Craig Caplan

@CSPAN Capitol Hill Producer. Former @RTCACapitolHill Chair. Philly fan since birth. @AmericanU. #FlyEaglesFly

[Craig Caplan @CraigCaplan]

First Jordan-Thune meeting took place today, the day after they were elected as the House & Senate Republican leaders respectively for the 120th Congress in the minority. Meeting took place in Thune’s leadership office off the Senate floor.

[Leader John Thune @LeaderJohnThune]

Looking forward to working with incoming House Republican Leader @Jim_Jordan to advance conservative priorities and hold the line against Democrats’ efforts to enact their far-left agenda.

[Craig Caplan @CraigCaplan]

Hyde-Smith (R-MS) concedes the Senate race to Colom: “While this is not the outcome we worked for or hoped for, I respect the decision of Mississippi. I want to congratulate Scott Colom and wish him well as he takes on the tremendous responsibility of representing our great state.”

[Cindy Hyde-Smith @cindyhydesmith]

Thank you, Mississippi.

[Craig Caplan @CraigCaplan]

Mississippi U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Scott Colom has defeated 1st term MS GOP Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith 49.2%-48.7% per AP. Hyde-Smith blocked Colom's nomination by President Biden in 2023 to serve as a federal judge on the Northern District Court of Mississippi.

[Craig Caplan @CraigCaplan]

MS GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith announced today:"I will not return the blue slip on the nomination of Scott Colom to serve as a U.S. District Court judge for the Northern District of MS." Colom was 1st nominated to a lifetime appt. as a federal judge by President Biden in Nov. 2022.

[Craig Caplan @CraigCaplan]

House NOW debating the rule for the Major Richard Star Act.

[Craig Caplan @CraigCaplan]

245-175: On this Veterans Day 2026, the House voted to advance the Major Richard Star Act to the floor via a discharge petition by VA Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA). The bill would provide full military retirement pay & benefits for veterans with combat-related disabilities. 34 Republicans voted Yes with all Democrats. @cspan https://t.co/bMdQvlMbqt

[Craig Caplan @CraigCaplan]

Thune filed cloture on Capito substitute amendment to the federal permitting reform bill as well as the legislation itself, setting up votes to advance the bill towards final passage. 60 will be needed on each vote. @cspan 2

[Craig Caplan @CraigCaplan]

House NOW voting whether to advance the Major Richard Star Act to the floor via a discharge petition, legislation that would provide full military retirement pay & benefits for veterans with combat-related disabilities. @cspan

[Craig Caplan @CraigCaplan]

Nevada Congressman Steven Horsford, who was one of the 11 Democrats who did not vote on the Hegseth impeachment resolution yesterday, explained his absence on the House floor today.
https://t.co/GybBKUleTR

[CSPAN @cspan]

.@RepHorsford (D-NV) says a personal emergency kept him from attending Hegseth vote: "I take full responsibility. The accountability I demand of others applies to me too."

[Craig Caplan @CraigCaplan]

211-204: House mainly along party lines blocked Kentucky GOP Rep. Thomas Massie's impeachment resolution on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, by referring it to committee. Massie was the only Republican to vote No.

[Craig Caplan @CraigCaplan]

18 House members, 7 Republicans including NRCC Chair candidate Yakym & 11 Democrats including former Speaker Pelosi & Haley Stevens did not vote on GOP’s effort to block Massie’s impeachment resolution on Hegseth. https://t.co/fQeM8DwnsX

[Craig Caplan @CraigCaplan]

Senate's is in session today on this Veterans Day and will continue work on legislation to reform the federal permitting processes for energy and infrastructure projects. Senate was scheduled to be out today and the rest of the week for the federal holiday, but Thune changed the schedule yesterday after hearing from GOP Senators to stay in session this week and continue to work on legislation and nominations. @cspan 2

[Craig Caplan @CraigCaplan]

It's Veterans Day and the House is in session on this federal holiday. Members will vote today on whether to allow debate on the Major Richard Star Act via a discharge petition, legislation that would provide full military retirement pay & benefits for veterans with combat-related disabilities as well as a bill to expand access to veterans health benefits, that was debated in July but never voted on by the full House. @cspan

[Craig Caplan @CraigCaplan]

Thune filed cloture on more of President Trump's judicial nominations, setting up votes for later this week. Nominees include Alabama Supreme Court Associate Justice Greg Cook to be a U.S. District Court judge for Northern Alabama, Chief U.S. District Court judge for Colorado Daniel Domenico to be a Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge, and Anna St. John, a U.S. District Court judge for Eastern Louisiana, to serve as a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge.

[Craig Caplan @CraigCaplan]

Senate Schedule Update: Senator WILL be voting later this week per Thune's spox.

[Ryan Wrasse @RWrasse]

While the Senate was originally scheduled to be out of session for the balance of the week because of the Veterans Day holiday, folks should now expect votes throughout the balance of the week.

[Craig Caplan @CraigCaplan]

62-21: Senate voted to officially begin debate on bipartisan legislation to reform the federal permitting processes for energy and infrastructure projects.

[Craig Caplan @CraigCaplan]

Kiley (I-CA) votes Yes to block Massie's impeachment resolution against Hegseth

[Craig Caplan @CraigCaplan]

House NOW voting on a Republican motion to refer KY GOP Rep. Thomas Massie's impeachment resolution on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to committee, blocking floor action if approved. @cspan

[Craig Caplan @CraigCaplan]

Massie so far is the only R to vote No against GOP motion to block his impeachment resolution against Hegseth

[Craig Caplan @CraigCaplan]

Johnson (R-WI) did not vote on today's Senate GOP leadership elections after the Republicans voted against his effort to delay them.

[Senator Ron Johnson @SenRonJohnson]

I did not participate in today’s Senate leadership election because a defeat of this magnitude demands serious reflection and change.

Holding a rushed election ignores the message our voters sent. We must acknowledge where and why we failed and develop strategies to succeed.

I hope our conference can unite, learn from this moment, and do a better job listening to the American people and addressing their concerns.

[Craig Caplan @CraigCaplan]

Other House GOP leaders elected for 120th Congress including Conference Secretary Mark Alford (R-MO), Conference Vice Chair Blake Moore (R-UT) and Policy Committee Chair Jay Obernolte (R-CA).

[Craig Caplan @CraigCaplan]

Rep. Brian Jack (R-GA) has been elected NRCC chair for the 120th Congress and the 2028 cycle over Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-IN) 125-53. Jack succeeds chair Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC09), who lost re-election to his House seat.