In a resounding rejection of a pressure campaign from the White House, Indiana Republican Senators voted down a new congressional map created to give the GOP an advantage in the upcoming 2026 election. Twenty-one Senators from the Republican supermajority and the chamber’s 10 Democrats voted against the map Thursday, which would have split the city of Indianapolis into four districts. While other Republican states have moved quickly to redistrict, Indiana lawmakers have been far more hesitant. The GOP senators who voted against the map are likely to face primary challengers backed by Republicans on the side of President Donald Trump, who wants to give his party an easier path to keeping the U.S. House.

The Senate has rejected legislation to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, essentially guaranteeing that millions of Americans will see a steep rise in costs at the beginning of the year. Senators on Thursday rejected a Democratic bill to extend the subsidies for three years and a Republican alternative that would have created new health savings accounts. It's an unceremonious end to a monthslong effort by Democrats to prevent the COVID-19-era subsidies from expiring on Jan. 1. Ahead of the votes, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer warned Republicans that if they did not vote to extend the tax credits, “there won’t be another chance to act."

At a nighttime event in Pennsylvania, President Donald Trump tried to emphasize his focus on combating inflation, although the issue couldn't quite command his full attention. The president told the crowd gathered at a casino and resort in Mount Pocono on Tuesday that inflation was no longer a problem and that Democrats had used the term “affordability” as a “hoax” to hurt his reputation. Yet he meandered during his remarks, asking why the U.S. couldn't take in more immigrants from Scandinavia and using an expletive to described countries such as Haiti and Somalia.

An Indiana state Senate committee took the first step toward enacting a new congressional map. But it remains to be seen if the full Senate will have enough votes to enact what is designed to give the GOP the edge in the state's nine congressional seats. President Donald Trump wants Indiana to follow other states like Texas and Missouri, which have redrawn their congressional maps in order to give the GOP a better chance of keeping its U.S. House majority. But many Indiana Republican senators have been hesitant to stack the deck in their party's favor. One Republican voted on Monday with the two Democrats in the Senate elections committee against the legislation. A final vote on the bill is expected Thursday. A new congressional map was previously approved by the House.

Democratic governors who met over the weekend in Arizona say the party must focus on affordability in next year's midterm elections. They aim to build on wins last month in governor's races in New Jersey and Virginia by addressing everyday concerns such as housing prices, rent and grocery costs. The strategy seeks to unite Democrats across the ideological spectrum while confronting President Donald Trump’s policies. Yet there are risks if economic conditions change for the better or if Democrats fail to deliver on their promises. Governor's offices will be up for election in 36 states next year.

A Missouri appeals court panel has ordered new wording for a ballot measure seeking to roll back abortion rights in the state. The court ruled Thursday that Missouri voters must be informed the amendment would repeal “reproductive healthcare rights” that they approved just one year ago. The decision marks another twist in Missouri's ongoing battle over abortion laws, which have shifted since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. The Republican-led Legislature placed a new amendment on a 2026 ballot that would allow abortions only in specific cases. The appeals court found the previous ballot summary misleading and imposed new wording.

Republican Matt Van Epps has won a special election in Tennessee for a seat in the U.S. House. Van Epps was backed by President Donald Trump. He defeated Democratic state Rep. Aftyn Behn to keep the 7th Congressional District in the GOP column. But the comparatively slim margin of victory fueled Democratic hopes for next year’s midterm elections. The special election followed Republican Rep. Mark Green’s resignation this summer. The race saw a surge in spending, with Van Epps receiving over $1 million from the Trump-backing super PAC MAGA Inc. The House Majority PAC supported Behn with $1 million.