Let us build: Permitting reform can’t wait

It’s time to stop gambling with the futures of hardworking LIUNA members and get this bill passed.

Catholic preschools’ lawyer sees a Supreme Court win

Watch The Gavel Live: Hill Insider members can join us live today at 3 p.m. EST as we talk with Nick Sansone, an attorney at Public Citizen leading the legal challenge to President Trump’s arch. Tune in! Nick Reaves thinks he just got his first win arguing before the Supreme

Tillis: Hegseth faces ‘a reckoning’ in lame-duck session of Congress

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) says that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth faces “a reckoning” in the post-election lame-duck Congress and is questioning whether President Trump will be able to get the Pentagon funded if Hegseth remains in his job. “Hegseth has a reckoning,” Tillis

Thune: Republicans ‘will not stand idly by’ under Democratic majority

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) declared early Wednesday morning that Republicans ‘will not stand idly by’ as Democrats try to reverse the accomplishments of President Trump’s first two years in office by raising taxes or restoring spending cuts to popular programs.

GOP crushed in blue landslide

In today's issue: ▪ Democrats take control of House, Senate ▪ Elected candidates deliver historic firsts ▪ Alaska results could take weeks ▪ Mississippi Senate down to the wire Democrats' wildest dreams came true Tuesday night as they swept battlegrounds and made stunning

El-Sayed: 'Delicious irony' that 'habibi' Vance 'constitutionally obligated' to swear him in

Michigan Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed (D) taunted President Trump and Vice President Vance in his victory speech early Wednesday after the two Republicans spent months attacking him on the campaign trail. El-Sayed, who defeated Trump-backed Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s

You're lame ducks now — take the hard votes while you can

The campaign ads are gone from my television, and I'm grateful. The price tag is harder to forget. OpenSecrets projected the 2026 midterms at $11.9 billion, which would be a record for any midterm. That is more than four times the $2.9 billion the EPA announced in May to help

Abdul El-Sayed’s Victory Is Historic for These Two Reasons

Abdul El-Sayed’s election is a watershed moment in American politics. The victory of a devout Muslim, particularly in a fairly white , moderate state like Michigan, is another step towards America becoming a truly multicultural democracy. And the triumph of a progressive

Trump Presidency on Life Support after Blue Tsunami’s Reach Shocks GOP

In a stunning series of outcomes, Democrats won control of the House and Senate on Tuesday. They’re projected to take control of at least 244 House seats, per NBC, and as of now, they’ve flipped Senate seats in South Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Iowa, Kansas, North Carolina, and

Mississippi Senate race too close to call

Mississippi’s Senate race remained too close to call early Wednesday, with Democratic challenger Scott Colom holding a razor-thin lead over Sen. Cindy Hyde Smith (R) by less than 1 percentage point. With nearly all ballots counted, Colom led Hyde-Smith by a little over 2,000

New York, Oregon laws could make the Supreme Court defend its Janus ruling

In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court handed public-sector unions a well-deserved rebuke in Janus v. AFSCME. The justices affirmed that government employees cannot be compelled to financially support a union as a condition of employment. Eight years later, the question is whether the

Aaron Ford flips Nevada governorship, becoming state’s first Black governor

Say Goodnight, New Democrats. It’s the Era of the New New Democrats.

There are about a thousand takeaways from a historic election like this one, the chief one being the thorough, and thoroughly gratifying, repudiation of you-know-who. But I’m going to focus on the one that gets at the heart of a key question for Democrats about what kind of

Arizona, Nebraska voters approve transgender athlete bans

Trumpism Is Failing Because It Is Very, Very Stupid

The 2026 midterms are over, which means that the 2028 presidential election is now underway. President Donald Trump occasionally jokes that he would run for a third term despite the Constitution’s two-term limit. The reality is that Republicans will need to find a new

The 2028 presidential race starts now. These six Democrats just had a great night

The 2028 presidential race effectively begins now, and Tuesday's midterms elections offered an early snapshot of the political strength for the potential Democratic Party's potential White House contenders. For some would-be candidates, the results strengthened their political

Trump’s two new tormenters: Courts and Congress

The president enters his final chapter in public office in an unfamiliar position.

Alabama voters approve school prayer, Pledge of Allegiance amendment

A ballot measure that would amend the Alabama Constitution to essentially require the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools in addition to allowing “student-initiated and student-led prayer” is projected to be approved by voters, according to Decision Desk HQ. Voters in the

Capitol agenda: GOP suffers historic rebuke

Democrats swept both chambers of Congress as Republicans faced generational-level losses across the country.

The races we're still waiting on ...

Democrats’ massive blue wave could get even bigger.

Yarbrough wins Texas House election for redistricted Julie Johnson seat

Texas Republican House candidate Jace Yarbrough is projected to win the open seat to lead the state's redistricted 32nd District and replace Rep. Julie Johnson (D-Texas), per Decision Desk HQ. The attorney defeated Richardson City Council member Dan Barrios (D) in the district

Arizona approves ballot measure designating sexes to sports teams

A ballot measure that would further restrict transgender people from competing on sports teams or using private spaces like locker rooms that align with their gender identity is projected to pass in Arizona, according to Decision Desk HQ. Voters approved the ballot measure,

Idaho rejects ballot measure adding abortion access protection

A ballot measure that would legalize abortion access up until fetal viability in Idaho, reversing the state’s current ban, is projected to fail, according to Decision Desk HQ. Voters rejected the ballot measure, which sought to establish protections around reproductive access

Winners and losers of the 2026 midterms

Democrats pulled off the blue wave of their dreams on Tuesday, winning the House and Senate majorities in a stunning cap to the most expensive midterm election cycle on record. The midterm results are a massive victory for the party, which suffered bruising losses in the last

Nebraska voters approve ban on transgender athletes in girls’ sports

A ballot measure requiring schools to designate "biological sexes" to sports teams, is projected to pass, according to Decision Desk HQ. Voters approved the constitutional amendment, known as Initiative Measure 442, which would require public schools, both K-12 and colleges

Live updates: Democrats riding high after historic night; GOP searches for answers

Democrats will control both the Senate and the House of Representatives come Jan. 3 according to Decision Desk HQ. The exact extent of Democrats' majorities remains to be determined as some key races are still undecided as of early Wednesday. But Democrats picked up most of

Nevada approves abortion rights amendment

Nevada voters have approved a ballot measure protecting abortion up to the point of viability, officially adding the protection to the state constitution, Decision Desk HQ has projected. The measure allows the state to enact restrictions after viability is reached, which is

Nevada approves voter ID requirement for casting ballot

A Nevada ballot measure that aims to add voter identification requirements when casting a ballot is projected to pass, according to Decision Desk HQ. The constitutional amendment, known as Question 7, would add language to the state Constitution requiring someone to show photo

Kaptur beats Merrin in Ohio House rematch

Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) is projected to win a 23rd term representing Ohio in the House, emerging from a tough rematch with Republican Derek Merrin, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ). Notching another two-year term in Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, Kaptur extends her

Alaska approves citizenship voting requirement

A ballot measure that would introduce minor language changes to an Alaska law around citizenship and voter eligibility is projected to pass, according to Decision Desk HQ. The effort, dubbed Initiative Petition 25USCV, notes that Alaska law mandates that voters must be

Former Justice Department official to succeed Luttrell in Texas district

Jessica Steinmann (R) is projected to defeat Laura Jones (D) in Texas’s 8th Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ. Steinmann leads Jones by about 10 points with 91 percent of the vote in, per DDHQ. The constitutional lawyer will succeed Rep. Morgan Luttrell

Environmental advocate defeats oil and natural gas executive in redrawn Texas House district

Leticia Gutierrez (D) is projected to defeat Alex Mealer (R) in Texas’s 9th District, according to Decision Desk HQ. Gutierrez is leading Mealer by 14 points with 78 percent reporting, per DDHQ. Gutierrez will succeed Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) in representing the 9th District.

Five takeaways on a midterm rout for Democrats

Tuesday saw seismic results in the midterm elections as Democrats virtually ran the table of competitive races, and voters delivered a powerful rebuke to President Trump and the GOP. The bottom line is that Democrats have won control of the Senate and the House. And while the

Forstag flips Montana House seat, beating Trump-backed opponent

Democrat Sam Forstag is the projected winner of the election for Montana's 1st District, a key flip in his party's push to take control of the House, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ). Forstag, a former smokejumper and union leader, defeated Republican challenger Aaron

DC approves ballot measure banning foie gras from local restaurants

A ballot measure that would ban foie gras — a luxury delicacy associated with French cuisine made from the liver of a duck or goose fattened by force feeding — from being served in local restaurants is projected to pass in Washington, D.C., according to Decision Desk HQ.

Massachusetts voters reject ballot measure eliminating jungle primaries

A ballot measure that would have eliminated party primary elections from being held in Massachusetts is projected to fail, according to preliminary results from Decision Desk HQ. Question 3 would have allowed candidates from all parties to appear on the primary ballot, with the

South Dakota approves ballot measure affirming only citizens can vote in elections

A ballot measure that would affirm that only U.S. citizens can vote in elections in South Dakota is projected to pass, according to Decision Desk HQ. The constitutional amendment, assigned the letter “J” on the ballot, changes the South Dakota Constitution to make it clear

West Virginia approves citizenship voting ballot measure

A ballot measure that would specify that only U.S. citizens are allowed to vote in elections in West Virginia is projected to pass, according to Decision Desk HQ. The constitutional amendment, known as Amendment 1, makes a change to the language of the West Virginia

Missouri rejects ballot measure to overturn abortion protections

Missouri voted to protect abortion access Tuesday, Decision Desk HQ projects, narrowly rejecting a ballot measure that would have reinstated a near-total abortion ban just two years after it was overturned. Missouri in 2024 became the first state to use a ballot measure to

Missouri voters reject new GOP-friendly House map

A ballot measure that looks to enact a more Republican-friendly House map in Missouri is projected to fail, delivering a major win for Democrats, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ). Voters rejected the ballot measure, known as Proposition A, which would have allowed

Louisiana 5th District House race proceeds to runoff

Democratic Louisiana state Rep. Patricia Moore and Republican state Rep. Gabe Firment are projected to advance to a runoff in Louisiana’s 5th House District race, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ). Moore had less than a one percentage point advantage over Firment as of

Knickerbocker defeats Turner, flips Ohio House seat for Democrats

Democrat Kristina Knickerbocker is projected to win Ohio's 10th District, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ). Knickerbocker defeated longtime Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) in a district the incumbent comfortably held for more than two decades. The Democrat garnered just over 49

Democrat flips Gonzales’s former House seat in Texas

Texas Democratic Senate candidate Katy Padilla Stout is projected to win the Lone Star State's open seat for the 23rd Congressional District vacated by former Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), according to preliminary results from Decision Desk HQ. Padilla Stout defeated YouTube

Navy admiral fired by Hegseth flips Mace’s South Carolina seat

Democrat Nancy Lacore, a former Navy Admiral who was fired by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, is projected to win in the traditionally red House district in South Carolina against Republican Jenny Costa Honeycutt, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ). Nonpartisan election

Ricketts wins reelection over independent Osborn in Nebraska Senate race

Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) fended off a Senate challenge from independent Dan Osborn, Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ) projects, keeping the Nebraska seat under GOP control. Ricketts, who won the 2024 race to fill out the remainder of former Sen. Ben Sasse’s (R-Neb.) term, was the

Valadao ousted in battleground California House contest

Progressive challenger Randy Villegas (D) has defeated Rep. David Valadeo (R-Calif.) in the race for California’s 22nd Congressional District, Decision Desk HQ has projected. Villegas’s defeat of Valadeo knocks out an incumbent that has served in the House on and off from 2013

Democrats Win Michigan Senate as Abdul El-Sayed Makes History

Michigan voted to send Democrat Abdul El-Sayed to the Senate Tuesday night, making him the first Muslim senator. El-Sayed beat Republican Mike Rogers with 51.89 percent of the vote, Decision Desk HQ projected, with 77 percent of the votes counted. “You’ll notice I always say ‘

Musk-aligned lawyer to succeed McCaul in House

Chris Gober (R) is projected to defeat Caitlin Rourk (D) in Texas’s 10th District, according to Decision Desk HQ. Gober will succeed Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas). McCaul, the 64-year-old former chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is departing Congress after more than

GOP’s Taylor wins Cohen’s redistricted Tennessee House seat

Tennessee state Sen. Brent Taylor (R) is projected to win the state’s redistricted 9th Congressional District seat, replacing Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), who is retiring, according to Decision Desk HQ, The Hill’s partner. Taylor defeated Democratic state Rep. Justin Pearson,

Speaker Mike Johnson: Republicans ‘faced some real odds’

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told supporters in Louisiana on Tuesday that the GOP “faced some real odds” in the midterm elections but that the fight was far from over. “We knew that to keep the House and sustain our majority, we would have to defy more than a century of midterm