https://www.washingtonsun.com/senate Senate en-US Fri, 18 Sep 2026 09:01:00 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/defense/hegseth-preferred-army-chief-faces-long-odds-senate Joe Gould Republican lawmakers say Sean Parnell’s abuse allegations and restrictions on the Pentagon press are liabilities to getting confirmation votes. Fri, 18 Sep 2026 09:01:00 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/defense/hegseth-preferred-army-chief-faces-long-odds-senate Republican senators said they see no path to confirmation for Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesperson, as a potential Army secretary, complicating the prospects for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s preferred candidate as the White House considers a wider field.

The reluctance underscores the liabilities Parnell would bring to a confirmation fight, including abuse allegations he has denied and his role implementing Hegseth’s restrictions on the Pentagon press corps. Several less controversial candidates are also in the mix as the White House weighs who should lead the Army through an ongoing war with Iran, strained arms stockpiles and an ambitious modernization push.

Parnell emerged as Hegseth’s favored candidate last month to succeed Dan Driscoll, who resigned after months of tension with Hegseth over the defense secretary’s removal of senior officers. But Parnell is already encountering pushback from Republicans whose confirmation votes he would need.

“It’s hard for me to imagine that could possibly happen,” Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said when asked about the prospect of Parnell making it through the Senate. “His record, particularly the spousal abuse stuff, is just a bridge too far for the vast majority of people. Not to mention there are other good people.”

A Senate Republican aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter, took a similar view about Parnell’s prospects. “It’s just simply not feasible,” the aide said. “Everyone knows the backing just isn’t there.”

Parnell has denied the abuse allegations, which his estranged wife made during divorce and child-custody proceedings and that surfaced during Parnell's aborted run for Senate in 2021.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) said he would vote against Parnell if President Donald Trump nominates him, arguing he lacks independence and experience.

“I feel like we need less of an echo chamber” at the Pentagon, said Tillis, who is retiring after his second term ends in January. “If we’re going to have to have Hegseth in this role, I’d at least like to have more people around him that are going to be more independent and look around corners. I don’t see Parnell doing that.”

Tillis, who voted to confirm Hegseth, has since become one of the secretary’s most outspoken Republican critics. He also faulted Parnell for implementing Hegseth’s ouster of the Pentagon’s resident press corps.

“That's already demonstrated a lack of confidence,” Tillis said. “If you're proud of your work product, you want press to ask you the tough questions and answer them. If you're worried about it, then you box them out.”

The White House has not named Driscoll’s successor, but two people familiar with the deliberations describe a broader White House vetting process. It’s being overseen by the White House, the people familiar said, and the ability to get a nominee through the Senate is a priority.

In response to a request for comment, the Pentagon repeated its recent statement, saying that Parnell is “100%” focused on his current job. The White House said Trump would make a choice on his own timetable.

“The President will announce a nominee for the next Secretary of the Army at a time and place of his choosing — statements from anonymous sources claiming to have insight into the President’s thinking should be treated as mere speculation,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement.

Kelly also praised Driscoll’s tenure, saying he had advanced Trump’s agenda by emphasizing readiness and lethality, and assisting with negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

One U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter, defended Parnell’s record and said Hegseth has personally made the case for him to Trump. Hegseth has also discussed Parnell with White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino in recent weeks, according to the official.

A separate person familiar with the matter said that Parnell was among multiple names Hegseth presented to the Presidential Personnel Office, which acts as an executive search firm.

The U.S. official said Parnell is an excellent candidate to lead the Army, pointing to his combat experience and his 18 months working inside the Pentagon, arguing Parnell knows how to navigate the department’s bureaucracy and has relationships needed to carry out Trump and Hegseth’s agenda.

“He knows how the building operates; he knows the ins and outs,” the official said. “He knows who to talk to and how to get things done.”

The abuse allegations are a non-issue, the official said, noting that the judge who initially awarded full custody to his wife vacated that order and that Parnell and his former wife now share custody of their children.

Parnell has some Republican support. Sen. Dave McCormick, from Parnell’s home state of Pennsylvania, said Thursday on social media that he hoped Parnell was being considered for the role and praised Parnell’s “great family.”“Sean is a good friend, a decorated combat veteran, a true patriot, and a fellow Pennsylvanian,” McCormick said. “I have full confidence that if Sean is given the honor of serving in this role, he will do so with courage and distinction.”

Several other Republican senators this week praised Acting Army Secretary Adam Telle, a longtime Senate aide who was the Senate-confirmed assistant secretary for civil works when Trump elevated him to the acting role earlier this month.

“I like that guy who’s in there, Adam Telle,” said Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), a senior Senate Armed Services Committee member. “He’d be pretty hard to beat. He’s doing a great job.”

Cramer said he would be “very happy” with Telle and said the acting secretary has one significant advantage over other potential candidates: senators already know him.“Adam is so solid,” Cramer said. “He talks with them so respectfully, and they respond in kind, even when they disagree.”

Beyond his Senate ties, Telle has strong relationships with the White House and Hegseth, which could ease his path to confirmation if he were nominated.

He served for four years as chief of staff to Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee) and previously worked for then-Sens. Thad Cochran and Richard Shelby and on the Senate Appropriations Committee. During Trump’s first term, Telle worked in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs, where his responsibilities included national security and appropriations.

Telle played a substantial role in preparing Hegseth for his confirmation, helping to organize mock hearings and facilitating Hegseth’s meetings with senators.

Other candidates for the Army secretary job include Dane Hughes, the assistant secretary for legislative affairs, and Army Comptroller Marc Andersen — who has been reaching out to lawmakers to make his case for the job, according to one of the people familiar with the deliberations. Derrick Anderson, the Pentagon’s assistant secretary for special operations and low-intensity conflict, and Mike Obadal, the Army under secretary, are also possible candidates.

Democrats are unlikely to provide votes to confirm Trump’s pick for Driscoll’s successor because of broader tensions about Hegseth and the Trump administration’s national security policies. That leaves Senate Republicans with little wiggle room to lose any votes in the confirmation process, and that threshold appears to be breached with several Republicans saying Parnell is a no-go for them.

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), an Armed Services member who voted for some of Trump’s nominees this term, said he now regrets some of those votes because administration officials have failed to show enough independence from the president.

“I admit when I make mistakes,” Kelly said. “Some of these people seemed competent and could be their own person. Almost every one of them turned into a yes-person for Donald Trump, and they will not speak truth to power.”]]> https://www.washingtonsun.com/us-news/senate-stalls-major-data-center-bill-that-sailed-through-house Avani Kalra Senate Democrats blocked the Ratepayer Protection Act as insufficient, stalling the only AI-related measure that could pass this fall. Thu, 17 Sep 2026 19:00:35 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/us-news/senate-stalls-major-data-center-bill-that-sailed-through-house A day after the first major bill designed to curb the costs associated with data centers and artificial intelligence passed the House with flying colors, the legislation hit a wall in the Senate on Thursday.

The bill, the Ratepayer Protection Act, requires states to consider — but does not mandate — standards that would require AI data centers to pay the full cost of infrastructure upgrades to their facilities, instead of passing those costs on to consumers.

Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio), who sponsored the bill and is in a tough reelection race in a state where data centers are a hot issue, tried to pass the measure through unanimous consent to bypass the Senate’s lengthy legislative process. The procedure requires the agreement of all 100 senators.

Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico) objected, arguing the bill is just a recommendation that doesn’t sufficiently protect Americans from the costs of the booming industry. The blockade makes it all but certain an AI-related bill will not pass Congressbefore the midterms, even as the issue continues to be a focal point of anger across the country.

“The Ratepayer Protection Act falls short of what we need to do to respond,” Heinrich said while objecting to the bill on the Senate floor. “Rather than voluntary pledges or suggestions to states, Congress needs to pass real legislation with real teeth.”

Husted blasted Democrats for striking the bill down, writing on X that “Senate Democrats want Big Tech to get a free pass while your electric bill goes up.”

“Before we leave here, we ought to do something on a matter that the American people have asked us to do something about,” Husted said on the Senate floor. “It is a shame that this opportunity has been missed today, but I will be back to push this issue forward.”

Other Democrats also criticized the bill as not going far enough.

“We have to make sure we have something with enforcement,” Sen. Gary Peters (D-Michigan) told The Washington Sun. “I think we all agree that they should cover the cost, but we got to make sure they actually do that. Otherwise, it's just a hollow bill.”

Husted is defending his seat in a race the Cook Political Report has deemed a toss-up. Former Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, Husted’s challenger, has made the costs of the facilities a major point in his campaign, running TV ads labeling Husted “the face of data centers.”

Some Democrats said they saw the move to advance the bill as a political maneuver to help Husted.

“Data centers is a key issue, and Jon Husted is in a very tough race for election to the United States Senate,” said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), the chamber’s minority whip. “This is a frequent approach, last-minute legislation on a subject that is controversial.”

Though most House Democrats backed the measure, Senate Democrats pointed to a number of other bills that have been introduced in the upper chamber that could more forcefully regulate costs stemming from data centers.

Heinrich pointed to his own bill, the GRID Savings Act, which would require large users of electricity to abide by rules similar to those for power plants and would direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to establish new rules around data centers’ electricity usage. He sought consent to pass his bill, but Republicans objected.]]> https://www.washingtonsun.com/2026-election/democrats-talarico-paxton-senate-texas Igor Bobic Democrats have been reluctant to invest in traditionally red Texas, but the polls show the party’s prospects are looking better in 2026. Thu, 17 Sep 2026 16:47:07 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/2026-election/democrats-talarico-paxton-senate-texas Republicans are pouring in tens of millions of dollars to shore up the Senate campaign of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has faced major struggles in his race against Democrat James Talarico. But Democrats are divided on whether to direct valuable resources to what’s been a solidly red state.

Some Democrats want their party to commit more money to aid Talarico on the expensive Texas airwaves. Republicans are outpacing Democrats in the spending race by more than $70 million this month, with Election Day fast approaching.

“I think we need to make sure that Talarico’s campaign gets the help it needs,” Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen told The Washington Sun this week.

A super PAC linked with Senate Republican leadership has spent more than $60 million in ads that will run this month, including a stunning drop of $54 million in a single day this week. President Donald Trump's super PAC threw in another $10 million, while Elon Musk's PAC is spending nearly $2 million for Paxton. There’s likely even more to come.

“I actually think Texas is worth investing in,” California Sen. Alex Padilla told The Sun.

Recent polls show a tight race in Texas, including an AARP poll where Talarico led Paxton 48% to 44% among likely Texas voters. A Siena Research/ReconMR poll released Thursday found Talarico with a slightly larger lead, 49% to Paxton’s 43%.

The flood of Republican cash is part of a larger effort by the party to save its congressional majorities in November. After some doubts about whether Trump’s political operation would open its wallet, and even with pleading by top GOP leaders, it has now reserved over $130 million to boost Republican candidates across several battleground states.

Talarico isn’t totally outgunned in the money race, however. His fundraising has set records in Texas this year, and he ended June with $21.5 million in the bank compared to Paxton’s $1.8 million. The disparity on the candidate side will likely only grow at the end of the third fundraising quarter next month.

But national Democrats haven’t committed significant resources in the race. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee announced a $40 million spend across 10 different Senate battleground states, including Texas, in July. Senate Majority PAC, the Democratic leadership aligned PAC, has not reported direct major spending investments in the race.

“Paxton is a weak, unimpressive candidate, and national Republicans coming in with millions to bail out his campaign only proves it,” said Lauren French, a spokesperson for Senate Majority PAC. “This is not a sign of strength for Trump or [Senate Majority Leader John] Thune, it’s a confirmation that nominating a scandal-plagued liability is indeed a liability. We are closely watching the state to ensure victory here.”

Senate Democrats believe they have the best chance of turning Texas blue in decades given Paxton’s ethical baggage, Trump’s low approval ratings and the sour political environment for Republicans this year. But they’re divided on how much to spend in a red state that has dashed their hopes before. And they know they’ll ultimately be outspent by well-funded Republican groups.

“Let me just say this about the money: They have the money, we have the people. I'll take the people any day,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told The Sun, touting the quality of Democratic Senate candidates in Texas and elsewhere in the country.

Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy said his party should “obviously” commit more resources in Texas, but he argued that Democratic candidates ought to use the Republican spending as an issue to campaign against money in politics.

“We’re not going to have as much money as they are. So the question is, how do we talk about the money with the limited resources we have?” Murphy said.

“Money is important, but it's not everything,” added Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith. “More money does not equal more votes, and what I think is happening around the country is people are fed up and kind of ignoring all of these TV ads.”

Another problem for Democrats is that resources are limited, and money is needed for candidates in other competitive battlegrounds. In Michigan, for example, Democratic Sens. Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin asked their colleagues this week to help Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed with financial support. El-Sayed met with Democratic senators in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, after which the main Democratic Senate PAC committed an additional $10 million for Michigan.

In New Hampshire, top Democrats are ringing alarms about the campaign of Rep. Chris Pappas, who has lagged in some polls to Republican nominee and former GOP Sen. John Sununu.

Democrats are also eyeing pickup opportunities in other red-leaning states like Alaska, Ohio, North Carolina and Iowa, where Republicans are dropping large sums of money.

Republicans have their own money problems. Every dollar that they spend defending a seat in Texas is a dollar that isn’t going elsewhere, including trying to unseat vulnerable Democrats like Sen. Jon Ossoff in Georgia.

“At some point, I think you know, given scarce resources, they’re going to have to figure out where the money is going to do the most good, and it may or may not be a place like as big and as expensive as Texas,” Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn told The Sun this week.

Cornyn warned earlier this year that nominating Paxton would require Republicans to spend huge sums of money, and they could potentially lose his seat anyway, but Trump ignored him. The president endorsed Paxton, ousting the incumbent senator in a primary runoff.

Talarico has made fighting corporate and dark money in elections a core pillar of his Senate campaign. On the campaign trail, he frequently criticizes wealthy megadonors and billionaires for buying political influence. He dubbed last week’s Republican midterm convention in Dallas, where Trump raised money for Paxton, as a “Billionaire Ball” that ignored voters’ economic hardships.

Although national Republicans are spending large sums of money to bail out Paxton in Texas, they won’t get the same bang for their buck as Talarico’s campaign. Super PAC ads don’t receive TV discount rates that candidate ads do, per federal law, and are therefore much more expensive.

“Money does not change the fundamentals of the race,” said Luke Warford, the chair of the Democratic Party in Travis County, Texas, and the founder of the Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund, which raises money and provides structural support for Democratic candidates. “Super PAC money doesn’t go as far in terms of what you can buy on TV. It’s not as easy as just dropping a bunch of money.”

“Of course the Republican money is a challenge, but it also feeds into the narrative that Democrats are running against billionaires buying elections,” he added. “The money doesn’t come really without heavy baggage.”

Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said that ultimately, voters would make a judgment on the economy and high prices under Trump more so than any ads on television.

“Each of our candidates needs enough money to be able to respond [to Republican attacks],” she said. “But the real heart of this race is out there in plain view, without spending a nickel. Donald Trump's economy is not working for the American people, but Donald Trump's corruption is definitely working for Donald Trump.”
]]> https://www.washingtonsun.com/money/federal-election-commission-shutdown-senate-hearing Taylor Giorno The campaign finance regulator hasn’t had enough commissioners to authorize investigations, issue legal opinions or levy fines since May 2025. Thu, 17 Sep 2026 09:03:00 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/money/federal-election-commission-shutdown-senate-hearing A Senate committee is nearly out of time ahead of Election Day to consider two Republicans nominated for seats on the bipartisan Federal Election Commission — leaving the crippled campaign finance regulator without its law enforcement and regulatory powers during the midterms’ final stretch.

“Paperwork issues” and the monthslong medical absence of Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Republican chair of the Senate Rules Committee, delayed efforts to conduct a hearing for Andrew Woodson, a lawyer at Wiley Rein, and Ashley Stow, who previously worked with former FEC Commissioner Trey Trainor.

While many thought McConnell’s return to the Senate this week would move the process forward, the Senate, which is due to go on recess in early October, has yet to schedule a committee hearing that could lead to the agency regaining its minimum quorum of four commissioners. A vote of the full Senate is also necessary to confirm the nominees.

“I’ll be sure to let you know when I have an update,” David Popp, a spokesperson for McConnell, told The Washington Sun. Popp did not directly address questions about the likelihood of a hearing before the election or whether the paperwork issue had been resolved.

Sen. Alex Padilla of California, the Democratic vice chair of the committee, told The Sun on Tuesday that it’s “not clear” if there will be a hearing before the election.
Alex Padilla AP - 25191578142448 (5854x3903, AR: 1.50)Padilla also said he had not yet met with either nominee and that the committee should be considering both Democratic and Republican nominees. By law, no more than three of the FEC’s six commissioners may belong to the same political party. There are currently two Democrats on the committee and four seats that are vacant.

Both Democrats, Chair Shana Broussard and Commissioner Dara Lindenbaum, have for months asked Congress to get the FEC back on track. At least four commissioners must be present to even consider advancing campaign finance investigations, finalizing audits, issuing penalties, approving rules, offering formal legal advice and conducting public meetings.

But since May 1, 2025, the FEC has not had enough commissioners to form a quorum of four.

During that time, the FEC’s enforcement backlog has ballooned to 307 cases, Broussard said on Bluesky on Sept. 1.

Broussard declined to comment.
Shana.Broussard.FEC (8058x5372, AR: 1.50)The Sun first reported in July 2025 that congressional Republicans had recommended Woodson and Stow to President Donald Trump, who alone may nominate FEC commissioner candidates. But it took Trump more than eight months to nominate the two attorneys.

Trump nominated Woodson and Stow on Feb. 11 to fill two of the four vacancies on the commission. Their nominations then languished, and the FEC has continued to effectively function strictly as a campaign finance records publishing house.

“The White House expects the swift confirmation of all of President Trump’s highly-qualified nominees, and will continue to uphold our nation’s laws,” the White House wrote in a statement Wednesday.

Some campaign finance watchdogs and lawyers, including former Republican commissioners, are particularly frustrated about the agency’s inability to interpret and enforce campaign finance laws in the lead-up to the 2026 election.

With the FEC unable to act, private organizations can sue the FEC for “right of action,” which lets them bring cases directly against political campaigns and committees they allege have run afoul of federal campaign finance laws.

Others dismissed concerns about the missing “cop on the beat,” saying it is unlikely the agency would have been able to act on new complaints until after the election. Under the best of circumstances, it often takes the FEC months, and sometimes years, to resolve campaign finance disputes.

This is the third time since 2019 the FEC has not had enough commissioners to execute its high-level duties, and by far the longest. Each de facto FEC shutdown has occurred while Trump was president.
Federal Election Commission AP-18264705132299 (5760x3840, AR: 1.50)Even if the Senate confirms Woodson and Stow, the commission could easily lose a quorum — again — if it loses just one commissioner.

Trump could nominate two additional commissioners, but has not. The Sun reported in summer 2025 that Democrats had recommended Jonathan Peterson, an attorney at the Elias Law Group, as a commissioner candidate.

Meanwhile, budget cuts and staffing shortages also threaten the FEC’s ability to clear through a backlog of enforcement matters once the commission has a quorum again.

In interviews with The Sun, former FEC commissioners and practitioners have questioned Trump and Congress’ desire to empower the commission to enforce and interpret campaign finance law at any level.]]> https://www.washingtonsun.com/us-news/senate-democrats-block-cryptocurrency-bill-citing-lack-of-trump-ethics-rules Avani Kalra The failed vote is likely to unleash a wave of spending by the crypto industry ahead of the midterm elections Tue, 15 Sep 2026 19:04:44 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/us-news/senate-democrats-block-cryptocurrency-bill-citing-lack-of-trump-ethics-rules Senate Democrats voted down legislation to regulate cryptocurrency on Tuesday, leaving it all but certain Congress will not regulate an increasingly significant industry that is primed to unleash a wave of spending in the midterm elections.

The 49-50 tally fell 11 votes short of breaking a filibuster. It followed months of negotiations over the CLARITY Act, which was backed by crypto interests and passed the House more than a year ago. It would have established a framework for regulating cryptocurrencies, making it easier for digital assets to integrate with the existing U.S. financial system.

Democrats tanked the bill primarily over what they saw as a lack of provisions to rein in President Donald Trump’s crypto interests. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Josh Hawley of Missouri and Jerry Moran of Kansas voted with Democrats to defeat the measure. Thom Tillis of North Carolina voted against the bill for parliamentary reasons in order to bring it back up in the future. 

A bipartisan working group negotiated for months with the White House over Trump’s stake in World Liberty Financial, a finance platform and stablecoin issuer that is expected to receive a federal banking charter soon.

Democrats demanded strict rules that would prevent Trump and other high-ranking federal officials from profiting from their own personal cryptocurrency business ventures while holding office. Any covered federal official would have to divest from those holdings or place them into a blind trust.

“I've tried to work on crypto legislation for years, but not crypto legislation that puts our national security at risk, or that threatens blowing up our economy, and not crypto legislation that supercharges Donald Trump feeding at the trough to make himself and his family richer while he regulates the industry,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, told reporters ahead of the vote on Tuesday.

Sens. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Maryland) and Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona) voted against the bill after voting with Republicans to advance it out of committee in May. Both cited the lack of a sufficiently robust ethics provision as their largest remaining concern ahead of the vote.

“Literally I don’t know how I’m going to vote yet,” Alsobrooks told The Washington Sun shortly before the vote. “It’s divestment.”

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Virginia), who was also involved in the bipartisan negotiations, said Alsobrooks’ concern was shared by most Democrats.

“It’s still frustrating because we’ve had these same three issues outstanding for six, eight weeks,” Warner said. “Why this couldn’t have been dealt with earlier, I’m a little concerned.”

Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia), another committee member, said it became clear over the course of the talks that Republicans “don’t want to fix the ethical loopholes” in the bill.

“We're trying to find a path to get something done for consumers in a vastly unregulated area of our economy, and they're focused on protecting Donald Trump,” Warnock said.

Republican negotiators said Tuesday’s vote effectively kills any chance of Congress regulating the industry ahead of the 2028 election. While Trump remains in office, Democrats are likely to continue opposing the legislation without a divestment provision.

“It’s over. We’ve been working on this bill for over a year, and we’ve given them over 120 of their requests,” said Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), a key negotiator on the bill who is retiring in January. She said she sees no path forward on CLARITY after the midterms or next year.

Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), another negotiator, echoed Lummis’ concerns, especially with House members set to return to their districts at the end of the week.

“Eighteen months,” Moreno said. “We’ve had more negotiations than you can ever imagine. Thousands and thousands of conversations.”

The crypto industry pushed Senate leadership to hold a procedural vote on the measure ahead of November, in part to help direct some of its political spending before the elections. Fairshake, the leading crypto-aligned PAC, started the cycle with nearly $200 million cash on hand.

With Democrats blocking the legislation over those ethics provisions, it’s unclear how crypto-affiliated groups might redirect their political spending. The industry has historically supported some Democrats, including Gallego and Sen. Elissa Slotkin in Michigan.

An increasing number of Republicans have also voiced concern about the bill. Hawley and Moran for example, pointed to potential negative impacts on small banks in their states. And Sen. John Curtis of Utah voted to introduce the bill but said he would not back the bill itself. 

Warren said her party isn’t concerned about the potential for an onslaught of election spending by the industry, arguing it has been pushing the CLARITY Act for years without success.

“It's our job when we run for elected office to stand up and do what's right,” Warren said. “I believe that we can still do that. I watched during the primaries, and candidates who had a lot of crypto money still didn’t make it. The American people like to hear from a candidate who says, ‘I can’t be bought.’”
]]> https://www.washingtonsun.com/congress/mcconnell-returns-to-senate-vowing-to-be-present-for-tough-votes Reese Gorman The former Senate majority leader has been out since June and admitted Monday, “I’m still not quite back to 100%." Mon, 14 Sep 2026 22:12:51 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/congress/mcconnell-returns-to-senate-vowing-to-be-present-for-tough-votes Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky returned to the Capitol on Monday after a roughly three-month absence.

He announced his plans in a post on X, saying he was looking forward to seeing his colleagues.

“My recovery has been a long and often frustrating process, and the lingering effects of childhood polio haven’t made it any easier. I’m still not quite back to 100%, but I’ve assured Leader Thune that, as I continue with physical therapy on the advice of my doctors, I will do my best to be present for tough votes when our Conference needs me.”

The Kentucky Republican, who arrived in a wheelchair Monday evening, greeted reporters saying, "I'm glad to see you, time to get back to work.”

McConnell has not appeared at the Capitol since he suffered a medical incident at his home in Washington, D.C., on June 14.

The longtime Senate Republican leader spent roughly four weeks at the hospital following a fall and a subsequent pneumonia diagnosis. He went to a rehabilitation center in mid-July for physical therapy, his office said at the time.

He was discharged from the rehab center in early August.

“Earlier today, I was discharged from the rehabilitation center to continue my recovery at home,” McConnell said in a statement at the time. “On the advice of my doctors, I’ll maintain an intensive regimen of physical therapy from home during the state work period, and I’ll continue to engage with my staff and colleagues on important Senate business.”

McConnell has been inundated with questions about his future and his health status during the past three months, including from Kentucky's Democratic governor, Andy Beshear. McConnell's team has released two photos of him alongside his wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.]]> https://www.washingtonsun.com/senate/husted-fires-political-director-over-past-nazi-posts Gavin J. Quinton The former staffer had posted profile photos featuring Nazi officers and wore the attire in a group photo in 2018. Fri, 11 Sep 2026 22:19:34 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/senate/husted-fires-political-director-over-past-nazi-posts Sen. Jon Husted fired his campaign’s political director Friday after discovering the staffer had posted Nazi imagery on social media and made playlists of songs celebrating Rhodesia, an unrecognized south African state often touted by white supremacists.

Stephen Woytek, who joined the Ohio Republican’s campaign last month, had posted profile photos depicting Nazi officers on his Facebook page and published links to a military reenactment group whose members dress up as Nazi officers. Woytek himself is pictured wearing the attire with the members of the group in photos from 2018, when he was 16 years old, according to The Washington Post, which first reported the social media activity earlier Friday.

A campaign spokesperson described Woytek as a “lieutenant in the U.S. Army” who studies military history and routinely “reenacts historical battles,” but said that Husted “quickly” opted to remove him from his staff after learning of the posts.

“While he denies negative intent, [Woytek’s] social media activity displays a complete lack of judgement and disregard for its impact on others,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “Sen. Husted demands better of those who represent him. Upon learning about the social media posts today, Sen. Husted made the immediate decision to part ways.”

Woytek also maintained public Spotify playlists with songs honoring the now-defunct nation of Rhodesia, which is revered by white supremacists online.

The former staffer expressed in a statement to The Post that he should have exercised better judgment on social media, and did not want to distract from Husted’s race.

“I want to be unequivocal,” Woytek told The Post before he was fired. “I reject the racist and antisemitic ideology the SS and Nazi Germany represented. I believe it is important to educate our younger generations, which is why I participate in historical reenactments.”]]> https://www.washingtonsun.com/money/jim-justice-wealth-disclosure-west-virginia Mark Alfred The West Virginia Republican — a billionaire — blew past a federal transparency deadline. Fri, 11 Sep 2026 18:14:20 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/money/jim-justice-wealth-disclosure-west-virginia Sen. Jim Justice failed to properly submit an annual report detailing his billion-dollar personal fortune, blowing past a legal deadline despite requesting and receiving two extensions, The Washington Sun found.

Justice filed his annual financial disclosure on Tuesday, about a month past an Aug. 13 deadline mandated by the Ethics in Government Act.

The West Virginia Republican is the richest man in the Senate, with assets of about $1 billion — and possibly much more — mostly owed to his coal-mining enterprises. Justice regularly flies back and forth from Washington via private jet.

Senators, including Justice, are required by law to annually disclose their assets, liabilities and sources of income. Lawmakers need only disclose their assets’ value in ranges, and Justice’s disclosure includes over a dozen line items valued at “over $50,000,000,” making it impossible to nail down his exact net worth.

Justice’s office did not return a request for comment.

Justice’s tardy report, which covers financial activity during 2025, is similar to his previous annual disclosure from 2024: Justice continues to be extremely wealthy and maintains his various mining and energy assets as well as a surgery center and a golf and tennis club.

One line item from his earlier filing labeled “Blind Trust of James C Justice, II” that was valued at “over $50,000,000” isn’t included in Justice’s latest disclosure.

Justice’s latest report indicates his liabilities have grown by as little as $25.8 million and as much as $120 million during the past year.

Lexon Insurance Company sued Justice over “unpaid premiums and collateral owed on surety bonds” related to his coal mining businesses. The company was granted nearly $30 million in damages late last year.

Justice’s potential penalty for improperly disclosing his personal finances is decidedly more manageable: He faces a $200 fine, which the Senate Ethics Committee can choose to waive. The committee did not respond to a request for comment.

Justice joins an ever-growing list of federal lawmakers who’ve violated the Ethics in Government Act or the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act by failing to properly disclose their personal finances.

Since last summer, violators in the House include Reps. Gil Cisneros (D-California), Michael Rulli (R-Ohio), Shri Thanedar (D-Michigan), Tracey Mann (R-Kansas), Julie Johnson (D-Texas), Linda Sánchez (D-California), Julia Letlow (R-Louisiana), Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Lisa McClain (R-Michigan), Pat Ryan (D-New York), Sheri Biggs (R-South Carolina), Derek Tran (D-California), Donald Norcross (D-New Jersey), Tim Walberg (R-Michigan), Rich McCormick (R-Georgia), Ritchie Torres (D-New York), Troy Nehls (R-Texas), Dan Meuser (R-Pennsylvania), Jonathan Jackson (D-Illinois), George Whitesides (D-California), Val Hoyle (D-Oregon), Austin Scott (R-Georgia), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Florida), Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington), Kelly Morrison (D-Minnesota), Christian Menefee (D-Texas), Daniel Webster (R-Florida), Ed Case (D-Hawaii), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Laurel Lee (R-Florida) and Scott Franklin (R-Florida). Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Oklahoma) was also late, although his office denies it.

Senators who’ve violated the STOCK Act during the past year include Sens. Alan Armstrong (R-Oklahoma), Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) and John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania).]]> https://www.washingtonsun.com/pennsylvania/john-fetterman-democrats-senators Avani Kalra A party swap by Fetterman could put any hope of a Senate Democratic majority in jeopardy — leaving his colleagues in a bind over whether to speak out against him. Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:18:56 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/pennsylvania/john-fetterman-democrats-senators Pennsylvania Democrats lashed out at Sen. John Fetterman following his surprise video appearance at the Republican midterm convention on Wednesday night, with Rep. Chris Deluzio saying Republicans can “have him.”

But even as the party struggles with whether to denounce Fetterman for the move, his counterparts in the Senate have, by and large, remained quiet.

Senate Democrats are looking to flip four seats in the upper chamber with just weeks to go until the November midterms — and a party swap by the Pennsylvania Democrat would likely put that effort in jeopardy.

One Democratic operative who works with Democratic lawmakers said that senators are likely concerned that publicly criticizing their colleague could only push him away.

“You can’t go around yelling at your coworkers if you have to turn around and do something with them,” the operative said. “That is literally the work of looking toward a governing majority or minority, depending on how this all shakes out in November.”

Another campaign operative granted anonymity to speak candidly told The Washington Sun that he would advise Democrats to start building a “Fetterman-proof majority.”

“If I was a Senate Democrat, I would do anything to flip five seats instead of four,” the operative said. “I would do anything to make sure we can have a Fetterman-proof majority.”

Fetterman said in a statement to The Sun shortly after his video appearance that he had no plans to switch parties, saying “should the Senate flip in November, I will still be the 51st vote that I ran on.”

But his participation in the GOP convention follows months of speculation that he could be considering a move to the other side. The senator, who was endorsed by progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) during his 2023 run for office, has increasingly voted with Republicans on issues like government funding and the Iran war this year and has more frequently voiced his disdain for the left wing of the party.

“I’m always going to stand with America. I’m always going to reject the extremes and socialism and that anti-American way of life,” Fetterman said in his videoed convention appearance.

His appearance also followed reporting in The Wall Street Journal last week that his frustration with the party has been mounting. Fetterman has become exasperated with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and once wrote “I truly don’t care” when aides informed him that Schumer was organizing a special conference call for Democrats, according to the Journal report.

Schumer urged Fetterman to stay in the Democratic caucus while speaking to reporters in July, praising him as a “very good” member of Congress. His comments came after Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Republicans would “welcome” Fetterman into their conference, adding that he’s had “conversations” with the maverick senator about making the switch.

“The people in our caucus very much like him and respect him, and we’re a big tent party. We can have a lot of different views in that party,” Schumer said.

But even as senators — like Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vermont), who told Politico “it’s a waste of energy to get spun up” about Fetterman — refuse to dump on their colleague, Pennsylvania Democrats have piled criticism on the senator.

Rep. Brendan Boyle, who is reportedly mulling a challenge for Fetterman’s seat in 2028, said in an interview with MSNow on Thursday that he “hopes and prays” Fetterman will stay true to his word and remain a member of the Senate Democratic Caucus, but stands by his comments calling him a “disgrace.”

“Obviously, there are all sorts of concerns about Senator Fetterman. I think that’s probably going to continue,” Boyle said. “He has always been, throughout his career, a guy who will do the performative stuff. The things that will get him the most attention.”

And Rep. Madeleine Dean, another Pennsylvania Democrat, also expressed concern about Fetterman’s convention appearance. At a Democratic counterprogramming event in Dallas, Dean said she was “disappointed” by Fetterman’s “stunt.”

“We can see in his work ethics that he’s just not present. He doesn’t participate much at all in his own committees, let alone attend them,” she said. “From the ground, from suburban Philadelphia, my constituents are livid. Those who went out and knocked doors for him — they are absolutely livid.”]]> https://www.washingtonsun.com/campaigns/susan-collins-maine-election-trump-isnt-helping Al Weaver A Canada trade war, an ICE shooting and Iran. How much more can Susan Collins take from Trump and still win? Thu, 10 Sep 2026 09:06:00 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/campaigns/susan-collins-maine-election-trump-isnt-helping BATH, Maine — The sun has just emerged from over the Kennebec River, and Republican Sen. Susan Collins is ready to greet workers ahead of the first shift at Bath Iron Works.

Shipbuilders, machinists and welders arrive in fits and starts ahead of the 7 a.m. whistle. Collins and roughly a dozen supporters and campaign staff have one goal: for these union workers to gobble up boxes of T-shirts. The navy blue tees feature “SUSAN” on the pocket (the “USA” in red, white and blue, of course) and “BATH BUILT IS BEST BUILT” displayed around the silhouette of a Navy destroyer.

“T-shirts! Get your T-shirts here!” one staffer yells as workers approach, doing his best impression of a hot dog vendor at a minor league baseball game.

The moment is important for Collins’ team, who confide before the predawn event that it’s a test of sorts. If workers take the shirts? A good sign of where the senator is two months out from Mainers deciding whether to hand her a sixth term in office. And if they don’t? An ominous sign of her prospects.

Luckily for them, medium and 2XL shirts are gone with time to spare before work starts. Even those not taking the shirts are polite enough, telling staffers, “Thanks, I’m all set,” or a straight up “No, thank you,” with minimal hostilities.
Susan_Collins_Bath_09012026_16 copy.jpg (5541x3694, AR: 1.50)There’s a reason the crew was very familiar with Collins. She’s helped steer billions of dollars and years of Pentagon contracts to the shipyard, which is the state’s fourth-largest employer. Troy Jackson, the Democratic nominee, has widespread union support, but Collins retains some loyalty among working-class voters.

Collins Argues Her Senate Seniority Translates Into Millions for Maine

It’s part of yet another all-politics-is-local strategy that Collins, the Senate Appropriations Committee chair, is banking on to lock down another term. Check out a sampling of her ads or campaign appearances and the message is clear: She’s responsible for securing money to rebuild a fire station or other local projects that generate jobs. That constituent services work is what Democrats concede is formidable.

“It’s given me a once-in-a-century opportunity to really deliver for the people of Maine. … I have delivered for small communities all across the state,” Collins told The Washington Sun in an interview, noting that 45 new and rebuilt fire stations exist due to federal money she’s brought home. “That matters.”

Despite that pitch, Collins finds herself in yet another reelection dogfight where she’s working to defy political gravity.

She’s the lone Senate Republican representing a state carried by former Vice President Kamala Harris two years ago. But increasingly it’s the impact of President Donald Trump’s policies that is causing her constituents to consider electing a Democrat.

Trump’s Immigration and Trade Policies Cause Headaches 

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and killed a Colombian national in Biddeford, Maine, less than two months ago amid a surge of operations in nearby Portland. But the individual wasn’t the target of the ICE operation, and the fallout has rippled across the state.

More recently, trade negotiations with Canada went belly-up, leading to a nasty break in a longstanding relationship. Collins has pleaded with the administration to resume negotiations, as her state shares a 611-mile border with the neighbor to the north and exported $1.3 billion worth of goods to Canada last year —- 41% of the state’s exports. Instead, the president is posting memes about the Canadian prime minister.

“It is [a lot]. It’s certainly not helpful. There’s no doubt about that,” Collins told The Sun, adding that voters are “perplexed” and “more puzzled than anything” about the Canada trade war.

According to a Fox News poll taken in early August, 59% of voters in the state view Trump unfavorably — and that was before the trade spat.

It’s also not an accident that Collins is trying to put more distance between herself and the president. During an event in Biddeford, Collins called on ICE to enact more reforms beyond the recent equipping of agents with body cameras. She argued the agency should stop making arrests at “sensitive” locales, including schools, hospitals, doctors offices and places of worship.

She also criticized the president’s lack of strategy for launching a war with Iran, which has reached a seventh month and has grown deeply unpopular with Americans.
Pete Hegseth (4987x3325, AR: 1.50)“The president clearly did not have a well-thought-out plan for how to deal with Iran. To me, it was utterly predictable that Iran would close the Strait of Hormuz,” she told reporters. “That should not have come as a surprise, and the administration and the Department of Defense should have been prepared for that.”

Gas prices in the state are averaging more than $4 per gallon. Mainers are also bracing for rising heating oil costs in the coming months, an issue that could crop up closer to Election Day.

The series of events has Collins’ allies wondering how much more of this she can handle and still win. One source close to the longtime senator noted that of all the potential administration-induced impediments that could crop up, a second ICE shooting is the one that worries them the most and could be too difficult to overcome.

“It’s frustrating. It’s almost exhausting,” Jason Levesque, the former Republican mayor of Auburn, Maine, and a political commentator, said of the string of happenings.

Collins has never been a favorite of the president, and the feeling is mutual.

He said in June that she is “not my best friend at all,” all the while touting her vote streak even though “sometimes she voted against me.” While Trump has indicated support for her, there is a gulf between the two, as they don’t have much of a relationship.

“They don’t interact often,” the source close to Collins said, noting that they have cordial interactions when they see each other at White House events.

“She’s not calling him about policy stuff, and he’s not calling her either,” the source added.

Instead, her preferred point of contact in the administration is Vice President JD Vance, who she became friendly with during his brief senatorial tenure.
Vance (2884x1923, AR: 1.50)Vance recently told supporters during a late-August event in the state that Collins has been to the Naval Observatory at least a half-dozen times, yet is “the most independent member” of the Senate and “sometimes makes my job just a little bit harder.”

There’s a different type of independence that will be a factor in November. For the first time during the Trump era, Collins will be running without the president on the ballot.

Although the two are like oil and water politically, they complemented each other well across the state in 2020, with Trump giving Collins a boost in rural areas while she overperformed him along the coast. She toppled Sara Gideon, her Democratic opponent, by 8.5 percentage points and cleared 50%, bypassing the state’s ranked choice system entirely.

This go-round, Collins has sought to beef up her support with some of Trump’s most ardent backers. She repaired what was once a fraught relationship with former Republican Maine Gov. Paul LePage, the favorite to succeed Rep. Jared Golden in the 2nd Congressional District.

She’s relying on her record controlling federal spending bills, including what she has procured for rural areas. Collins has touted that she secured more than $428 million in earmarks for the state. She also has the financial muscle to get that message out after being drowned out by Democratic spending in 2020.

“I know the people of rural Maine. I am one of the people of rural Maine,” she said. “I think people understand authenticity and that they also appreciate how hard I work for rural Maine.”

Collins admits the race against Jackson, the former state Senate president who only entered the race after Graham Platner’s swift exit stage left after being accused of sexual assault, is not the race she expected.

“We had to start all over again,” Collins said. “This is the strangest race I’ve ever seen.”

Democrats Work to Nationalize the Race After Platner’s Messy Exit 

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has maintained a defiant face about the race, repeatedly declaring that this is the year the party topples Collins. Democrats note that Collins’ approval rating has never been lower and that she votes with Trump at a healthy clip. And they stress that Collins’ vote to confirm Trump’s Supreme Court nominees helped put a stake in Roe v. Wade.

But Democrats in the state remain less sure this strategy will work.

One Maine-based Democratic operative argued that the path for Democrats centers around nationalizing the race and keeping Jackson as generic of a candidate as possible, something Republicans are quickly trying to change. Outside groups — and even Collins herself — have pointed to Jackson’s having two children with his longtime partner, who is his second cousin.

“If Democrats and Troy can keep this race about Donald Trump, affordability and what Susan Collins has or hasn’t done to help with those things, put a check on those things, then Troy has a path to victory, even though it is hard,” the operative said.
Troy_Jackson_Lewiston_09012026_26 copy.jpg (5600x3733, AR: 1.50)“The challenge is if this race becomes about Susan Collins versus Troy Jackson or anybody else,” they continued. “Susan Collins versus a specific person is really hard because Susan Collins is not a bad politician.”

Even Jackson’s most ardent supporters acknowledge that overcoming Collins’ long-standing ties is a high hurdle.

“I think he’s got a very challenging road ahead,” Portland’s Democratic mayor, Mark Dion, who was among those introducing Jackson at his first town hall in Lewiston, told The Sun in an interview.

The party is still picking up the pieces after Platner’s implosion in July, which forced party activists to choose a replacement that some voters are still smarting over. During his Lewiston town hall, a self-described independent who votes Democratic pressed Jackson, pointing to advertisements that “keep referring to ‘our movement’ that ‘we built.’”

“It feels disingenuous because the movement that was building was built by someone else,” said Tori Leigh. “You weren’t elected by the voters.”

“You are right. I didn’t build this movement. I’ve been saying that all along,” Jackson responded. “This isn’t about Troy Jackson. But I don’t even think this is about Graham. I think it’s about people across this state that know there’s something fundamentally wrong with the way things are going.”

Jackson peppered the rally with criticisms of Collins, arguing that she has lost touch with the state — citing her decision against holding town hall meetings. The pair recently agreed to four debates, with the first one set for Oct. 6.

The biggest roar at the town hall came when Jackson pressed that ICE should be “eliminated.”

There are also fears of an enthusiasm gap on the left.

Multiple attendees at the Lewiston event were quick to note that Platner held a standing room only event at the same location last fall that also featured a place for an overflow crowd. The Jackson event, meanwhile, featured dozens of empty seats in the back of the room.
Troy_Jackson_Lewiston_09012026_04 copy.jpg (6000x4000, AR: 1.50)The Maine-based Democratic operative argued that while state Democrats have reasons for excitement now, that’s “mostly fueled by being mad at Collins, not excited for Troy.”

Other top Democrats conceded that the winds have shifted since the Platner exodus.

“He’s not a pop star. He’d be the first one to tell you that,” Dion said of Jackson, adding that he is more than willing to trade “pop star status for competency.”

Polling since Jackson’s entrance has been limited, with a pair of surveys taken since the start of August showing him in a lead within the margin of error. Operatives from both parties are quick to note that the state is notoriously hard to poll.

Another question surrounding Jackson is whether he can win over enough independents and Democrats who’ve backed Collins over the years. If the Lewiston event is any indication, he has some work to do.

Tom Soule, a Democrat and a retired school principal from nearby Bowdoinham, noted that he’s supported Collins throughout the years but is considering supporting Jackson in order to more effectively take on Trump. He wasn’t a fan of Platner’s but showed up to check out Jackson’s pitch.

But Jackson’s inability to explain how he would enact change rather than tick through his positions on issues frustrated him.

He ended up leaving the event early, telling The Sun on his way out: “Not impressed.”]]>