Smith is the second Democratic senator to announce their retirements ahead of the midterms in 2026, when the party wants to contend for the majority but faces obstacles.

House Republicans blocked amendments that would’ve protected Medicaid and federal nutrition benefits from the deep cuts.

As the longest-serving Senate leader in history, McConnell developed a reputation for keeping his rank-and-file members in line and frustrating Democrats by relentlessly using procedural tactics to ...