Johnson, Lee, Scott and Kennedy push to delay Thune's unopposed Senate leadership reelection

Senate Republicans are splitting over whether Leader John Thune should cruise to another term as conference leader next Tuesday. Sens. Ron Johnson and Mike Lee are circulating a letter under conference rules that needs five signatures to force a delay of the leadership elections.

At least four senators have publicly signed on: Johnson, Lee, Rick Scott, and John Kennedy. Lee argued Republicans should "assess leadership candidates based on how they lead the conference over the next few weeks while we still have the majority — especially while the full membership of the next conference is still being determined."

After the midterm rout that put Republicans into the minority, the challengers want a real debate before Democrats take power in January — not a closed-door rubber stamp for Thune, who is currently running unopposed.