the Washington Examiner that he takes leadership with their word that they are going to put the effort into trying to get it passed and he is going to keep working on it. The Louisiana Senate primary is May 16 with early voting already underway in Louisiana. Kentucky’s primary is on May 19 and early voting starts Monday in Kentucky.

The Cornyn-Paxton runoff is May 26 and early voting begins May 18 in Texas. Trump has so far stayed neutral in Texas between Cornyn and Paxton. Trump said Tuesday he was disappointed with inaction from Thune.

Trump said he likes John a lot but he has a couple Republicans that are foolish people.

““A couple of them I don’t like and a couple of them I can’t stand, actually, if you want to know the truth.” — President Donald Trump Trump said we should have the SAVE America Act, voter identification, proof of citizenship, and mail-in voting for the military and people that need it but not for everybody. Trump said anytime you have mail-in voting they are going to cheat and they cheat like dogs. Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Sen. John Barrasso arrived to hear Britain’s King Charles III speak to a joint meeting of Congress on April 28, 2026. Thune has steadfastly resisted further weakening the Senate’s 60-vote threshold over a lack of GOP support for the SAVE America Act, the GOP’s voter ID bill. Tyler Bowyer told the Washington Examiner that America needs the Save America Act passed and Rick Scott should be in charge. Jason Roe said he doesn’t think Thune draws any particular ire from the base. Jason Roe said when they’re the outsider running against the establishment, hugging the leader of the Senate establishment kind of undercuts your message and it’s better just to punt and leave that to people’s imaginations. Washington Examiner reported that Republican Senate candidates primarying incumbents are vocal about rooting out those they deem insufficiently conservative or misaligned with President Donald Trump. But they withhold criticism when it comes to supporting Thune for another term atop the conference as they approach the primary elections, sparing the relatively new party leader from the crossfire.”