Thune campaigns for Republicans in marquee Senate races in scramble to save majority

Senate Majority Leader John Thune is campaigning across the country before the midterms, trying to keep Republicans in control of the chamber even though he has been criticized by the party's base and by President Donald Trump over the Senate's failure to pass the SAVE America Act. The measure, which Thune supports, would demand proof of citizenship and voter ID nationwide, but it cannot reach 60 votes while the filibuster remains. Trump has urged him to scrap that rule; Thune has declined, saying Republicans may need it to block Democratic bills later, according to PBS NewsHour.

In Iowa, Thune joined Representative Ashley Hinson, who is in a close race against Democratic state legislator Josh Turek for the seat of retiring Senator Joni Ernst. Thune said Hinson must win for Republicans to hold the majority. Both Republicans face questions over Trump's war in Iran, having voted against Democratic efforts to end it, and Hinson has also broken with the president on beef imports and a Russian diesel deal.

Thune has also appeared with candidates in several other states and is heading to Ohio to aid Senator Jon Husted against former Senator Sherrod Brown.

Summarized by PolitiKool from PBS NewsHour’s reporting. Read the full story at PBS NewsHour →