Politico Congress

Graham Platner has withdrawn from the Maine Senate race, prompting the process to replace him on the ballot. The Maine Democratic Party plans to hold a convention to select a replacement by July 27, with at least eight candidates, including Nirav Shah, Shenna Bellows, and Troy Jackson, vying for the nomination.

A bipartisan group of senators announced an agreement with the Trump administration to advance new legislation sanctioning countries that purchase Russian oil, aiming to pressure Moscow. The legislation, which faced prior resistance from the White House, now appears closer to approval after Trump's recent shift in stance on the Ukraine war.

House GOP leaders are holding a vote to make daylight saving time permanent via the Sunshine Protection Act to address a revolt led by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna. The bill is a priority for Florida Republicans and President Donald Trump, but its inclusion in a transportation bill faces challenges due to opposition from agriculture-heavy states.

President Donald Trump refuses to sign the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, protesting the Senate's failure to pass his preferred elections bill, the SAVE America Act. The housing bill, which passed both chambers of Congress, is expected to become law by default as Trump does not plan to veto it.

Republicans in Congress face challenges passing a new party-line bill amid a tight legislative calendar and public skepticism about the benefits of their previous major legislation. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes provisions like Trump-branded child investment accounts and sunsetting clean energy tax credits, struggles to gain public traction, while intraparty disputes and time constraints hinder progress on new initiatives. President Donald Trump's removal of election commissioners adds to the GOP's political pressures.

John Kennedy is gaining national attention through Fox News appearances, a bestselling book, and a growing TikTok following. He is leveraging his popularity to support Senate GOP colleagues in key states, with events in Ohio, New Hampshire, Indiana, and Tennessee raising significant funds. Kennedy has not ruled out a potential presidential bid despite no declared leadership ambitions.

Morris Katz, a Democratic strategist, stated that he and others advised Graham Platner to suspend his Maine Senate campaign after learning of rape allegations against him. Katz confirmed Platner plans to file paperwork to terminate his campaign, though the Maine Secretary of State's office has not yet received it.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows announced her Senate campaign to replace Graham Platner. Bellows, who lost the Democratic gubernatorial primary, joins other contenders for the Democratic nomination and faces scrutiny over her 2014 Senate loss to Susan Collins.

Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley requested detailed information from FBI Director Kash Patel about his use of FBI resources, including flights and vehicle purchases, as Patel faces allegations of misusing government jets and SWAT teams for personal purposes. Rep. Jamie Raskin and Sen. Dick Durbin also called for transparency, citing concerns over taxpayer spending. Patel denies the allegations, and Grassley emphasized his long-standing commitment to scrutinizing FBI directors regardless of administration.

Jordan Wood, a former Capitol Hill staffer, has entered the Maine Senate race for the Democratic nomination following Graham Platner's withdrawal. He aims to build on Platner's populist movement while distancing himself from his Washington ties, facing competition from candidates like Nirav Shah and Troy Jackson.

Susan Collins' re-election campaign faces uncertainty after Graham Platner withdrew from the race, forcing Democrats to select a new nominee. Collins' team had leveraged Platner's controversies to counter his challenge, but his exit complicates their strategy. Democrats plan a nominating convention, while Republicans aim to associate the new nominee with Platner's allegations.

The House Oversight Committee's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's network will reach its one-year mark with no resolution in sight. Both Democrats and Republicans have expressed pressure to continue probing Epstein's associates, including high-profile figures like Howard Lutnick, Leon Black, and Bill Gates, while new names such as Frédéric Fekkai and Philip Levine have emerged. The probe remains politically charged, with neither party showing signs of slowing down despite limited progress in securing criminal charges.

Graham Platner’s campaign collapsed following a POLITICO report of a new sexual assault allegation against him. The article details how the campaign unraveled in the days after the allegation was published.

Cheyenne Hunt, a lawyer and executive director of Reckoning Action, expressed relief over Graham Platner's withdrawal from the Maine Senate race and praised Democrats for prioritizing values. Hunt, who linked allegations against Platner and former Rep. Eric Swalwell, withdrew support from Platner after ex-partners described his behavior as 'reckless' and 'unsettling'.

Graham Platner's exit from Maine's Senate race removes a perceived advantage for Sen. Susan Collins' reelection bid, as his personal controversies were expected to help offset challenges in a blue state. Collins' team now faces the prospect of a more conventional general election with a Democratic candidate having a 'cleaner record.'

Republicans criticized Graham Platner after he suspended his campaign, attempting to link Democrats to his failed candidacy. GOP figures accused Democrats of undermining Maine voters and expressed confidence in Susan Collins' re-election despite the state being won by Kamala Harris in 2024.

Senate Democrats' campaign arm has re-entered the Maine Senate race and launched a fund to support the party's new nominee following Graham Platner's withdrawal. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Senate Majority PAC aim to defeat GOP Sen. Susan Collins and secure Senate control.

Troy Jackson, a progressive ally of Graham Platner, officially launched a Senate campaign with endorsements from Bernie Sanders and progressive support. A flash poll by Platner's campaign and POLITICO showed Jackson leading over Susan Collins, though he has distanced himself from Platner.

Graham Platner has not yet officially submitted paperwork to withdraw from the Senate race, according to a spokesperson for Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows' office. Platner announced he is suspending his campaign but intends to file withdrawal paperwork, while Bellows is being considered as a possible replacement.

Senate Majority PAC, Democrats’ top Senate super PAC, is committed to defeating GOP Sen. Susan Collins following Graham Platner’s suspension of his campaign. The PAC had previously threatened to cut resources if Platner remained on the ticket after allegations against him, which he denies, were reported by POLITICO.