DALLAS — Senate Majority Leader John Thune addressed the boos he received at the midterm convention, stating in an interview with The Post that he understands he may not be beneficial for some GOP candidates and is willing to avoid races where his involvement may not help. Thune (R-SD) mentioned that he advises candidates for the 2026 campaign by saying, "I’ll come out for you or against you, whichever helps you the most." He acknowledged that being seen as part of the establishment in Washington can influence this decision.
Republicans currently control both the House and the Senate but face challenges ahead of the November 3 elections, with Democrats leading by over six percentage points on the generic congressional ballot, according to RealClearPolitics polling. Thune explained that President Trump is attempting to motivate Republican voters who may be less inclined to vote in a midterm election, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Thune has been participating in fundraising events in Dallas but has not taken the main stage. He noted that he hosted several candidates at a box during the convention. Despite the crowd's reaction, Trump had praised Thune just before the boos, stating that he is destined for "great success" and highlighting the challenges posed by Democrats.
Thune remarked that he did not hear Trump's compliment directly but was aware of the boos. He expressed that he does not believe Trump is frustrated with his leadership but rather with the Senate's institutional challenges. He pointed out that Trump's voter ID bill, the SAVE America Act, has stalled due to a lack of support to overcome the 60-vote filibuster.
Thune has faced criticism from hardline Republicans for not passing the bill, but he attributed the difficulties to Democratic obstruction, which has led to a record number of roll call votes in the Senate since 1976. He stated, "It’s just reflective of how hard the Democrats have made it to do anything," and emphasized the challenges of obtaining consent in the Senate due to the current political climate.