Story perspectives

Thune launches GOP Senate fundraising tour ahead of Husted vote

By Drooid · Sep 30, 2026, 6:01 PM UTC · How we work

Left

Candidates Drop Trump

Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced a multi-state campaign and fundraising tour for Republican Senate candidates, starting Thursday, September 29, 2026.
Coverage notes GOP candidates are distancing from President Donald Trump, fearing his low popularity could hurt Senate races.
The Senate Leadership Fund raised Texas spending to $100 million to back candidate Ken Paxton.
Some Republican Senate candidates have removed references to President Donald Trump from their campaign websites.

Right

Utility Bill Test

Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced a multi-state campaign and fundraising tour for Republican Senate candidates starting Thursday, September 29, 2026.
Senators said the tour will test a 60-vote data-center utility-cost bill to force Democratic cooperation.
Tour is presented as strategy to keep Senate in session before midterms.
Senators view the tour as an opportunity to aid Ohio candidate Jon Husted’s competitive race.

Center

Supermajority Data Bill

Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced a campaign and fundraising tour for Republican Senate candidates, beginning Thursday, September 29, 2026.
The Senate will hold a vote on the Husted-sponsored data-center bill, a 60-vote supermajority measure that could sway tight Senate races.
Thune will tour states, including two Iowa visits, as Senate Republicans have raised over $500 million.
The bill passed House 417-3; requires seven Democrats, Schumer called it fraud, grid-upgrade Martin Heinrich.

Blindspot

Some Republican Senate candidates have removed references to President Donald Trump from their campaign websites, and GOP leaders warned that Trump's low popularity could threaten Senate races, according to the Left-leaning source.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Left-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Center-leaning and Right-leaning coverage.

1 of 4

Candidates Drop Trump

Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced a multi-state campaign and fundraising tour for Republican Senate candidates, starting Thursday, September 29, 2026.
Coverage notes GOP candidates are distancing from President Donald Trump, fearing his low popularity could hurt Senate races.
The Senate Leadership Fund raised Texas spending to $100 million to back candidate Ken Paxton.
Some Republican Senate candidates have removed references to President Donald Trump from their campaign websites.

1 / 4