Larry Ward, chairman of the Constitutional Rights PAC and president of Political Media Inc., used a recent podcast appearance with host Jeff Crouere to call for a leadership shake-up among Senate Republicans, arguing that current leaders have failed to deliver enough of President Trump's agenda.
In the conversation, which touched on divisions within both major parties, Ward said Senate Majority Leader John Thune should be replaced, contending that Thune would not advance the SAVE America Act at the pace the president and the party base want. Trump's demands to pass the SAVE America Act and kill the filibuster have remained unmet, and tension between the White House and the Senate leader has been reported in recent months, with Trump said to be growing tired of hearing "no" from Thune on certain priorities.
Ward framed the 2026 elections as an opportunity to install what he described as younger "America First" leadership in the chamber. Noting that Sens. Bill Cassidy, John Cornyn, and Thom Tillis, along with the retiring Mitch McConnell, will be gone from the Senate after 2026, he characterized those departures as openings for replacements more aligned with the president's agenda. He acknowledged that Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski would remain, and said a larger Republican margin would be needed as a result.
While critical of the current leadership, Ward argued that intra-party disputes should be set aside heading into the general election, urging conservatives to focus on defeating Democrats rather than on internal feuds. He pointed to the Democratic Socialists of America as the party's central opponent and warned that a loss of Republican control of Congress could lead to renewed impeachment efforts against Trump and Vice President JD Vance. He closed by urging supporters to contribute to candidates and political action committees ahead of the vote.
Ward's comments reflect a broader current within the party's pro-Trump wing. Thune, who was elected Senate majority leader in November 2024, succeeding the retiring Mitch McConnell, has drawn criticism from some Trump allies even as he retains substantial support within the conference. One recent report noted that Thune is among the few Republicans in Washington who has managed to say "no" to Trump and keep his job, though he could enter the next Congress with diminished power as the conference's loyalties increasingly align with Trump. For his part, Thune has said Republicans will run in 2026 on a message of safer streets, more money in people's pockets, and better opportunities.
Neither Thune's office nor the other senators named by Ward have responded publicly to his remarks.
