The Republicans have suspended the leadership contest after two hours of deliberations as conservative lawmakers have pressed Majority Leader John Thune for a plan to advance Republican priorities through the lame-duck session.

Thune hopes to hold leadership elections this afternoon and the pause on the discussion does not mean that the chamber has opted to delay the proceedings, The Hill reported.

“We haven’t decided whether it’s going to be delayed. We had a conversation and more people wanted to speak,” Thune said.

Several Republicans have urged the conference to delay its election of a leader for the next Congress and to focus on maximizing their remaining time in the majority.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., was a leading instigator of calls for the delay. But Republicans could reconvene in the afternoon and move forward with the vote.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.