Santorum to Newsmax: Thune, Schumer Safe Until Someone 'Sticks Their Head Up'

Former Sen. Rick Santorum said Friday that Senate Republican leader John Thune and Democratic leader Chuck Schumer are likely to keep their posts because no one has stepped forward to challenge either.

"One of the things I learned a long time ago, and having run in many leadership elections, you can't beat somebody with nobody," Santorum said on Newsmax's "On the Record With Greta Van Susteren."

The Pennsylvania Republican said that despite "musings" about other candidates in both parties, he has not heard of anyone formally launching a bid against either leader.

"As far as I can see, no one has announced they're running against Chuck Schumer. I haven't heard anyone announce that they're running against John Thune," he said.

Santorum said both leaders have suggested they expect opposition, but he dismissed the idea that a challenger could emerge through a draft campaign.

"There's not going to be a draft effort. That just doesn't happen," he said. "It's going to be someone who sticks their head up and says they're going to run. And until someone does, you know, those two leaders are going to be reelected."

Santorum served as chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, the chamber's No. 3 GOP leadership post, from 2001 to 2007.

His comments come as both parties prepare to pick their leaders after Tuesday's midterm elections, in which Democrats won control of the Senate and the House.

Senate Republicans are scheduled to hold leadership elections Tuesday of next week.

A Thune spokesperson has confirmed the South Dakota Republican will run for minority leader, and no one has publicly come forward to challenge him, Roll Call reported .

Thune, 65, has led Senate Republicans since January 2025, when he succeeded Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. His relationship with President Donald Trump has been strained at times, including over Thune's refusal to change Senate rules to pass the SAVE America Act, an elections bill that stalled under the 60-vote filibuster threshold.

Senate Democrats are expected to choose their leader by secret ballot next month. Several newly elected Democrats, including Sens.-elect Adam Hamilton of Kansas, Troy Jackson of Maine and Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan, said during their campaigns that they would not support Schumer as leader.

Schumer, 75, said Wednesday he was confident he would be reelected majority leader.

"The issue is not me. I'll be reelected as majority leader," the New York Democrat told reporters.

No senator has stepped forward to challenge Schumer.

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