Senate’s Post-Election Drama Escalates Quickly

“Congress’ lame-duck session starts with a bang on Monday, as Senate Republicans debate their future after last week’s shellacking and Democrats face their first vote on a permitting reform bill that is cleaving them,” Semafor reports.

“On the first front, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) is expected to deliver Senate Republican Conference Chair Tom Cotton (R-AR) a letter on Monday with the requisite five signatures needed to force a special conference meeting.”

“That won’t delay Majority Leader John Thune’s leadership election, nor will it block Thune’s bid to helm the conference in the minority, but it will force a debate about party leadership — and there may eventually be a vote on whether to delay the leadership election.”