Senate Majority Leader John Thune put out an endorsement and fundraising letter for Sen. John Cornyn this week, stressing how vital the seat is for Republicans in making sure they hold the majority.

The government shutdown is on track to end with no resolution for expiring healthcare subsidies, and Democrats say Republicans want an abortion ban.

Bernadette Smith, the former co-chair of the Michigan Republican Party, filed paperwork to run for U.S. Senate seat in a challenge to Mike Rogers.

House Republicans are pushing to repeal a provision in the shutdown-ending funding measure that would allow senators to earn a significant amount of money from litigation challenging the seizure