Indiana’s Braun among Republicans backing off protests of Biden victory
Sen. Mike Braun indicated he would drop his objections, saying he wanted to “get this ugly day behind us.”
U.S. Senate
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GOP holds back Democrats, narrowing path to U.S. Senate control
Republicans fought to retain their Senate majority by turning back a surge of Democrats challenging allies of President Donald Trump, and the Democrats’ various paths to seizing control were growing more limited.
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In a first, Congress overrides Trump veto of defense bill
The bill affirms a 3% pay raise for U.S. troops and guides defense policy, cementing decisions about troop levels, new weapons systems and military readiness, personnel policy and other military goals.
With presidency in reach, Democrats grapple with disappointment
Joe Biden appeared to have a clear advantage in being elected president Wednesday afternoon, but the failure to achieve a clear Democratic wave as projected left President Donald Trump’s critics deeply disappointed.
Barrett ads tied to interest groups funded by unnamed donors
Overall, the Judicial Crisis Network, which was founded in 2005 to promote President George W. Bush’s nominees, said it would spend at least $10 million to support Barrett’s confirmation—roughly the same amount it spent to successfully advocate for Trump’s prior picks for the high court, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.
Senate votes to advance Barrett; confirmation expected Monday
Senate Republicans voted overwhelmingly Sunday to advance Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett toward final confirmation despite Democratic objections, just over a week before the presidential election.
UPDATE: Braun, Young support vote on Supreme Court nominee before November
Senate Republicans have swiftly fallen in line behind President Donald Trump’s push to fill the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Supreme Court seat. Trump, who will announce his nominee Saturday, is all but certain to have the votes to confirm his choice.
Legislator seeking end of state’s U.S. Senate primaries
Sen. James Buck of Kokomo said delegates at a state party convention would select the best Senate candidates and that eliminating primary campaigns would make running for office less costly.
U.S. Sen. Todd Young, others fight for progress on smoking
Young is out front nationally on a key anti-smoking platform: Raising the minimum age for buying tobacco to 21.
Brooks’ decision not to run a blow to Indiana’s congressional seniority. But does it matter?
The current Indiana members of the House and Senate have served an average of 8.6 years on Capitol Hill, a number that will go down when Brooks leaves.
Indiana among 3 finalists for USDA divisions, but proposed location unknown
Indiana’s short-listed proposal—submitted by Purdue University and state officials—was one of 136 received by the USDA last year from 35 states. Relocating the two research divisions to Indiana could bring 570 federal jobs.
Lugar funeral to be held May 15 at Indianapolis church
Former U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar will lie in state in the Indiana Statehouse Rotunda for 24 hours beginning at noon May 14.
Richard Lugar, former Indianapolis mayor and giant of foreign policy, dies
The Indianapolis native served two terms as mayor, orchestrating the unification of the city and the outlying parts of Marion County. He went on to serve 36 years in the U.S. Senate.
Senators threaten to force drug execs to testify about prices
Sen. Ron Wyden, the ranking Democrat on the committee, singled out Humalog, an insulin made by Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co, as a drug with unwarranted price hikes.
Trump says a shutdown could ‘last for a very long time’
Facing a midnight deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown, President Trump tried to implicate congressional Democrats if there’s no deal over his demand for U.S.-Mexico border wall money.
Indiana’s Young seeks to lead U.S. Senate GOP campaign committee
Indiana Sen. Todd Young has launched a bid to become chairman of Senate Republicans’ campaign committee during the 2020 campaign, a cycle where the GOP will face a tougher electoral map.
Mike Braun wins Indiana Senate race, ousting incumbent Joe Donnelly
Donnelly, who served one term, said he called Braun and will seek a smooth transition.
Obama’s rally for Donnelly reflects senator’s political balancing act
The appearance may win points with Democrats upset over Donnelly's embrace of some Trump priorities, such as building a border wall with Mexico.
Top Indiana CEOs drop $650K on PACs, races
An IBJ analysis of political giving this election by CEOs of Indiana’s biggest companies found 56 executives donated $650,000 to nearly 92 organizations and candidates seeking federal office.
U.S. Senate candidates meet in relatively calm final debate
The candidates—Joe Donnelly, Mike Braun and Lucy Brenton—were asked about foreign policy, climate change, sexual assault and immigration, but health care seemed to be the main topic Donnelly and Braun wanted to address.
Indiana becomes epicenter of campaign battles over Trump trade policies
Tariffs are weighing heavily on the tossup U.S. Senate contest between Democratic incumbent Joe Donnelly and Republican Mike Braun.