After presiding over one of the least productive Congresses in the last 40 years and failing to pass the Save America Act, South Dakota Senator John Thune, was reelected as the Republican leader in the Senate in a secret vote held this Tuesday.
In the chamber after being reelected, Thune spoke for the first time since the defeat on November 3. In his speech, the senator stated that he is ready to work with Democrats "in a bipartisan manner," but warned that he will oppose the radical agenda promoted by the left.
"There is no doubt about it. Tuesday night was a tough election night. It certainly was not the result we expected, but it was the result chosen by the American people. And we have to listen to them. I am proud of what Republicans have achieved for the American people in the 119th Congress, especially the tax cuts for working families," Thune noted.
The Republican Party does not learn: After the blow at the polls and a mediocre balance, John Thune was reelected as the block leader.
"But the American people made it clear that they need more. Inflation remains too high, and simply shopping at the supermarket can represent a huge part of the family budget. So I think the election left us with two things… one, the opportunity to reflect on what we as a party need to do better," added the South Dakota native.
"I want to tell my Democratic colleagues, both new and old, that Republicans are ready to work with you. We can achieve our first bipartisan accomplishment for the American people even before the new Congress begins," Thune emphasized, inviting the opposition to dialogue.
Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin sought to postpone the leadership vote following last week's electoral defeat, but the attempt did not succeed. Johnson told reporters thatRepublicans "simply cannot continue acting as if nothing has happened" after Democrats flipped seven seats in the Senate and are working to secure two more: Alaska and Mississippi.
Senator Ron Johnson was looking for an alternative to Thune.
