Senate Republicans are concerned that Speaker Paul Ryan Paul Davis RyanKenosha will be a good bellwether in 2020 At indoor rally, Pence says election runs through Wisconsin Juan Williams: Breaking down the debates MORE’s (R-Wis.) decision to leave Congress will make it tougher to get things done this year and fear a protracted leadership race in the House could suck up a lot of time and attention.

Senators see Ryan as a reliable partner in checking President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE when he diverges from where most Republicans stand, such as on tariffs.

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In recent weeks, Ryan has joined Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellPelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Senate GOP aims to confirm Trump court pick by Oct. 29: report Trump argues full Supreme Court needed to settle potential election disputes MORE (R-Ky.) in criticizing the impact of tariffs on trade and the economy and in waving the president off from contemplating the firing of special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE.

On big-picture policy questions, Ryan and McConnell have been in lockstep in efforts to repeal and replace ObamaCare, reform the tax code and boost military spending by $165 billion over two years.

“Everything we do is coordinated between Sen. McConnell and Senate leadership with the House leadership and obviously the Speaker,” said Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn John CornynThe Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting Liberal super PAC launches ads targeting vulnerable GOP senators over SCOTUS fight Senate GOP faces pivotal moment on pick for Supreme Court MORE (Texas), who described the relationship with Ryan as “very close.”

Cornyn expressed hope that Ryan’s successor will collaborate just as smoothly with the Senate leadership. But that remains to be seen.

Ryan and McConnell have tried to keep the party moored to its traditional free-trade positions. McConnell warned last week that imposing tariffs create a “slippery slope” that could lead to a trade war.

Ryan stated his opposition to Trump’s proposal to place tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and warned of “unintended consequences.”

Senators say Ryan was willing to pursue ambitious policy goals and take tough votes in a way that can’t be taken for granted when he is replaced.

“We may not get as much done,” said one Senate Republican committee chairman, who requested anonymity to speak frankly about Ryan’s departure.

A second senior Republican senator said he is worried about a months-long leadership race between House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy Kevin Owen McCarthyMcCarthy's Democratic challenger to launch first TV ad highlighting Air Force service as single mother Trump asked Chamber of Commerce to reconsider Democratic endorsements: report The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - White House moves closer to Pelosi on virus relief bill MORE (R-Calif.) and Majority Whip Steve Scalise Stephen (Steve) Joseph ScaliseHouse GOP slated to unveil agenda ahead of election House panel details 'serious' concerns around Florida, Georgia, Texas, Wisconsin elections Scalise hit with ethics complaint over doctored Barkan video MORE (R-La.).

“It will be tougher to accomplish things if there’s a drawn out leadership race. It would be better if this gets wrapped up in a month,” the lawmaker said of the contest to replace Ryan.

Still, many on Capitol Hill believed prior to Ryan’s announcement on Wednesday that the chances of sweeping legislation passing before the election is slim at best.

Cornyn agreed Wednesday afternoon that Senate leaders would like to have more certainty about the future of the House leadership structure.

“Anything that creates a little bit of stability and predictability is a good thing. The longer something like this goes on, I think the more distracting it will be,” he said.

Right now, GOP lawmakers are uncertain about the timing of the leadership race, something made more complicated by the upcoming elections.

At this point, McCarthy, Scalise and other possible contenders don’t know if they’re running for the job of Speaker or minority leader, as control of the House is up for grabs.

With the midterm election less than six months away and uncertainty at the top of the House leadership team, there’s a growing sense among Republican senators that not much legislation will pass in the months ahead.

“All the big things that are going to get done are probably already done,” said Sen. Jeff Flake Jeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeJeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Republican former Michigan governor says he's voting for Biden Maybe they just don't like cowboys: The president is successful, some just don't like his style MORE (R-Ariz.).

Ryan’s announced retirement is not likely to affect fundraising, however.

GOP lawmakers point out that he will continue to raise money to keep the House in Republican control and secure his legacy. They also note that McCarthy and Scalise are likely to step up their fundraising efforts as part of their bids for Speaker.

But with a Senate GOP majority much safer than a House majority, Republican donors could opt to direct their resources to preserving McConnell as majority leader.

Senate Republicans like working with Ryan because he has had a long career on Capitol Hill — being elected to the House in 1998 and serving as a congressional staffer before that — and had a grasp of how difficult it is to pass legislation through the upper chamber.

“He was so knowledgeable from serving on the Hill for so long. He knew what can and can’t be done and what that really means,” said Sen. James Lankford James Paul LankfordMcConnell works to lock down GOP votes for coronavirus bill Charities scramble to plug revenue holes during pandemic Warren calls for Postal Service board members to fire DeJoy or resign MORE (R-Okla.).

Other House Republicans have cut the Senate less slack over its inability to pass a variety of legislative priorities because of rules that require 60 votes to pass most controversial measures.

Trump has often bashed the Senate over the past year for failing to move top priorities such as a health-care bill and urged senators to reform their rules.

Ryan at times noted how many House-passed bills were waiting for action in the Senate, but he generally refrains from lobbing grenades across the Capitol.

As a result, relations between Senate and House Republicans are solid.

Some Senate Republicans, however, worry that Ryan’s successor will be more deferential to Trump.

McCarthy and Scalise are jockeying to ingratiate themselves with the president in hopes he can help them win the race for the top GOP leadership post.

McCarthy, for example, is working closely with the president on a rescission package that would claw back spending in the $1.3 trillion omnibus appropriations bill Congress passed last month.

That idea, while popular with the president, has fallen flat in the Senate.

Republican senators hope Trump will stay out of the House leadership race.

“The president doesn’t need to bless the next Speaker,” said a third Republican senator who spoke on background. “It’s other people’s prerogatives. The president would be well advised to stay out of it.”