Latest news with #SenateMajority
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Minnesota lawmaker to resign after being convicted of felony burglary
A Minnesota state senator convicted of burglary for breaking into her estranged stepmother's house plans to resign by early August, her lawyer said Monday. Democratic state Sen. Nicole Mitchell has faced calls from fellow Minnesota lawmakers for her immediate resignation since her conviction on Friday. The jury deliberated for three hours before finding her guilty of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools. The 51-year-old lawmaker needs two weeks to wrap up her legislative duties and secure health insurance for her son by the time of her Aug. 4 resignation, her lawyer wrote in the statement. Mitchell represents a Democratic-leaning suburban district outside the Twin Cities in a closely divided state Senate. After the verdict last week, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy Mitchell said that Mitchell told colleagues that she planned to resign if convicted, 'and I expect her to follow through on that pledge.' Senate Republic Leader Mark Johnson released a statement Monday pushing for Mitchell to resign immediately instead of waiting two weeks. 'Senator Mitchell was convicted of two felonies; she doesn't get to give the Senate two weeks' notice,' he wrote in a statement Monday. 'The only reason Mitchell is still in office is because Democrats needed her vote to pass their agenda and refused to hold her accountable during session.' Mitchell was arrested on April 22, 2024, and told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because the stepmother refused to give her items like her late father's ashes and other belongings. Mitchell's father and stepmother Carol Mitchell had been married for 40 years. Later on the stand, the lawmaker backtracked her statement and said she had not intended to take anything and wanted to check on the well-being of her stepmother, who has Alzheimer's disease.
CNN
16-07-2025
- Business
- CNN
Analysis: JD Vance is on record pace for tie-breaking votes. That shows how fraught Trump's agenda is
It's difficult to overstate how unpopular President Donald Trump's agenda is right now. On most key items and issues, it's even more unpopular than the already unpopular president. For example: A new CNN poll released Wednesday showed Americans opposed Trump's signature new domestic policy law by a 22-point margin. That makes it perhaps the most disliked major new law in decades. Of course, Congress still passed it. To the political credit of Trump and those around him, they are getting their agenda across the line, in large part because Republicans are afraid of his wrath. But the way they are doing it only reinforces how fraught Trump's proposals are. Despite Republicans expanding their Senate majority to a more comfortable 53-47 edge in the 2024 election, they've relied on tie-breaking votes from Vice President JD Vance in a historic way. In fact, Vance is on pace to nearly double the current record for tie-breaking votes in a four-year period. And he's been called on to break ties on major votes much more often than his predecessors – even as his nearest competitors generally had smaller majorities. Put more simply: It's not unheard of for a vice president, who serves as president of the Senate, to break a tie. But it's never been this frequent. It's usually on smaller items. And it's usually because the party in power had fewer votes to spare. Vance has broken ties five times this month alone, split across two legislative efforts: Trump's agenda bill two weeks ago and a 'rescissions' package Tuesday, which is an effort to codify some of the spending cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency. Despite seemingly going for the lowest-hanging fruit and moving to codify only a small portion of the DOGE cuts – about $9 billion, which is a drop in the bucket in the federal budget – Republicans are still dealing with significant defections and struggling to get it passed. Earlier this year, Vance was called upon to break ties to defeat a bipartisan rebuke of Trump's tariffs and to confirm Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Those seven votes put Vance on pace for 58 tie-breaking votes in Trump's second term if he continues to break ties at the rate he has so far. That would be far more than the record of 33 set by Kamala Harris between 2021 and 2025, according to the Senate Historian. If Vance is called upon to break another tie to pass the rescissions package Wednesday evening – which seems possible – he will be on pace to exactly double Harris' record with 66 tie-breakers. Vance's pace would also blow away other recent presidents. Mike Pence broke just 13 ties in the first Trump administration. Dick Cheney broke eight in eight years under Georgie W. Bush. Al Gore only broke four in eight years under Bill Clinton. Then-Vice President Joe Biden didn't have to break a single tie in eight years under Barack Obama, nor did Dan Quayle break any ties in George H.W. Bush's four years. But even the comparison between Vance and Harris isn't really apples-to-apples. That's because the largest Senate majority Democrats had on her watch was 51-49. The Senate was actually tied 50-50 for about half of the Biden-Harris administration, meaning they had much less room for error – and still required fewer tie-breakers. The vast majority of the ties she broke were also on smaller-ticket votes. Twenty-seven of the 33 votes were on nominations for judges or other, lower-level positions – none of them as high-profile as a secretary of defense. The major votes she had to break ties on were the Covid stimulus bill and the Inflation Reduction Act – both when the Senate was split 50-50. The biggest items Pence had to break ties on were Betsy Devos' nomination as education secretary and some procedural and amendment votes on Trump's health care and tax cut packages – all when Republicans had just a 51-49 Senate majority. To find a major tie-breaker before that, you have to go back to Cheney two decades ago. He had to break ties on tax-related legislation in 2001 and 2003, as well as on a deficit-cutting bill in 2005. Of all these votes, only Cheney's 2005 tie-breaker came when the party in power had as big a majority as Trump and Vance do now. The GOP at the time had 55 seats, but lost the votes of five more moderate members. But that's becoming the norm in the second Trump administration. On major votes, we're basically seeing as many Republicans vote against it as possible, without defeating the bill. The administration not only has no interest in bipartisanship, but it's pursuing items that don't even unify congressional Republicans – and often has to scrounge to win enough votes because of that. It has gotten there. But it's not exactly a sign of political strength that Republicans don't feel comfortable voting yes. The result: It looks like Vance will be quite busy in the coming months and years. Indeed, the former Ohio senator apparently had to leave the Senate to cast his most important votes in the Senate.
Politico
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
The 5 big questions about the Senate battleground map
Here are the five biggest questions still hanging over the Senate race: Can Democrats get their dream recruits? Democrats are holding their breath for Roy Cooper and Janet Mills to decide if they'll run for Senate in North Carolina and Maine — a former and current governor, respectively, who could dramatically improve their party's chances to flip those swing seats. Their outstanding decisions have frozen recruitment in both states, signaling the party's strong preference for them. The odds look better for Democrats in North Carolina, where Cooper's top political strategist told POLITICO earlier this month that the former governor was 'strongly considering a run' and 'will decide in the coming weeks.' North Carolina Democrats have argued that Cooper's aw-shucks brand coupled with his strong fundraising network would instantly transform the now-open race. Tillis announced that he was not running for reelection last month after clashing with Trump over his tax-and-spend megabill. That 'puts a lot more pressure on Cooper to run,' said Democratic state Sen. Jay Chaudhuri, as he is 'heads and shoulders above every other candidate.' But Cooper hasn't cleared the field yet. Former Rep. Wiley Nickel entered the Senate primary in April, and he demurred when asked if he'd exit if Cooper jumped in. Rep. Don Davis is also eyeing the race. Republicans have yet to see a major candidate step up, although the president's daughter-in-law Lara Trump has expressed interest. National Democrats are still working to woo Mills, but her interest in challenging Sen. Susan Collins is less clear. Mills, who is 77 and won reelection in 2022 by 13 percentage points, told a Maine outlet in April that 'I'm not planning to run for another office' but added that 'things change week to week, month to month.' Jordan Wood, the former chief of staff to former California Rep. Katie Porter, has already raised $1 million in his bid against Collins. But some Maine Democrats are concerned that the race hasn't yet attracted bigger name contenders. Can a bloody Republican primary in Texas put the state on the map in November? Republicans have a messy — and expensive — primary on their hands down in Texas. Senate Majority Leader John Thune discussed the high-stakes intraparty brawl with Trump — as part of a broader discussion on the 2026 midterm map during a recent White House meeting — where state Attorney General Ken Paxton is primarying Sen. John Cornyn. GOP leaders have been privately trying to sway Trump for months to back Cornyn, arguing that his conservative bona fides match the president's agenda and he would be a safer bet in November. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) speaks to press outside of his office at the Hart Senate Office Building on April 28, 2025, in Washington. |Cornyn got a break after Paxton's wife announced she was filing for divorce on 'biblical grounds,' with his allies quickly seizing on the news. And he was able to get in some face time with Trump on Friday when he traveled with the president back to Texas. But so far, Trump appears poised to remain on the sidelines for a while longer as polling has shown Cornyn consistently trailing Paxton in a primary. Rep. Wesley Hunt, who is also mulling a Senate run, traveled with Trump on Friday as well.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tillis freedom to ‘call balls and strikes' hands GOP leaders fresh headache
The decision by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) to not seek reelection next year could give Republican leaders headaches as he looks forward to wielding his newfound political freedom. Tillis announced his retirement amid the GOP's dash to pass the party's tax and spending package, having cropped up as a surprise 'no' vote in the final weeks of negotiations. Now, questions are swirling about what's to come from Tillis, who had been a reliable ally of Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.) during his tenure as Republican leader, as he faces the next year-and-a-half untethered from what was to be a tough electoral fight and free to speak his mind. That could spell trouble for leaders as they work to keep the conference united on government funding, judicial nominations and other top priorities. 'You could have a member of the Senate who is going to support you 95 percent of the time, or you can have a member of the Senate that's going to support you, but not near 95 [percent], and more free to speak and say what they think,' said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a top ally of Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.). 'And now, I think you have a member who is here who is more interested in clearly speaking out and less reserved in what they have for criticisms.' 'It's an independence that gives folks the opportunity to be a bit more direct with their comments,' Rounds continued. 'I think you'll find him to be a little bit more outspoken. A little less reserved. But I expect him to continue to participate.' Tillis, in his retirement announcement, said he had no intention of being a wallflower. 'I look forward to having the pure freedom to call the balls and strikes as I see fit and representing the great people of North Carolina to the best of my ability,' he said. And early indications are Tillis has become more freewheeling than he had been prior. The two-term senator scorched Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in an interview with CNN this week, saying he would not vote for Hegseth today having seen how he's operated. Tillis had reservations about the nomination in January after reports of sexual harassment, public drunkenness and workplace mismanagement emerged. But he cast the deciding vote to put Hegseth over the finish line. 'With the passing of time, I think it's clear he's out of his depth as a manager of a large, complex organization,' Tillis told CNN's Jake Tapper. Tillis is also no longer an official member of Republican leadership, having been replaced on Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso's (R-Wyo.) whip team by Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), who is viewed as an up-and-comer in the conference. Barrasso told The Hill that the decision was ultimately up to Tillis. The North Carolina lawmaker also told Tapper that he will also oppose any future Trump nominees who have expressed support for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Earlier this year, he helped sink the nomination of Ed Martin to serve as the top federal prosecutor for Washington, D.C., over his defense of Capitol rioters. His approach to nominations, especially, could give Trump and Thune fits as they start to marshal through judicial picks. Tillis serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee and could oppose any particularly partisan choice. The committee is split 12-10 between Republicans and Democrats, meaning Tillis could single-handedly bottle up a nominee — or at least force Thune to go through the lengthy process of forcing a nomination to the floor. 'I certainly think it's a worry. … Do you think Thom Tillis is voting for Nick Adams? Let's run the math on that nomination already,' one Senate GOP aide, referring to the self-described 'alpha male' MAGA influencer Trump nominated to be the ambassador to Malaysia. The aide noted that it's incredibly unlikely that the foursome of Tillis, McConnell, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) back Adams. 'You might as well throw that nomination in the trash,' the aide continued. 'You're going to have examples like that where you're going from three 'no' votes, which is winnable on issues like that, versus you have four 'no' votes that don't care about the political fallout from the right.' The aide also pointed to Tillis's concerns with cuts to the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) that are currently included in legislation set to hit the floor next week. Tillis told reporters this week that he is 'generally going to be a 'yes' vote' on that bill, which seeks to claw back money already allocated in the fiscal year 2025 spending bill, though he is still looking into the PEPFAR cuts. And Tillis already demonstrated his political independence with his vote against Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' last month. Tillis had agitated against the bill prior to the vote, raising the alarm about Medicaid cuts and political fallout, but some of his colleagues privately doubted he would follow through, pointing to his vote on Hegseth. Instead, Tillis voted against a bill packed full of most of Trump's domestic priorities, which the president had been pushing hard for months. Despite his newly-discovered political freedom, Tillis remains an ally of leadership and is ever-cognizant of the landmines they must manage, having been a part of McConnell's team in recent years and serving as Speaker in his home state prior to his 2014 Senate victory. Top leaders still expect him to play an important role moving forward despite his recent untethering. Thune indicated that while the Tar Heel State senator has 'strong views' and is an 'independent thinker,' he remains a team player they will rely on. Tillis was like-minded. 'I'm never going to do anything to undermine my conference and I'm never going to surprise my conference. … I'm not that kind of guy,' Tillis told The Hill, saying it's 'not his style.' 'I mean, if you've got to surprise or jam your conference to get something done, you're a pretty shitty legislator,' he added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Tillis freedom to ‘call balls and strikes' hands GOP leaders fresh headache
The decision by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) to not seek reelection next year could give Republican leaders headaches as he looks forward to wielding his newfound political freedom. Tillis announced his retirement amid the GOP's dash to pass the party's tax and spending package, having cropped up as a surprise 'no' vote in the final weeks of negotiations. Now, questions are swirling about what's to come from Tillis, who had been a reliable ally of Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.) during his tenure as Republican leader, as he faces the next year-and-a-half untethered from what was to be a tough electoral fight and free to speak his mind. That could spell trouble for leaders as they work to keep the conference united on government funding, judicial nominations and other top priorities. 'You could have a member of the Senate who is going to support you 95 percent of the time, or you can have a member of the Senate that's going to support you, but not near 95 [percent], and more free to speak and say what they think,' said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a top ally of Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.). 'And now, I think you have a member who is here who is more interested in clearly speaking out and less reserved in what they have for criticisms.' 'It's an independence that gives folks the opportunity to be a bit more direct with their comments,' Rounds continued. 'I think you'll find him to be a little bit more outspoken. A little less reserved. But I expect him to continue to participate.' Tillis, in his retirement announcement, said he had no intention of being a wallflower. 'I look forward to having the pure freedom to call the balls and strikes as I see fit and representing the great people of North Carolina to the best of my ability,' he said. And early indications are Tillis has become more freewheeling than he had been prior. The two-term senator scorched Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in an interview with CNN this week, saying he would not vote for Hegseth today having seen how he's operated. Tillis had reservations about the nomination in January after reports of sexual harassment, public drunkenness and workplace mismanagement emerged. But he cast the deciding vote to put Hegseth over the finish line. 'With the passing of time, I think it's clear he's out of his depth as a manager of a large, complex organization,' Tillis told CNN's Jake Tapper. Tillis is also no longer an official member of Republican leadership, having been replaced on Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso's (R-Wyo.) whip team by Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), who is viewed as an up-and-comer in the conference. Barrasso told The Hill that the decision was ultimately up to Tillis. The North Carolina lawmaker also told Tapper that he will also oppose any future Trump nominees who have expressed support for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Earlier this year, he helped sink the nomination of Ed Martin to serve as the top federal prosecutor for Washington, D.C., over his defense of Capitol rioters. His approach to nominations, especially, could give Trump and Thune fits as they start to marshal through judicial picks. Tillis serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee and could oppose any particularly partisan choice. The committee is split 12-10 between Republicans and Democrats, meaning Tillis could single-handedly bottle up a nominee — or at least force Thune to go through the lengthy process of forcing a nomination to the floor. 'I certainly think it's a worry. … Do you think Thom Tillis is voting for Nick Adams? Let's run the math on that nomination already,' one Senate GOP aide, referring to the self-described 'alpha male' MAGA influencer Trump nominated to be the ambassador to Malaysia. The aide noted that it's incredibly unlikely that the foursome of Tillis, McConnell, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) back Adams. 'You might as well throw that nomination in the trash,' the aide continued. 'You're going to have examples like that where you're going from three 'no' votes, which is winnable on issues like that, versus you have four 'no' votes that don't care about the political fallout from the right.' The aide also pointed to Tillis's concerns with cuts to the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) that are currently included in legislation set to hit the floor next week. Tillis told reporters this week that he is 'generally going to be a 'yes' vote' on that bill, which seeks to claw back money already allocated in the fiscal year 2025 spending bill, though he is still looking into the PEPFAR cuts. And Tillis already demonstrated his political independence with his vote against Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' last month. Tillis had agitated against the bill prior to the vote, raising the alarm about Medicaid cuts and political fallout, but some of his colleagues privately doubted he would follow through, pointing to his vote on Hegseth. Instead, Tillis voted against a bill packed full of most of Trump's domestic priorities, which the president had been pushing hard for months. Despite his newly-discovered political freedom, Tillis remains an ally of leadership and is ever-cognizant of the landmines they must manage, having been a part of McConnell's team in recent years and serving as Speaker in his home state prior to his 2014 Senate victory. Top leaders still expect him to play an important role moving forward despite his recent untethering. Thune indicated that while the Tar Heel State senator has 'strong views' and is an 'independent thinker,' he remains a team player they will rely on. Tillis was like-minded. 'I'm never going to do anything to undermine my conference and I'm never going to surprise my conference. … I'm not that kind of guy,' Tillis told The Hill, saying it's 'not his style.' 'I mean, if you've got to surprise or jam your conference to get something done, you're a pretty shitty legislator,' he added.
