Senate Minority Whip John Thune told reporters Tuesday that Republicans will preserve the legislative filibuster if his party returns to the majority next Congress, even if it means Senate Democrats will continue to block GOP-favored legislation like a strict border and immigration bill the House passed last year.

Mr. Thune, South Dakota Republican, is running to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky as Senate GOP leader, a post that Mr. McConnell is voluntarily vacating when the current Congress concludes in January.

Mr. McConnell has been a steadfast defender of the legislative filibuster, the tool that gives the minority party power to block legislation from advancing in the Senate if it can’t get 60 votes.

Both parties have rolled back the use of filibusters of nominations, but there has been bipartisan resistance to doing the same for legislation, despite some Democrats calling for a change.

Mr. Thune is not seeking to weaken the legislative filibuster should he win an internal party election to succeed Mr. McConnell as leader, even though keeping it could hamper a potential Republican majority’s ability to advance its agenda.

“Yes,” Mr. Thune said when asked if Republicans would keep the filibuster in place next Congress no matter what. “Absolutely, we’re committed to it.”

Mr. Thune was asked about the filibuster specifically in the context of Democrats using it to block Republicans’ preferred border security bill, known as HR 2, next Congress even if the GOP controls both chambers and the White House.

Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Republican, who also is running for GOP leader, has likewise expressed support for preserving the legislative filibuster. Other senators may jump into the race for leader before the internal party election, expected to be held in late November.

• Lindsey McPherson can be reached at lmcpherson@washingtontimes.com.