PBS News Hour - Politics

This year, more women are running for Congress than ever before, shattering records set in 2018. But this time, the increase in female candidates is driven in part by Republican women on the ballot. Lisa Desjardins reports on what the GOP has done to attract women -- and what they still need to do to close the wide gender gap in the House.

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As President Trump and Joe Biden enter the final week of the presidential campaign, COVID-19 is roiling the race again. At least five of Vice President Mike Pence's staffers have tested positive for the virus, including one deemed a close contact of Pence's by the CDC. But Pence continues to hold rallies that, like many of Trump's, violate state health guidelines. Judy Woodruff reports.

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Amy Coney Barrett is poised to become the third Supreme Court justice chosen by President Trump, ensuring a judicial legacy that will be felt for years to come. And after her confirmation, Barrett will quickly have a chance to make her imprint on some important and timely issues, including voting access and the Affordable Care Act. John Yang reports on how Barrett could change the Supreme Court.

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Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin is the Senate's second highest-ranking Democrat and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which supported the Supreme Court nomination of Amy Coney Barrett. Durbin joins Judy Woodruff to discuss why he has found the judicial confirmation process for Barrett "very troubling," what he expects from her on the court and the "desperate" need for more coronavirus relief.

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South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is himself in the political hot seat. His support for the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court during an election year, after opposing Merrick Garland's nomination in 2016, has left many voters fed up. Gavin Jackson of South Carolina ETV reports on a close race with Democratic challenger Jaime Harrison.

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Protecting the American voting process from outside interference is a top priority this election season. But public and political opinion are divided over the best voting systems to prevent tampering. Miles O'Brien takes a look at the latest technology being used in Georgia -- and whether it provides a stronger defense against meddling than the traditional paper ballot. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

NPR's Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report join Judy Woodruff to discuss the latest political news, including President Trump's and Joe Biden's campaign strategies in battleground states, Vice President Mike Pence's decision not to quarantine despite a staff COVID-19 outbreak and predictions for the balance of power in the House. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The disenfranchisement of voters has been a part of America's history for as long as it's held elections, and this year is no different. A look at the history of voter suppression and what it looks like in a pandemic. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

New York State has never allowed early voting for a presidential election before--but nothing about 2020 has been normal. NY early voting began Saturday, and as New Yorkers lined up around the block to cast their ballots an unlikely venue opened its doors to voters. NewHour Weekend's Christopher Booker reports from the Barclays Center, normally a sports venue, now a voting hub in Brooklyn, NY. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Nearly 7 million Texans have already cast their 2020 ballots--that's around 70 percent of overall voter turnout in 2016. With races heating up at both the state and national level, KERA reporter Bret Jaspers joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss the fight for the Lone Star state house, the tight Senate race and more, as part of our series, "Roads to Election 2020." PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders