Trump’s foreign policy, Epstein and corruption allegations loom over Senate debates in Maine, Georgia and Iowa

Three Senate races that could decide control of the chamber produced debates on Tuesday in which Republican candidates worked to separate themselves from President Donald Trump or to shift attention onto their opponents. Republicans are defending a narrow majority, and a net pickup of four seats would give Democrats control, according to CNN.

In Maine, Sen. Susan Collins, a five-term incumbent, told challenger Troy Jackson that she sided with Democrats in trying to end the Iran war and thought the president lacked a sound plan, particularly regarding the Strait of Hormuz. She also said she opposed the large tax and policy law because of its Medicaid cuts, and she has voted to repeal the Canadian tariffs. Still, she argued her post as Appropriations Committee chair makes her better placed to deal with the administration.

In Georgia, Rep. Mike Collins used his time to go after Sen. Jon Ossoff over ties to a donor who appears in the Jeffrey Epstein files, a subject that has mostly pressed Republicans onto the defensive.

In Iowa, Rep. Ashley Hinson rejected Trump's diesel arrangement with Vladimir Putin and said she backed sanctions on Russia. Facing Democrat Josh Turek, she was noncommittal on another war powers vote concerning Iran.

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