Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) on Friday called for the Senate GOP’s leadership elections to be postponed a day after news emerged that Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) had been considering a long-shot bid to replace Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) atop the conference.

“The Senate GOP leadership vote next week should be postponed,” Rubio tweeted. “First we need to make sure that those who want to lead us are genuinely committed to fighting for the priorities & values of the working Americans (of every background) who gave us big wins in states like #Florida.” 

“Exactly right. I don’t know why Senate GOP would hold a leadership vote for the next Congress before this election is finished,” Hawley said, quote-tweeting Rubio’s initial statement. “We have a runoff in #GASenate — are they saying that doesn’t matter? Don’t disenfranchise @HerschelWalker.” 

Earlier in the day, Hawley laid the lackluster results in the midterm elections at McConnell’s feet, telling RealClearPolitics in an interview that “Washington Republicanism” and the GOP leader’s decision not to offer an alternative vision hurt the party on Tuesday.

While Hawley’s comments about leadership are not wholly a surprise, Rubio’s are. The Florida senator has not been known to fire inside the tent and criticize Senate GOP leaders. A Rubio spokesperson did not immediately respond to additional questions about the senator’s tweet.

Republican leaders have set their elections for Wednesday. McConnell declared in early October that he has the votes to keep hold of his leadership post.

On Thursday, Politico reported that Scott, who leads the Senate GOP campaign arm, aborted a planned challenge to McConnell’s position after the party did not make the gains it anticipated, headlined by losses in Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, and next month’s runoff in Georgia. 

Adding to the issues, Arizona GOP Senate nominee Blake Masters continues to trail Sen. Mark Kelly (D), and Adam Laxalt is stuck in a nail-biter of a contest with Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) in the Battle Born State.