Senate Democrats

CNN's Harry Enten delivers a data-driven roundup of the political stories shaping the moment, covering key Senate showdowns, signs of Democratic 'blue wave' energy, and corruption allegations involving Donald Trump. The segment pulls together polling trends and electoral signals, giving viewers a snapshot of where the 2026 landscape stands as attention builds around upcoming midterms.

Reuters reports that congressional Democrats are preparing investigations into Donald Trump's family business dealings should they win control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections. Party figures have signalled they would use committee powers to examine foreign and domestic ties involving the Trump Organization. The story is drawing attention as the elections approach and control of the House and Senate remains in play.

A former bodyguard and onetime romantic partner of former Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema has been arrested after allegedly breaking into her home and throwing 22 paintings into her pool. The incident, first reported by NBC News, is drawing wide attention because of the unusual details and Sinema's high profile as a former senator who left the Democratic Party to become an independent.

The US Senate has approved a wide-ranging bill to regulate college sports, advancing despite opposition from some Democrats. The legislation would impose federal rules on the college athletics system, which has been reshaped in recent years by player compensation and conference realignment. The bill now moves to the House, and the split within Democratic ranks highlights ongoing disagreements over how far Congress should go in overseeing the NCAA and athlete rights.

Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, held a public forum examining President Trump's immigration policy. The event, carried by C-SPAN, focused on scrutiny of the administration's immigration agenda, though no specific outcomes or statements from the forum are yet available.

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Senator Cory Booker and fellow Democrats have reintroduced the Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act, legislation that would repeal the Helms Amendment. The decades-old measure blocks US foreign aid from funding abortion services overseas. Supporters argue the restriction denies safe care to women in low-income countries, while opponents back the long-standing funding ban.

Senator John Fetterman has joined fellow Democrats in issuing a warning to Senator Mark Mullin and the Department of Homeland Security over election interference concerns. The move pairs the often independently minded Pennsylvania Democrat with his party on an election-security matter, pressing federal authorities and Republican counterparts to take the threat more seriously ahead of upcoming votes.

Political observers are debating whether Democrats would pursue a third impeachment of President Trump should they win control of Congress in the midterm elections. The question is fueling speculation about the party's strategy if it retakes the House or Senate, with commentators weighing the political risks and appetite within the Democratic base for another impeachment effort.

North Carolina Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley dismissed a poll showing Democrat Roy Cooper with a large lead in the state's 2026 U.S. Senate race, calling it a 'trash poll.' The race is expected to be one of the most competitive Senate contests in the country, and Whatley's sharp response underscores how seriously Republicans are taking Cooper's potential candidacy.

Michigan's US Senate race is narrowing, with Democrat Abdul El-Sayed holding a slim lead over Republican Mike Rogers heading into the campaign's final stretch. The contest, open after Gary Peters announced he would not seek re-election, is seen as critical to Senate control. Commentators point to a competitive race that could flip a seat Democrats need to hold to keep their majority.

Charlie Cook, founder of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, said the House is a 'done deal' for Democrats in the coming midterm elections, and that reclaiming the Senate is 'very realistic'. His assessment adds weight to expectations that Democrats could win control of at least one, and possibly both, chambers of Congress, reshaping the political outlook for the remainder of President Trump's term.

Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat, referred to himself as a 'lifelong Republican' in a verbal gaffe flagged by CNN. The slip is drawing attention and mockery, with critics treating it as a revealing mistake and others dismissing it as a simple misstatement by the senator, who has recently drawn scrutiny for breaking with his party on several issues.

Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman sat down with CBS News correspondent Major Garrett for an interview covering the upcoming midterm elections and his own political future. The conversation touches on where Fetterman sees the Democratic Party heading and his role in it. As a high-profile swing-state senator, his comments on the midterms are drawing attention from both parties.

Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman is publicly defending his political identity while addressing talk about him potentially acting as a '51st senator,' a reference to criticism and speculation about his independence within the Democratic Party. Fetterman has increasingly broken with his party on issues such as Israel and immigration, prompting debate over where he stands politically and what his path forward looks like.

Josh Turek, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat in Iowa, said the upcoming election is fundamentally about rising costs for everyday Americans. He framed affordability as the central issue of the contest, arguing that voters' frustration with prices will shape the outcome. His remarks come as economic concerns continue to dominate campaign messaging ahead of the election.

Paramount is in the news on two fronts. Reports describe the company entering a new era under the Ellison family's control, while Paramount and a group of Democratic state attorneys general have criticised Senator Cory Booker over comments he made about the settlement of an antitrust lawsuit involving the company. The simultaneous ownership transition and legal-political fight are drawing attention to Paramount's future direction.

Abdul El-Sayed, a Michigan physician, public health official and former gubernatorial candidate, is running for the US Senate. He previously ran for governor of Michigan in 2018 and served as executive director of the Detroit Health Department. His campaign is drawing attention among progressive Democrats as the race takes shape.

Senate Democrats are compelling a vote on Israel's human rights practices in the West Bank, using procedural tools to force the chamber to take a position. The move puts senators on record on an issue that has divided the party, with progressives pushing for conditions on US support for Israel amid ongoing conflict and concerns over treatment of Palestinians in occupied territory.

Longtime Republican strategist Karl Rove argues Senator John Cornyn, rather than Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, would be the stronger GOP candidate against Democrat James Talarico in the state's Senate race. The comments add fuel to the internal Republican debate over who should carry the party's banner in Texas.

The US Senate has blocked a resolution demanding accountability over Israeli violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. The measure, pushed by Democrats, failed after Republicans opposed it. The vote highlights ongoing divisions in Washington over US policy toward Israel, with critics arguing that continued military aid comes without conditions on conduct in the occupied territories.

Democrats are now favored to take back the Senate, according to analysis in The Atlantic, a shift described as far-fetched just a year ago. The outlook reflects changing conditions in key races, and the prospect of divided or unified government is driving political discussion ahead of the midterm elections.

Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia spoke about the intersection of faith and politics at a conference in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Georgia Democrat, who is also a pastor, drew attention for addressing how religious conviction shapes public life. Further details about the conference and reactions to his remarks remain limited.

Senator Gary Peters of Michigan sat down with the Detroit Economic Club for an exit interview reflecting on his time in Congress, discussing what he considers his proudest accomplishments for Michigan and the lessons he takes away from his Senate career. His Senate office publicized the appearance as the veteran Democrat prepares to leave office.

Senate Democrats rejected a proposed ban on stock trading by members of Congress, along with a data center bill, in their final votes before leaving for election recess. Critics called the stock trading ban 'toothless', and the bills' failure means no new ethics or data center legislation will pass before the elections. The move is drawing attention to congressional ethics ahead of the vote.

Senators Elissa Slotkin, Gary Peters and Alex Padilla are pressing the Homeland Security Secretary to stand up to Trump over election interference and to keep ICE agents away from polling places. The three Democrats argue that deploying immigration enforcement at the polls would intimidate voters and undermine election integrity, and they want the department to commit publicly to protecting the electoral process.