House cancels votes, cutting week short before adjourning until after midterms

September 16, 2026 / 2:54 PM EDT / CBS News

Washington — House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday canceled votes in the chamber that were planned for Thursday, cutting the work week short and sending members home until after the November midterm elections.

Lawmakers will be away from Washington for more than six weeks, avoiding potentially controversial votes and intraparty fighting before voters head to the polls. Johnson previously canceled votes for the last two weeks in September.

"The House has done its work," Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, told reporters at the Capitol. "It's time for our members to go home to their districts and make their case to the American people."

Before leaving town, the House is expected to vote on legislation to impose new sanctions on Russia and a bill to shield consumers from data center energy costs. But lawmakers' exodus from Washington will also leave some outstanding issues in limbo until they return following the elections.

Rep. Ralph Norman, a Republican from South Carolina, said canceling Thursday's votes is "unacceptable."

"The House has now canceled at least 63 scheduled voting days this Congress, including nine days this month alone, and now we're leaving Washington until after the…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/moneywatch/