Trump battles shutdown filibuster as millions prepare to vote in New York and California ballots: Live updates
President Donald Trump has repeated his call for Republicans on Capitol Hill to abolish the Senate filibuster in order to use its majority in the chamber to force through a deal to end the government shutdown as voters prepare to go to the polls in state and local elections nationwide Tuesday.
“TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER, NOT JUST FOR THE SHUTDOWN, BUT FOR EVERYTHING ELSE,” the president urged his party on Truth Social in all-caps. “WE WILL GET ALL OF OUR COMMON SENSE POLICIES APPROVED (VOTER ID, ANYONE?) AND MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Meanwhile, the first elections of Trump’s second term get underway tomorrow, the results of which will be heralded by the victors as either a major repudiation of his controversial policy agenda or a resounding stamp of approval.
The race to find the next mayor of New York City will be closely watched but other key contests include gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia and a vote on California’s “Proposition 50” to enact a new congressional map, which could flip as many as five Republican-held U.S. House seats to Democratic control.
Control of Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court is also up for grabs.
