The Senate passed a procedural vote on a three-bill spending package funding commerce, justice, energy and interior agencies as Congress works to prevent government shutdown.

Negotiations to revive Obamacare funds have stalled, with optimism fading as open enrollment ends. Most Republicans want the funds to stay expired.

Republicans are still clear favorites to retain control of the chamber in the midterms. But Democrats say they are more hopeful about the odds of a big upset.

Senate Democrats are expressing optimism they'll be able to flip the chamber this year after it looked all but impossible last year.

Pollsters that meet at least two of the three criteria below are considered “select pollsters” by The Times, as long as they are conducting polls for nonpartisan sponsors. Has a track record of accuracy in recent elections Is a member of a professional polling organization Conducts probability-based sampling