“Next week’s Senate GOP leadership vote should be postponed,” Rubio tweeted on Friday. “First we need to make sure those who want to lead us are truly committed to fighting for the priorities and values of working Americans (of every background) that gave us big wins in states like #Florida.” Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., called for the Senate GOP leadership election to be delayed on Friday. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images) MISSOURI REPRESENTATIVES HAWLEY AND SMITH SAY SENATE NEEDS NEW LEADERSHIP: ‘NOT Mitch McConnell’ Rubio is just the latest Republican to launch an apparent attack on McConnell. Many GOP Senate candidates, including Sen.-elect Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., have said they would not support McConnell for party leader for the next Congress. Schmidt’s Missouri colleague, GOP Sen. Josh Hawley, has also attacked McConnell in recent weeks. He supported Rubio’s call for a delay in the leadership election in a tweet. “Exactly right. I don’t know why the Senate GOP would hold a leadership vote for the next Congress before this election is over,” Hawley said. “We have a runoff in the #GASenate – they say it doesn’t matter? Don’t disenfranchise @HerschelWalker.” MID-TERM ELECTIONS: Hawley SCORES ‘WASHINGTON DEMOCRATIC’ AFTER RED WAVES It’s not clear there are nearly enough votes to keep McConnell from being the GOP leader in the next Congress. He has enjoyed significant support from GOP senators in the past and would become the party’s longest-serving leader in the Senate if re-elected as the top Republican in the chamber. Additionally, elections for the Senate leader—unlike the House speaker—are by a simple majority of the conference rather than a majority of the chamber. That gives McConnell significant cushion, even if several senators come out vocally against him. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP McConnell’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Fox News’ Chris Pandolfo and Haris Alic contributed to this report. Tyler Olson is a reporter covering the Senate for Fox News Digital.
