August 2026
Roll Call on the Road: South Carolina
CQ Roll Call traveled last week to South Carolina, which is playing host to Tuesday’s special primary election to select a new Republican Senate nominee following Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sudden death. Photo editor Bill Clark captured some of the action as Senate hopefuls — and other South Carolina candidates — made their pitches to voters. […]
10 candidates vie to replace Lindsey Graham in South Carolina
Three days after Sen. Lindsey Graham’s death, his sister, Darline Graham, was sworn in to complete the remainder of the South Carolina Republican’s term. With President Donald Trump’s encouragement, she quickly declared she’d seek a full six-year term. Yet the limited polling available suggests Tuesday’s snap special election primary to replace Lindsey Graham on the […]
Todd Blanche confirmed by Senate as attorney general
The Senate on Saturday approved acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to permanently lead the Department of Justice after a high-drama confirmation process. The 50-49 vote to confirm Blanche fell mostly along party lines, with two Republicans breaking ranks to oppose him. Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska cited concerns ranging from […]
Democrat Ed Case bucks insurgent trend in deep-blue Hawaii district
The Democratic Party’s anti-incumbent wave has skipped Hawaii, with centrist Rep. Ed Case handily defeating state Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole in this weekend’s primary. Case, 73, who’s spent more than a decade in the House across two separate stints, was leading Keohokalole, 60 to 36 percent as of Sunday morning, with 91 percent of votes counted […]
Cassidy will vote for Blanche as AG, all but ensuring confirmation
Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana said Friday he intended to vote to confirm Todd Blanche to be attorney general, ending a weekslong back-and-forth with the White House to win over GOP holdouts. All eyes were on Cassidy’s Friday morning floor speech after his fellow Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska […]
Republicans punt budget for reconciliation package into the fall
Senate Republicans abandoned plans Friday night to try to take up a budget resolution for a third reconciliation package, bowing to the reality that they lacked enough votes for it. The decision to scrap a planned procedural vote on the budget came after a late-night meeting in Majority Leader John Thune’s office with key senators […]
Funding patch passes Senate to head off fall shutdown
The Senate easily passed a bipartisan continuing resolution early Saturday morning, likely easing the traditional September rush to head off a partial government shutdown in October. On a lopsided vote of 90-6, the Senate passed a measure that would extend current funding through Dec. 11, giving lawmakers about 10 extra weeks to complete full-year appropriations […]
At the Races: Pacific Commotion
Welcome to a special edition of At the Races! Throughout the 2026 primary season, watch for these updates from the CQ Roll Call campaign team on what you need to know for Election Day. Know someone who’d like to get this newsletter? They can subscribe here. By Daniela Altimari and Mary Ellen McIntire Saturday’s Democratic primary […]
What to know about the Minnesota Senate election
Senate Democrats don’t have to wait long for their next big primary test. Their race for the open seat in Minnesota has fallen along familiar lines, and Tuesday will determine whether centrist Rep. Angie Craig or the more progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan comes out ahead. Craig, who flipped a swing seat in the 2018 […]
Long-stalled Russia sanctions bill passed by Senate
The Senate on Friday passed a bill aimed at punishing Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, a long-delayed effort that senators raced to finish in recent weeks as a tribute to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. The bill, which would also levy penalties on Iran, was passed in a bipartisan 86-11 vote, overcoming Democratic […]