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Guard Chase Johnston #99 of the High Point Panthers waves to the crowd after the High Point Panthers upset the Wisconsin Badgers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on March 19, 2026. (C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images)

Virginia Grace McKinnon / @virginiagmck

Virginia Grace McKinnon is a journalism fellow at The Daily Signal. Send an email to Virginia Grace.

As if Capitol Hill needed any more madness, the NCAA backetball tournament is upon us. While lawmakers consider the SAVE America Act, seek an end to the Department of Homeland Security shut down, and consider more war funding, they’re keeping one eye on March Madness.

Possibly the most notable win so far in the tournament was High Point Universities’ last second upset, 83-82, against Wisconsin Thursday night. “For the first time in program history, High Point breaks through, we will see you in the round of 32!” a student announcer screamed over the school’s radio.

Rep. David Rouzer, R-N.C., congratulated the small, North Carolina private school for the impressive win when asked by The Daily Signal about the upset.  

High Point’s win over Wisconsin called by Student Radio.This is why we love March pic.twitter.com/ThgCvgMD0i— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) March 20, 2026

High Point’s win over Wisconsin called by Student Radio.This is why we love March pic.twitter.com/ThgCvgMD0i

Lawmakers are watching the women’s tournament, too. Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., A proud Vanderbilt nursing school alumna, placed her alma mater in the championship place for the men and women’s brackets.

“I’m always cheering on Commodore athletics! I had an amazing experience at Vandy and I’m excited to see both the men’s and women’s teams make a strong run this year,” she told The Daily Signal.

The Lady Commodores, a 2 seed, are heading for the second round of the tournament. The men, however, fell just short against Nebraska on Saturday, 72-74, to move on to the Sweet 16.

“Obviously, I’m also rooting for our Virginia teams and, as I predicted, VCU upset UNC last night!” Kiggans continued.

“March Madness is such a fun time,” Kiggans added. “Americans come together around the game.”

As a @VanderbiltNurse alum, I might be a little biased…. Good luck to @vandymbb and @vandywbb in this year’s college basketball tournaments. Go Commodores! pic.twitter.com/ReYp2WOrqf— Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (@RepJenKiggans) March 19, 2026

As a @VanderbiltNurse alum, I might be a little biased…. Good luck to @vandymbb and @vandywbb in this year’s college basketball tournaments. Go Commodores! pic.twitter.com/ReYp2WOrqf

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., is all in this year on Missouri teams. Heading into Friday’s games, he posted his predictions for teams hailing from the Show-Me State on X.

“At one point, Mizzou was super-hot,” Schmitt said. “There’s a lot of talent on that roster.”

The 10 seed Tigers were facing the 7 seed Miami Hurricanes in the first round, which Schmitt called a “favorable matchup,” given the seeding. “I think Mizzou gets to the Sweet 16,” Schmitt said Friday—before Mizzou fell to the Hurricanes by double-digits.

Schmitt also said the Saint Louis University Billikens were “one of the more complete teams,” in the tournament.

The Billikens are “one of the high-octane offenses you’re going to find in college basketball,” he said on X.  The Billikens upset the Georgia Bulldogs, winning by 25 points, before falling to 1 seed Michigan in the second round.

SLU and Mizzou are dancing. Let the madness begin! pic.twitter.com/tqLoNNMxwd— Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) March 19, 2026

SLU and Mizzou are dancing. Let the madness begin! pic.twitter.com/tqLoNNMxwd

“Since my alma mater, Indiana University, didn’t make the tournament this year, I’ll be cheering on the Purdue Boilermakers,” Rep. Erin Houchin, R-Ind., told The Daily Signal.  

“March Madness is always better when Indiana teams are making a run, and Purdue will represent our state well. With Indiana hosting the Final Four, there’s no better time to bring it home. Boiler Up!” she continued.  

“This is one of our favorite times of the year, especially for us in Arizona,” Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., said on X. The University of Arizona is one of the favorites to win the tournament.

March Madness is here! Juan David and I just completed our NCAA brackets. While we have a few upsets, we also disagreed on a couple of games.One area did we agree on: Arizona Wildcats to win it all. Bear Down and Go Cats! ??? pic.twitter.com/70I4KKGByy— Congressman Juan Ciscomani (@RepCiscomani) March 18, 2026

March Madness is here! Juan David and I just completed our NCAA brackets. While we have a few upsets, we also disagreed on a couple of games.One area did we agree on: Arizona Wildcats to win it all. Bear Down and Go Cats! ??? pic.twitter.com/70I4KKGByy

Ciscomani shared that he made his bracket with his young son. “We have some disagreements, some upsets that we both think are going or happen or not, but we don’t disagree on our final choice for champions, and that’s of course the U of A,” Ciscomani said.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., shared on social media that he is, “excited to cheer on the athletes as they demonstrate why our state is the basketball capital of the world.” 

And that nickname only exists because of the historic success of the UConn Huskies this time of year. UConn’s women’s team is a 1 seed and their men’s team is a 2 seed.  

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., was ecstatic to tell reporters this week that she will be cheering on Duke. “I’m a big basketball fan, but I did want to lord it all over you,” she said.  

??March Madness at the Capitol this afternoon: @SenCapito joked with reporters today sharing that she is rooting for @DukeMBB before making her support for the SAVE America Act@DailySignal pic.twitter.com/wz6V7SGWUJ— Virginia Grace McKinnon (@virginiagmck) March 17, 2026

??March Madness at the Capitol this afternoon: @SenCapito joked with reporters today sharing that she is rooting for @DukeMBB before making her support for the SAVE America Act@DailySignal pic.twitter.com/wz6V7SGWUJ

“My men’s team is number one. That’s the Duke Blue Devils, for all you Duke haters out there, just watch,” she continued, joking with the press.

Duke is heading for the Sweet 16 after defeating TCU on Saturday.

Lawmakers might have a chance to see some of the action themselves. Washington D.C. is set to host the Sweet 16 and the Elite Eight games at Capitol One Arena from March 26-29.  

As Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., said, “Let the madness begin!”

Brackets are set. Let the madness begin! #MarchMadness #goSCteams pic.twitter.com/W1ulrePuUU— Senator Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) March 19, 2026

Brackets are set. Let the madness begin! #MarchMadness #goSCteams pic.twitter.com/W1ulrePuUU

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Today, even with President Trump’s victory, leftist elites have their tentacles in every aspect of our government.

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In this book, O’Neil reveals how the Left’s NGO apparatus pursues its woke agenda, maneuvering like an octopus by circumventing Congress and entrenching its interests in the federal government.

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