Republican senators are departing Washington mostly empty-handed after an extended stay in the capital that yielded few legislative victories and exposed deepening internal tensions. The midterm outlook for the party has deteriorated, leaving Republicans with a substantial list of priorities for the upcoming lame-duck session that represents a final opportunity to leverage their current trifecta.
The primary legislative achievement of the week was a historic, bipartisan college sports package. However, this measure offers little benefit to senators defending their seats in November, as it faces significant obstacles in the House. Beyond this single win, the session was marked by a series of failed votes. Legislation addressing American concerns regarding data centers driving up energy costs did not pass, nor did measures intended to curb congressional stock trades and enforce voter identification requirements.
A major hearing featuring special counsel Jack Smith was overshadowed by a failed attempt by Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) to link Smith with Atlanta prosecutor Fani Willis. This line of attack backfired, drawing attention away from the hearing's central focus. The party also navigated controversy surrounding former President Donald Trump's influence on polling. Texas nominee Ken Paxton was caught blaming Trump's midterm convention for hurting his own numbers. NRSC Chair Tim Scott (R-S.C.) rejected Paxton's analysis as "just wrong" and described the convention as "a boost in the right direction."
Several senators are returning to their home states with fresh campaign headaches. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) missed a week of in-state campaigning and did not secure a vote on a key priority: a bipartisan bill to lower insulin costs. Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) is facing a new ad campaign targeting his pardon of a man who pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual assault. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) is countering accusations that he pursued mothers of newborns over unpaid medical bills; his lawyers sent a cease-and-desist letter to his opponent, Rev. Adam Hamilton, on Monday.
Despite a cash advantage, the Republican campaign apparatus must spend heavily in states that Trump won handily in 2024, including Ohio, Iowa, Alaska, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska and Florida. On the Democratic side, former Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska), who is challenging GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan, faced a damaging report from The New York Times regarding her personal behavior and office culture, parts of which she denied.
The Senate will return in November with a list of must-pass items. These include funding the government, passing the National Defense Authorization Act, reinstating FISA Section 702 warrantless wiretap authority, and passing the farm bill. A growing list of potential priorities also remains, including a bipartisan permitting reform bill that coalesced hours before the Senate departed, AI guardrails legislation, and raising the debt ceiling, potentially through reconciliation.