Senators weigh leadership futures after Democrats' decisive election win

Senators returned to Washington Monday facing questions about their leadership after last week's elections gave Democrats a significant new majority, with both parties debating whether to keep their current leaders. Republicans, losing about a quarter of their conference, are voting Tuesday on whether to reelect Sen. John Thune as leader, while Democrats are privately discussing if Sen. Chuck Schumer remains the right choice despite historic wins. Both are expected to win, but internal debates could affect party effectiveness and voter perceptions ahead of 2028. Some Republicans, including Sen. Mike Lee, have called for delaying Tuesday's vote until outstanding Alaska and Mississippi races are decided, though Thune is moving forward. Democrats face a potential challenge from Sen. Chris Van Hollen, while incoming senators are split on their support for Schumer.