Republican senators

A Republican senator's attempt to entangle special counsel Jack Smith in a perjury trap has failed, with the effort instead drawing criticism back onto the senator. Commentators say the line of questioning did not produce the intended admissions and may have strengthened Smith's position. The episode is fueling debate over congressional probes targeting the Trump-era prosecutions.

The Cook Political Report has moved the Kansas Senate race to toss-up, while shifting two other Senate races in Democrats' favor, putting a Democratic Senate majority within reach. Analysts say the ratings changes reflect improving Democratic prospects in states previously considered leaning Republican. The ratings are closely watched as a gauge of which chamber control battles will be competitive.

Reports are circulating that Senate Republicans have received what commentators are calling bombshell news regarding the upcoming midterm elections. The claim, echoed widely in political coverage, suggests a significant development affecting the party's midterm prospects, though the specific substance of the news is not detailed in available reporting.

Senator Thom Tillis, the North Carolina Republican, has publicly criticized several of Donald Trump's cabinet picks, taking aim at the competence and qualifications of nominees around the incoming administration. The remarks from a member of Trump's own party are drawing attention as confirmation season unfolds and Republicans weigh how far to go in scrutinizing the president's choices.

Senator Susan Collins of Maine used the state's first Senate debate to distance herself from President Trump, aiming to reassure moderate voters in a state that has shifted toward Democrats. The move signals her effort to keep her seat in a closely watched race, with her positioning drawing attention from observers tracking how Republican candidates handle their ties to Trump.

Kansas has not elected a Democrat to the United States Senate since 1932, a drought of 94 years that stands out in American politics. Commentators highlight the streak as evidence of the state's durable Republican dominance, unlike any comparable run elsewhere in the country, as attention turns to whether future contests could break it.

The New York Times has published five takeaways from a new book by Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, a Republican who broke with Donald Trump. The book reportedly details his reasons for turning on the president and his view of the party's direction. It is drawing attention for offering an insider's critique of Trump from within the GOP.

A political messaging idea is circulating for James Talarico, the Texas Senate candidate, arguing he should run an ad noting that unemployment was 2.4% when Trump campaigned in 2024 on reversing it, and now stands at 4.2%. The pitch frames the economic record as an attack line Republicans would struggle to rebut.

A new poll reported by NBC News shows Republican candidates leading both the governor's race and the Senate race in Florida. The finding points to continued Republican strength in a state that has become increasingly competitive territory for Democrats, and it is drawing attention from political observers weighing the implications for upcoming elections.

US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has said he does not intend to retire during the lame-duck session of Congress, closing off speculation that he might step down while Democrats still control the Senate and could confirm a successor. The announcement removes one point of uncertainty about the court's composition as the party prepares to hand over Senate control.