The Latest: GOP winner of Arizona primary eyes April contest

Republican candidate and former Arizona state Sen. Debbie Lesko celebrates with her husband, Joe, after voting results show her victory in a special primary election for the Congressional District 8 seat during a campaign party at Lesko's home, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. A special primary election was being held to replace Arizona Republican Rep. Trent Franks who resigned amid accusations of sexual misconduct.

Alaska lawmaker cites Holocaust deaths to oppose gun control

An Alaska Republican and most senior member of the U.S. House argued against gun control by wondering how many Jewish people "were put in the ovens" because they were not armed. U.S. Rep. Don Young, who has a history of off-the-cuff remarks that can draw criticism, made the comments at a meeting last week in the state capital of Juneau when responding to a question about what the federal government and cities can do to stop school shootings.

The Latest: Democrat enters US Senate race in Mississippi

State Rep. David Baria of Bay St. Louis announced his intentions Wednesday, a day before candidates' qualifying deadline and the same day a Republican state lawmaker held an event to launch his own campaign for the Senate seat. Mississippi has not had a Democrat in the U.S. Senate since January 1989.

Giffords focuses on high-profile Republicans in midterms

Gabby Giffords' political organization is focusing on six high-profile members of Congress this fall - House Speaker Paul Ryan, among them - in a 2018 midterm strategy that will use high school students to challenge Republican lawmakers it blames for blocking efforts to curb gun violence. The group known as Giffords, named for the former Democratic congresswoman from Arizona who survived a shooting in 2011, says it plans to spend at least $10 million to influence the November elections.

Growing signs that Aaron Schock prosecution on shaky ground Source: AP

Growing sympathy for defense arguments, seeming confusion within the team of federal prosecutors and a disgruntled judge are among the signs that key portions of the corruption case against former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock may be at risk of unraveling. The question on which the outcome of the Illinois Republican's case may rest - and one an appeals court is currently mulling over - is whether prosecutors based their charges on ambiguous House rules in violation of separation-of-powers clauses in the U.S. Constitution.

Giffords targets high-profile Republicans in 2018 strategy

Gabby Giffords' political organization is targeting six high-profile members of Congress this fall - House Speaker Paul Ryan, among them - in a 2018 midterm strategy that will use high school students to challenge Republican lawmakers it blames for blocking efforts to curb gun violence. The group known as Giffords, named for the former Democratic congresswoman from Arizona who survived a shooting in 2011, says it plans to spend at least $10 million to influence the November elections.

Challenge announced against Mississippi’s Sen. Roger Wicker Source: AP

A tea party-backed state lawmaker who came close to unseating one of Mississippi's U.S. senators during a bitter 2014 race announced Wednesday that he will challenge the state's other U.S. Republican senator, Roger Wicker. Republican Chris McDaniel had hinted at the decision for days and made the announcement at an afternoon rally in his hometown of Ellisville.

Challenge announced against Mississippi’s Sen. Roger Wicker

State Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ellisville, hugs his sons, Cambridge, 11, right and Chamberlain, 6, prior to announcing his candidacy to the U.S. Senate, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018 in Ellisville, Miss. McDaniel will challenge current Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker.

Trump flays Sessions for ‘disgraceful’ decision, sparking new clash

U.S. President Donald Trump launched a fresh attack on Wednesday against his attorney general, calling Jeff Sessions' decision to have the Justice Department inspector general - and not prosecutors - investigate alleged surveillance abuse "disgraceful." U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks with Senate staffer Sharon Soderstrom before a memorial ceremony for evangelist Billy Graham in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. February 28, 2018.

Key Words: Trump calls for taking guns first and going through due…

Flanked by Senators John Cornyn and Dianne Feinstein President Donald Trump meets with members of Congress to discuss school and community safety on Wednesday. President Donald Trump suggested on Wednesday taking guns away from potential mass shooters, saying during a White House meeting with lawmakers, "I like taking the guns early."

Key lawmaker gives up on privatizing air traffic control

The top proponent in Congress for privatizing the nation's air traffic control system says the idea won't fly this year. That's a setback for airlines, many of which lobbied to take the air-traffic system away from the Federal Aviation Administration and put it in the hands of a private, non-profit company run by aviation interests, including airlines.

Senate Democrats push for support to reinstate net neutrality

U.S. Senate Democrats launched efforts on Tuesday to win a vote to reinstate Obama-era rules guaranteeing an open internet, suggesting it would be a major issue in the 2018 mid-term elections. Democrats remain one Republican senator shy of winning a majority in the Senate to reverse the Federal Communications Commission's order to undo the 2015 open internet rules.

Close Trump aide Hicks declines to answer questions about time in White House

Hope Hicks, a close aide to President Donald Trump, declined to answer questions about the administration on Tuesday from members of the U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee investigating Russia and the 2016 U.S. election, lawmakers said. The president seemed to defend her shortly before her House appearance, taking to Twitter early on Tuesday to say: "WITCH HUNT," a phrase he has used in the past to describe the Russia investigations.

Congress is searching for clarity from Trump

President Donald Trump has backed off his call on raising the minimum age for rifle purchases, or at least that's what Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., believes. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., meanwhile, thinks the administration is seriously weighing expanding background checks for gun purchases.

McDaniel Set to Take On Wicker in MS Republican Primary

Republicans got a wake-up call regarding the perils of anti-incumbent primaries last year, when Alabama Sen. Luther Strange lost a runoff to Roy Moore, who in turn lost to Democrat Doug Jones at one time an unthinkable outcome. But not everyone sees danger.