Senate Republicans

A US Senate committee has voted to hold Dr Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress, escalating a long-running confrontation between the former chief medical adviser and Republican lawmakers over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic response. The move could set up a full Senate vote or further legal action. Supporters of Fauci call it political retaliation, while critics say he has failed to cooperate with oversight.

New polling in the Texas US Senate race is drawing attention as voters and commentators assess where the contest stands. Recent surveys are fueling debate about the state of the race, candidate positioning, and whether the margin reflects a competitive contest in a state that has often leaned Republican in recent election cycles.

The US Senate has voted down a Republican-led bill that would have restricted stock trading by sitting members of Congress. The proposal was part of a long-running debate over lawmakers trading individual stocks while having access to non-public policy information. Supporters of such bans argue the current rules create conflicts of interest, while opponents question the need for new restrictions.

Senator Eric Schmitt is facing scrutiny over possible perjury in connection with former special counsel Jack Smith, according to Fast Company. The piece suggests Schmitt shows no indication he believes he did anything wrong, and the story is drawing attention as observers debate the legal and political consequences for the Missouri Republican.

Senator Roger Marshall's re-election campaign in Kansas has drawn attention for how credit card issues are playing into the race. Commentators describe it as the latest example of how the Trump era has scrambled the traditional alliance between the Republican Party and the banking industry, with payments policy emerging as an unexpected campaign issue.

Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt is being floated as a potential vice-presidential pick on a 2028 ticket led by JD Vance. The talk positions Schmitt, a hardline conservative and frequent ally of Donald Trump, among the names in early speculation about the next Republican ticket. No candidate has declared, and no formal selection process exists yet, but chatter about potential pairings is already circulating among political observers.

Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff is a focus of online search interest in the United States. The discussion comes as Republicans weigh their 2026 Senate prospects: Senator Thom Tillis said the North Carolina race cannot be treated as a lost cause, arguing the party must fight for 'the higher purpose of keeping a majority.' Ossoff's seat is seen as a prime Republican target.

Texas Senator and Trump loyalist Ken Paxton said privately that 'everybody's numbers dropped' after the Republican National Convention, according to audio obtained by The New York Times. The remark from one of the party's top Senate candidates contradicts the Trump-aligned claim that the convention boosted Republican campaigns, and it is drawing attention as evidence of unease within the GOP over Trump's influence on swing and red-state races.

Bob Chew, a third-party candidate for the US Senate in Colorado, is increasing his advertising spending in the state by $1.5 million. The investment is a notable sum for a candidate outside the two major parties and signals an effort to raise his profile among Colorado voters. The move comes as the Senate race draws attention, with his campaign seeking to compete for visibility against better-funded Democratic and Republican contenders.

The National Federation of Independent Business has endorsed Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, announcing the backing in a recent statement. The endorsement signals the state's leading small business advocacy group is throwing its weight behind Masterson, a prominent figure in Kansas Republican politics. The group cited his record on issues affecting small business owners in the state.

Special counsel Jack Smith, who brought two federal indictments against Donald Trump in 2023, testified again before Congress on Tuesday, this time before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Coverage highlights a confident performance from Smith and an awkward moment for Republican questioners, with commentators framing the hearing as a test of the investigations into the now-president.

US Senator Rick Scott is speaking out on two hot-button issues: rising healthcare costs and a proposed ban on stock trading by members of Congress. The Florida Republican weighed in on both topics during a news appearance, arguing for action on affordability while addressing ethics concerns about lawmakers trading individual stocks while in office.

Senate Democrats have blocked a series of Republican-backed bills that critics described as election-year messaging measures rather than serious legislation. The bills, brought forward by Republicans ahead of the vote, failed to advance, with Democrats arguing they were designed for political messaging rather than to become law. The move underscores partisan gridlock in the Senate as both parties position themselves ahead of the elections.

US Senator Jim Justice has issued a public statement voicing his support for President Trump's immigration agenda. The West Virginia lawmaker's endorsement aligns him with the administration's push for stricter immigration enforcement. The statement was reported by regional media, and it adds to the list of Republican senators publicly backing Trump's immigration policies.

US Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana publicly praised the Trump administration's decision to take military action against Iran. Kennedy voiced strong support for the operation, aligning himself with the administration's stance on Iran. The endorsement adds a Republican Senate voice to the debate over the strike, which is drawing reactions from lawmakers and the public as questions grow about the action's legal basis and potential consequences in the region.

A Republican senator has blocked a Senate resolution that criticized taxpayer-funded advertising supporting President Trump. The resolution would have formally condemned the use of public money for the ads, but a single senator's objection was enough to stop it from advancing. Critics see the move as shielding the president from accountability over spending, while supporters view the resolution as politically motivated.

Senators John Fetterman, a Democrat, and Dave McCormick, a Republican, both of Pennsylvania, voted to pass the Protect College Sports Act. The bipartisan pairing of the state's two senators on the college sports bill drew attention, as the legislation concerns rules governing college athletics. Details of the bill's provisions and the wider Senate vote were not included in the available coverage.

Democrats are looking at Nebraska as a possible pickup opportunity in their effort to take a Senate seat away from Republicans. The state, long considered solidly Republican, is drawing Democratic attention as the party searches for paths to gain ground in the chamber. The report comes from NBC News, though details on candidates or strategy remain limited.

Senate Democrats have blocked a bill that would impose restrictions on stock trading by members of Congress, denying Republicans a legislative win ahead of the midterm elections. The measure, which had drawn bipartisan public support over conflicts-of-interest concerns, failed to advance. The vote hands each party a talking point heading into the campaign season, with Republicans framing Democrats as obstructionist and Democrats citing flaws in the bill.

Senator Marsha Blackburn has filed a lawsuit against former special counsel Jack Smith over the obtaining of her phone records. The case centres on records gathered as part of Smith's investigations into Donald Trump, which Republicans have criticised as improper surveillance of lawmakers. The lawsuit escalates GOP efforts to scrutinise Smith's methods while Smith faces his own congressional inquiries.

Senate Democrats have blocked a bill led by Sen. Jon Husted dealing with data centers, dismissing the legislation as 'toothless'. The move halts the measure's progress in the chamber and underscores partisan disagreement over how Congress should regulate or support the rapidly expanding data center industry. Critics argue the bill lacked meaningful enforcement, while its Republican backers had pitched it as a step toward addressing the sector's growth.

A bill to end Pennsylvania's closed primary elections has passed the state House, a step toward letting independent voters participate in party primaries. Currently, only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote in the state's nominating contests, leaving over a million unaffiliated voters on the sidelines. The measure now moves to the state Senate, where its fate remains uncertain.

Senate Democrats on Wednesday blocked legislation intended to offset the energy impact of datacenters. Republicans supported the bill, but Democrats argued it would not effectively address the growing energy consumption driven by datacenter expansion. The vote highlights partisan disagreement over how to handle surging power demand from the AI and cloud computing industries.

Texas Senator John Cornyn sits down with the Wall Street Journal's Kim Strassel for a podcast interview covering special counsel Jack Smith, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and the Republican Party's prospects in the upcoming midterm elections. The conversation touches on key legal and political figures shaping GOP strategy heading into the vote.

A Democratic pediatrician has launched a campaign for a South Carolina State Senate seat, aiming to break a losing streak that stretches back to 1998, when a Democrat last won such a seat in the state. The race is drawing attention as a test of whether Democrats can make inroads in deeply Republican South Carolina territory.

A Republican-backed voter ID bill has failed to advance in the Senate after falling short of the votes needed to move forward. Reporting describes the floor effort as an attempt to give Republicans facing difficult reelection races a campaign issue, as polls show voters growing uneasy with the party's alignment with Trump on issues including AI, Iran, tariffs and election policy.

Senate Democrats have blocked a Republican-backed data centers bill, derailing the GOP's effort to advance affordability legislation ahead of the midterm elections. The failed vote prevents Senate Republicans from showcasing action on cost-of-living concerns, an issue expected to feature heavily in the campaign. The setback highlights deepening partisan divisions in the Senate over energy, technology and economic policy.