Politico reports that Sen. Susan Collins' defeat leaves Sen. Lisa Murkowski next in line as top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee in January 2027, a role that could make her a more powerful antagonist to President Donald Trump and budget director Russ Vought, whose grant-approval efforts she has fought. Rodney Frelinghuysen says "Russ Vought's gonna meet his match," and Politico argues a centrist like Murkowski stands to gain influence after Republicans' electoral losses.