American senator, Maine’s senior U.S. lawmaker, chair of the Appropriations Committee
Since late May, Trump-endorsed candidates have reshaped key Republican primaries: Ken Paxton has beaten John Cornyn in Texas and will face Democrat James Talarico in November; in South Carolina Trump has backed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Sen. Lindsey Graham has secured the president's endorsement for his fifth-term bid. Democrats are raising funds and recalibrating strategy in response.
Graham Platner has won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in Maine despite weeks of damaging reporting about sexually explicit messages, a chest tattoo linked to Nazi imagery and accounts from former partners describing volatile behavior. Platner has held to the campaign, high-profile Democrats have continued to back him, and he will face Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November.
Progressives win key primaries in New Jersey and California, led by Adam Hamawy in NJ-12 and Analilia Mejia in NJ-7, with other candidates advancing in California. The results reflect growing support for left-leaning, anti-war platforms and Palestine advocacy, while facing scrutiny over past ties to controversial figures. The broader national trend shows progressives expanding their influence in blue districts ahead of November.
Republican factions in Congress have rebuked President Trump on Iran, the White House ballroom funding, and the anti-weaponization fund, while Ukraine aid moves forward. The party faces growing fractures as it weighs next steps ahead of Election Day.
CNBC reports on states competing for business through speed to market, infrastructure, and permitting reforms as they seek top rankings in a 2026 CNBC study. The piece also highlights governors' goals and how different states are positioning themselves for investment amid potential economic shifts.
The Maine Senate primary has become a test of Democratic unity as Graham Platner confronts a cascade of past misconduct allegations. Voters weigh his outsider appeal against concerns about character, with Mills’ campaign staying on the sidelines as Democrats wrestle with how to respond ahead of the general election.
The Maine Senate contest is shaping up as a high-stakes battle between Democrat Graham Platner and Republican Mike Rogers, with outside groups spending heavily to influence the primary and general election. In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed is drawing funding from a pro-progressive PAC, signaling a broader national tilt in Democratic races.
Graham Platner has won the Maine Democratic Senate primary and will face Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November. Several colleagues hesitate to endorse him, citing his past scandals, while party leaders urge unity to regain Senate control.
Cornyn has acknowledged his defeat in the Texas Senate race, warning that Trump’s continued loyalty requirements risk fracturing the party. He says Republicans will grapple with a bumpy seven months ahead while colleagues gain more room to maneuver.
At the Texas GOP convention in Houston, delegates debate the party platform amid pressure for unity. An elephant mascot, Paige, disrupts proceedings when she urinates in the aisle, drawing national attention as Abbott weighs a more assertive stance on key issues.
Outside groups have poured billions into 2026 races, with AI, crypto and political power players spending to back or thwart candidates. In NY-12, Maryland’s MD-05, and beyond, pro- and anti-AI committees are influencing races as November approaches, while individual fortunes test the limits of soft money in a polarized landscape.
Democrat Graham Platner has clinched the Maine Senate nomination amid a wave of scandals linked to past behavior and posts. Some Democrats argue voters care about issues and elect candidates who energize the base, while others caution against dismissing misconduct. The race now moves to a general election against Republican incumbent Susan Collins.
The Senate has backed a war powers resolution directing Trump to halt US military action against Iran, while the House had previously passed the measure. The move reflects growing unease about the war and the diplomatic push with Iran. Supporters say the resolution asserts Congress’s authority, while opponents warn of constitutional challenges and strategic risks.
Lawmakers have approved a war powers resolution directing President to withdraw U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran. The measure, filed under the War Powers Act, passes the Senate and House with largely party-line votes, though questions remain about its legal force and potential constitutional challenges. The White House calls the move symbolic, while supporters say it reasserts congressional authority. Negotiations on a broader Iran deal continue in parallel.
The Senate has approved a war powers resolution directing the president to halt U.S. military action against Iran unless Congress authorizes such steps. The House already passed a similar measure. The vote is largely symbolic and faces legal questions, but it signals mounting congressional concern over the Iran conflict.
Trump has canceled a Capitol signing of a bipartisan housing bill to pressure Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, a sweeping election-law package. Republicans are divided over priorities, with some backing the housing measure and others pressuring for the voter-ID legislation. The House transmitted the housing bill to the White House; Trump is underscoring the priority of election rules while signaling the timing remains unsettled.
Trump has canceled a signing ceremony for a bipartisan housing bill, saying he will not sign until Senate passes the SAVE America Act. The move follows a tense exchange at a Capitol Hill luncheon where Cassidy challenged the administration’s Iran war approach. The episode highlights deep GOP rifts as lawmakers balance housing affordability with stricter voting measures ahead of midterms.
Trump-backed Julia Letlow has won the Louisiana Senate runoff, consolidating support for his slate in Republican primaries. The race highlights Trump’s continued influence while Democratic challengers eye a path to regain control of Congress.
The Supreme Court has struck down a cap on coordinated party spending in support of candidates, in a 6-3 decision. The ruling upends decades of campaign finance rules, expanding parties’ ability to coordinate with campaigns ahead of the midterms. Republican committees hold a cash advantage over Democrats.
The Supreme Court has ruled that coordinated party spending with campaigns violates the First Amendment, overturning a decades-old cap on party expenditure. The decision is 6-3 in favor of the NRSC, with the majority citing free speech as the justification. The ruling is likely to shift fundraising dynamics ahead of the midterms, as parties can coordinate more with candidates and may attract bigger donations.
McMorrow has suspended her campaign for the U.S. Senate, leaving a two-person race between Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed. The move intensifies competition in a key battleground state as Democrats weigh electability ahead of November.
Graham Platner has withdrawn from the Maine Senate race after a former girlfriend accused him of sexual assault. He denies the allegations, saying the decision is about protecting campaigns from power structures. The Maine Democratic Party must nominate a replacement before the July 27 deadline as it races to defend Susan Collins in November.
Graham Platner has paused his Maine Senate campaign after a sexual assault accusation, which he denies. The Maine Democratic Party must replace him by a July 27 deadline, with ongoing scrutiny of new allegations and potential implications for the race against Republican incumbent Susan Collins.
Graham Platner, Maine’s Democratic Senate nominee, is facing growing pressure to withdraw after a Politico report details a 2021 sexual assault allegation from Jenny Racicot. Platner denies the accusation, while Democrats including Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand urge him to step aside; the party weighs replacement options ahead of a July 13 deadline.
Graham Platner faces sexual assault allegations that have prompted Democratic leaders to call for his withdrawal from the Maine Senate race. Endorsements have been pulled by multiple groups, and Platner denies the accusations while considering the path forward.
Democrat Graham Platner has withdrawn amid sexual-assault allegations, triggering a rapid search for a replacement nominee ahead of a July 27 deadline. The Maine Democratic Party plans a nominating convention to select the nominee, while candidates race to present themselves to roughly 600 delegates.
Graham Platner has suspended his campaign in the Maine Senate race after a sexual assault allegation from 2021 surfaced, eroding support and endorsements. Democrats must replace him by July 27, as they seek a new candidate to challenge Senator Collins. Several figures are considering entering the race.
Mitch McConnell has stated he did not suffer fractures, a concussion, heart attack, stroke, tumors or hemorrhages after a fall that left him briefly unconscious. He is moving from hospital to rehabilitation and will not return to the Senate floor yet, while continuing to work with staff and Kentucky aides.
Officials say a string of fatal incidents involving immigration enforcement have prompted renewed scrutiny of DHS vetting and tactics. The Maine and Houston shootings have sparked demands for independent investigations and reforms as lawmakers push for oversight.
Troy Jackson has won the Maine Democratic nomination to replace Graham Platner and will challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November. Jackson has consolidated delegate support at a special convention in Bangor and is positioning a working‑class, progressive agenda while critics and Jewish voters express concern over his recent stances on Israel.
President Trump has told ICE to resume traffic stops after Homeland Security had ordered a temporary pause following two fatal shootings during vehicle encounters in Maine and Texas. The decision reverses a short internal review and comes as protests, congressional questions and international criticism have grown.
Graham Platner has withdrawn from the Maine Senate race after a sexual assault allegation. Democrats are replacing him and will hold a nominating convention by July 27 to select a new candidate to challenge Susan Collins in November. Several contenders are weighing runs as the party grapples with the upheaval and the race tightens.
A Democratic bid in Maine has cemented Jackson’s nomination and begins shaping a costly, nationwide contest against a Republican incumbent. With the Bangor convention behind him, Jackson is building a fundraising and get-out-the-vote operation to challenge Susan Collins.
Republican fundraising remains dominant, with MAGA Inc. and party committees holding a substantial cash advantage ahead of key Senate races. Democrats face a tougher path despite a slate of strong candidates and notable fundraising, while Supreme Court rulings reshape coordination rules.
Leaders are demanding oversight and transparency after two deadly ICE shootings in Maine and Texas spur controversy over training, vehicle stops and body cameras. Lawmakers press DHS for clearer vetting, identification and accountability.
The race in Michigan is evolving as candidates confront new stances and scrutiny ahead of the primary, with Democrats aiming to present cohesion and Republicans sharpening attacks. The coverage analyzes how primary opponents frame candidates and the potential impact on November.
Jackson has secured the Democratic nomination for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat at a delegate-dominated convention, replacing Platner amid controversy. Delegates view him as the best path to unseat Susan Collins, while the GOP eye a broad counter-offensive. The field narrows as endorsements consolidate behind Jackson, with the general election now in focus.
South Carolina Republicans are lining up to fill Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat after his death. Darline Graham Nordone is seeking a full term with Trump’s backing, while Ralph Norman and Russell Fry are mounting primary challenges ahead of the Aug. 11 vote. Filing closes July 28 and the November general election will determine the six-year term.
The Trump administration is facing internal debate as ICE shootings prompt a pause in traffic stops, then a reversal. White House and DHS officials argue over training, body cameras, and tactics amid ongoing criticism of immigration enforcement.
The House has adopted a war powers resolution directing President Trump to end military actions in Iran; the measure is largely symbolic and faces a challenging path in the Senate, where debate continues as lawmakers react to ongoing conflict and rising oil prices.
Progressive Abdul El‑Sayed has won the Democratic nomination for the open US Senate seat in Michigan, defeating establishment-backed Rep. Haley Stevens in a close contest. The result has handed a high-profile victory to the party’s left flank and will set up a November general election against Republican Mike Rogers for a seat critical to control of the Senate.
Congress has approved and blocked war powers resolutions aimed at forcing Trump to end hostilities with Iran, in a developing conflict that has driven oil above $100 a barrel. The House has passed a symbolic concurrent resolution, while the Senate has rejected the joint measure, reflecting bipartisan concern as midterm pressures mount.
The Senate and House are pressing ahead with scheduling amid talks on government funding, crypto regulation, and voting integrity. Republicans push for votes on the SAVE Act and the CLARITY Act, while Democrats warn that bipartisan support is required to avert a lapse in funding and to address other urgent policy items.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has raised more than $1.7 million for state parties and legislative committees this two-year cycle, showcasing a robust grassroots email-driven fundraising machine. The effort has drawn praise from party leaders in several states and fuels talk of a potential White House run. Other Democrats also contribute to party coffers and key races.
Todd Blanche has been confirmed as attorney general in a 50-49 vote, ending weeks of Republican opposition surrounding the handling of Epstein documents and an anti-weaponization fund. Cassidy voted in favor; Collins and Murkowski opposed. Blanche will lead the DOJ, continuing the department’s alignment with the White House while facing scrutiny from survivors and critics.
Lawmakers have advanced a stopgap funding package to keep the government running through Dec. 11, while negotiations over full-year funding and policy riders continue. The measure blocks funding transfers to border enforcement, delays a hemp ban by one month, and avoids a government shutdown ahead of midterm elections.
The United States has revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador in Washington in retaliation for Brazil’s refusal to approve the U.S. nominee for ambassador in Brasilia. The move deepens a diplomatic rift ahead of Brazil’s October election. The ambassador’s status is not expelled, and her visa would be reinstated if Brazil grants agrément to the U.S. nominee.
Sen. Bill Cassidy has announced he will vote to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general, giving Trump’s nominee a crucial edge as several Republicans oppose him. With Collins and Murkowski opposed and McConnell absent, Cassidy’s stance could push Blanche over the line, though resistance remains among a faction of GOP senators.
Todd Blanche has been confirmed 50–49 as U.S. attorney general and has been sworn in at the White House. He has served as acting attorney general since April, previously represented the president in major criminal cases, and has rescinded the proposed $1.8bn "anti-weaponization" fund while facing criticism over politicising the Justice Department and large staff departures.
Graham Platner has dropped out of the Maine Senate race after a sexual assault allegation emerged. He remains slated to speak at a Labor Day rally focused on union history, with Democrats nominating Troy Jackson to replace him. The event is not connected to the Maine Dems, and responses from parties are mixed as the race moves forward.