Washington ? In a further tea party win over the Senate GOP establishment, the top Republican in the chamber on Monday unexpectedly fell into line behind demands by House leaders for a moratorium on pork-barrel projects known as “earmarks.”

The abrupt surrender by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell represented just the latest insurgent victory over GOP regulars like the Kentucky Republican, who had backed several establishment candidates — one was in his home state — who lost GOP nominations to tea party-backed candidates earlier this year.

Earmarking is the longtime Washington practice in which lawmakers insert money for home-state projects like road and bridge work into spending bills. Critics say that peppering most spending bills with hundreds or even thousands of such projects creates a go-along-get-along mindset that ensures that Washington spending goes unchecked.

McConnell has long defended the practice, but now said he’s heeding the message that voters sent in midterm elections that swept Democrats from power in the House. He said he can’t accuse Democrats of ignoring the wishes of the American people and then do the same thing.

McConnell’s move heads off a battle with conservative Republican senators who had signaled that they would force a vote today on banning the practice. That vote is now a formality.

House GOP leaders had already endorsed a ban on earmarking, and McConnell’s move signaled a recognition that earmarks were on their way out.