Thune’s midterm crossroads: Keep the Senate working or let candidates campaign

Senate Republicans face a mounting dilemma whether to pack it up until after the Nov. 3 midterm elections and hit the campaign trail, or stay in Washington for last-minute policy wins that battleground members can take home to voters.

It’s a decision looming largely over Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), as congressional Republicans lament they have few achievements to tout with higher gas prices from the Iran war and voters’ affordability concerns dragging them down.