GOP Likely to Keep Control of Senate in 2018 Midterms

Last December, Democrat Doug Jones won a Senate race in Alabama by defeating a horribly flawed Republican candidate Roy Moore. For the first time, it appeared that the Democrats had a plausible path to winning control of the U.S. Senate in 2018.

Braun, Donnelly gird for a sensational Senate race

More than a year ago, when U.S. Reps. Todd Rokita and Luke Messer began angling for the 2018 U.S. Senate nomination just as President Donald Trump commenced a fitful start, there was the big question: Are you sure you want to give up safe House seats to run in a first Trump mid-term? MSNBC's Steve Kornacke provided the grist: Since 1998, incumbent senators in "hostile states" were 21-3.

President Trump to Sign ‘Big Legislation’ Authored by Donnelly on Right to Try and Regulatory Relief

Today, President Trump said "big legislation will be signed by me shortly," and both the Right to Try legislation and regulatory relief package that makes reforms to Dodd-Frank he touted are efforts U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly led. Enactment of these provisions will build on the 19 Donnelly provisions already signed into law by President Trump since the President took office and 41 measures the Senator's had signed into law since he began serving in the Senate in 2013.

‘Right-to-try’ bill heads to President Trump for signature

The bill allows terminally ill patients to receive experimental drugs not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson's two-year push to enact a "right-to-try" bill hit the home stretch Tuesday after the House of Representatives approved the measure and sent it to President Donald Trump's desk for final signature.

GOP wary of Trump as midterm elections near

Some Republican candidates fear that the unscripted and relatively unpopular president could do more harm than good should he campaign on their behalf. Leading party strategists want Trump to focus his time and energy on a handful of Senate contests in deep-red states where Democratic incumbents are particularly vulnerable.

When Trump Attacks Democrats Mostly Stay Quiet

Politico : "After laying into Sen. Jon Tester in late April, Trump is reveling in a new round of attacks on the 10 senators up for reelection in states that the president won in 2016. Always more of an attack dog toward his enemies than a defender of his allies, Trump is laying into 'Sleepin'' Sen. Joe Donnelly of Indiana, calling Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania a 'disaster' and blaming Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio for 'catch and release' immigration policies."

Gina Haspel picks up two more Democratic votes, ensuring her confirmation to lead CIA

Gina Haspel, President Trump's nominee to be the next CIA director, on Tuesday picked up the support of two more Senate Democrats, which puts her on track to be confirmed by the Senate later this month. Democrats were slow to come around to Haspel, as many worried about her role overseeing enhanced interrogation techniques used on terror suspects in the aftermath of the Sept.

Second US Democrat to support Haspel as new CIA chief

A second Democratic senator said Saturday he would support Donald Trump's nominee to lead the CIA despite her past role overseeing the torture of terror suspects, likely assuring her confirmation. Senator Joe Donnelly of Indiana said that after "a tough, frank and extensive discussion" with nominee Gina Haspel, he believes she "has learned from the past... and can help our country confront serious international threats and challenges."

Second Democrat announces support for CIA nominee Haspel

Gina Haspel's nomination to be CIA director received a crucial boost Saturday when Sen. Joe Donnelly became the second Democrat to support President Donald Trump's choice despite questions about her role in the previous decade's controversial interrogation program. The senator from Indiana, who met with Haspel on Thursday, said in a statement that he had ''a tough, frank, and extensive discussion'' with her that covered both her vision for the agency and its past use of ''enhanced'' interrogations against terrorist captives, including methods such as waterboarding that are widely considered torture.

Second Democratic senator publicly backing Trump’s CIA pick

Joe Donnelly of Indiana says he made his decision after a "tough, frank and extensive discussion" with Gina Haspel, the spy agency's acting director. So far two Republicans have announced their opposition: Kentucky's Rand Paul and Arizona's John McCain, who's battling cancer and isn't expected to be present for the voting.

Second Democratic senator publicly backing Trumpa s CIA pick

Joe Donnelly of Indiana says in a statement Saturday that he made his decision after "a tough, frank and extensive discussion" with Gina Haspel, the spy agency's acting director. The other Democrat who's come out for Haspel is West Virginia's Joe Manchin.

In Indiana, Trump urges GOP to mobilize for 2018 midterms

Embracing his role as party leader, President Donald Trump issued a stern warning at a rally Thursday that Democrats would disrupt the economic progress of his administration, imploring Republicans to mobilize during the 2018 midterm elections. Trump used one of his signature rallies in northern Indiana to paint a rosy picture of his presidency, pointing to low unemployment, "booming" job growth and optimism under his watch.

Trump hits Sen. Donnelly hard on his home turf – and gives him a new nickname

ELKART, Ind. - President Trump made good on a promise last year to campaign against Sen. Joe Donnelly during a campaign rally Thursday in Elkhart, attacking the Democrat as "Sleepin' Joe" and a "swamp person."

Facing anti-Washington winds, Senate Democrats point to home

Feeling no relief from anti-incumbent Republican primaries, Democratic senators in GOP-leaning states are working to convince voters they're free of Washington's stigma. The Democrats seeking re-election this fall in states Republican Donald Trump carried - the battlefront in the fight for Senate control -are portraying themselves as independent actors and known entities in hopes of inoculating themselves against Republican accusations that they are lockstep obstructionists to Trump's agenda.

Trump is returning to campaign roots with rally in Indiana Source: AP

Taking the reins as party leader, President Donald Trump is returning to his campaign roots with big-stage events allowing him to target vulnerable Senate Democrats and mobilize his most fervent supporters on behalf of Republicans. Trump was set to rally supporters in Elkhart, Indiana, on Thursday night, two days after state Republicans nominated former state lawmaker Mike Braun to challenge vulnerable Democratic U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly.

Trump is returning to campaign roots with rally in Indiana

Republican Senate candidate Mike Braun thanks supporters after winning the republican primary in Whitestown, Ind., Tuesday, May 8, 2018. Braun faced Todd Rokita and Luke Messer in the Republican primary race.

Republicans Get Their Wish in W.Va., Ind., Ohio Primaries

Republicans breathed a collective sigh of relief Tuesday night as primary contests for the U.S. Senate produced a trio of candidates they consider effective challengers to Democratic incumbents in states President Trump won in 2016. The races in West Virginia, Indiana and Ohio were the first in what will be a months-long string of crowded primaries for Republicans in key battleground states, lasting until Wisconsin and Arizona vote in August.