Senate Majority Leader John Thune plans to run for another term as the Republican leader in the Senate, even after Democrats won control of the chamber in Tuesday’s midterm elections. Thune will seek the Senate minority leadership role when Republicans hold their leadership elections next week, according to a spokesperson for his office.

The decision means Thune intends to retain leadership of Senate Republicans despite the party’s losses, which ended its two-year control of the chamber. Democrats are expected to take over the majority in January, leaving Thune to lead his conference from the minority as the 120th Congress begins.

Thune, 65, of South Dakota, became Senate majority leader in January 2025 after defeating Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Rick Scott of Florida in the Republican leadership contest to succeed longtime leader Mitch McConnell. Before Tuesday’s election, Thune had already indicated that he intended to seek another term regardless of whether Republicans maintained their majority.

The Republican leadership elections are scheduled for Tuesday, November 10. So far, no senator has publicly announced plans to challenge Thune, and he appears to have support among colleagues despite the election losses. Sen. Rick Scott, who challenged Thune in 2024, said in September that he did not intend to run against him again.

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming is also expected to seek to retain his leadership position as Republicans transition into the minority. The party will have to reorganize its leadership and strategy as Democrats prepare to control the Senate agenda and committee chairmanships.

Following the election, Thune issued a statement on X defending the Republican record and outlining his party’s plans for the next Congress. He said Senate Republicans would not stand by while Democrats attempt to reverse policies enacted under the Republican majority, adding that they would work with President Donald Trump to oppose what he described as the party’s “worst impulses” and “Democrat extremism.”

Thune’s bid comes as Republicans face questions about their performance in the midterms and the party’s direction heading into the next election cycle. Although the leadership vote is conducted by secret ballot, no serious challenger has emerged publicly ahead of next week’s contest.