Sen. Hawley Denies Vote to Thune Over Abortion Bills

Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri refused to vote for Senate Republican leader John Thune as Senate minority leader. Hawley accused the party of abandoning pro-life voters by failing to pursue a second defunding of Planned Parenthood in reconciliation legislation.^[1]

Republicans previously enacted a one-year ban on taxpayer funding to abortion businesses in the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act. That prohibition expired on July 4, 2026.

“Republicans previously enacted a one-year ban on taxpayer funding to abortion businesses in the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

In April, the Senate rejected an amendment by Hawley to extend the funding ban through 2035.

“When you abandon pro-lifers, when you abandon the needy, when you abandon the poor, when you abandon working people, the American people might have something to say about that,” Hawley told reporters.

On Monday, Hawley declined to back the current leadership team. Thune faced no formal opponent and was reelected by acclamation.

The leadership vote follows a difficult election for the party. Republicans lost at least seven Senate seats on Nov. 3, returning Democrats to the majority.

Other Issues

Hawley remarked how little Thune helped Americans while he was the majority leader. He said,

It’s easy to blame other people, but we need to look at what happened here. What did we do to get the price of gas down? Nothing. What did we do to get the price of healthcare down? Nothing^[2],

Prayer

Hawley called the election results shocking and historic. He urged Christians to gather at the U.S. Capitol for prayer and fasting.

“It calls for a historic response. Christians need to gather and seek the Lord,” Hawley wrote on X.

The prayer gathering is scheduled for Dec. 15 from noon to 1 p.m.

History

This past year, Senator Hawley has halted Trump’s agenda promoting American values by gaveling in and out of Senate meetings.