WASHINGTON >> President Donald Trump late Thursday renewed his call to eliminate the filibuster to force through legislation ending the government shutdown, but his plea is unlikely to get much traction among the Republicans who control the Senate.

Many Republicans, particularly more senior members, fear that any weakening of the signature Senate rule that requires most legislation to win 60 votes would backfire spectacularly if Democrats regained control. They worry it could lead to a deluge of progressive legislation they would be unable to block, including statehood for the District of Columbia and with it two new Democratic senators.

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the majority leader, has made preserving the legislative filibuster a central tenet of his tenure, though he has already weaken

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