Less than three months out from Election Day, Senate Republicans are scheduling hearings on high-profile issues such as civil unrest, protests, and the FBI’s Russia investigation, which have the potential to juice GOP voter enthusiasm.
Senate Republicans aim to emphasize themes to the GOP base as they stave off Democrats’ efforts to win a majority in the chamber. Senate Republicans currently hold a 53-47 edge, with several races considered toss-ups.
Republicans held a hearing on Tuesday with several witnesses who testified about anarchist violence at riots in Portland, which have erupted in cities nationwide beyond Oregon.
The hearing, hosted by a subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee and chaired by Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, had its own fireworks when the panel’s ranking member, Sen. Mazie Hirono, a Hawaii Democrat, got into a heated exchange with Cruz during the leaders’ closing remarks.
On Wednesday, former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates testified before the full Judiciary Committee about the FBI Russia investigation into President Trump. And Thursday Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee regarding DHS officers in Portland who defended a federal courthouse from rioters.
Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, who is up for reelection on Nov. 3, told the Washington Examiner, “I think most of them are things that are important business for the Senate to do and we realize that the window is closing, for the opportunity to have those kinds of hearings.”
He added, “I think there’s a realization that if the Senate were to flip, there wouldn’t be an opportunity to expose a lot of this misconduct and hold people accountable, so I think that has a lot to do with it.”
Republicans have more seats to defend than Democrats this election cycle, and the GOP is circling the wagons in certain states, such as Maine and Colorado, to protect their most vulnerable colleagues’ seats. They’re also seeking out opportunities in states where Democratic senators face reelection, such as Michigan and Alabama, for pickups, to offset losses elsewhere.
“I would bet on our chances of retaining the majority but I think we’re playing defense primarily because of the map, but also because of just the environment we’re in. We’re all taking these races seriously, including mine in Texas,” Cornyn said.
