12 days until midterms, Trump heads to Iowa as GOP candidates balance loyalty, voter concerns
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House Republican who lost primary runoff to Sen Darline Graham says his family won't vote for her
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., who lost the South Carolina GOP U.S. Senate primary runoff to Sen. Darline Graham, noted that while he will vote for his former rival in the general election, his family will not.
"I took a pledge when I ran for the Senate ... to support the Republican nominee," he said, on "The Nashional Briefing with Kelly Nash," noting that he will follow through and vote for Graham.
But he said that his family will not vote for the senator.
"They're just not," Norman said, adding that they are "grown," have "their own children," and "can do what they want."
In a statement to Fox News Digital on Thursday, Graham campaign spokesperson T.W. Arrighi said, "The Senator appreciates Congressman Norman’s support. But it is unconscionable for anyone who claims to be a conservative in South Carolina to not vote straight ticket Republican and therefore endorse a Chuck Schumer-led Senate. An agenda of higher taxes, higher energy costs, a radical trans agenda, and anti-Second Amendment policies for 6 years."
Posted by Alex Nitzberg Share
James Talarico blames rise in GOP 'extremism' for his 'God is non-binary,' six sexes remarks
Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico blamed Republican extremism for prompting some of his past controversial remarks during a new interview, including assertions that God is "nonbinary" and that there are six biological sexes, arguing that those weren't issues he ran for office to discuss.
Talarico said that culture war issues became more prominent in the 2021 Texas state legislature and suggested Republicans were responsible for the increased attention to those topics. Talarico, in 2021, opposed a bill to ban men from women’s sports and claimed that "God is non-binary" while on the Austin, Texas, House floor.
Additionally, at a Texas House Committee on Public Education hearing in 2021, he stated, "Modern science obviously recognizes that there are many more than two biological sexes; in fact, there are six."
Talarico, who is running against Republican Ken Paxton in the state's closely watched U.S. Senate race, spoke to The New York Times' Michael Barbaro on the paper's "The Daily" podcast Tuesday. He said he felt compelled to fight what he described as Republican extremism at the time when asked about the comments.
"I was put in a position where I had to fight back against that extremism. So, you mentioned some of my comments on gender or on issues affecting trans people. It's not like I ran for the legislature to talk about these things. Again, if you go back to my first session, I wanted to talk about public education, which is why I ran in the first place," he said, pointing to other issues on which he ran.
"It's kind of ironic that they're clipping these things to make it sound like I'm the one who was talking about this when, in reality, it was the Republican extremists at the Capitol who were obsessed with talking about trans issues, obsessed with talking about people's private parts. That wasn't me. That was them that changed."
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Hanna Panreck.
Posted by Anders Hagstrom Share
El-Sayed pressed over alleged ties to Muslim Brotherhood
Democratic strategist Meghan Hays and former NRSC senior advisor Matt Whitlock analyzed the Michigan Senate debate between Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed on Thursday.
Posted by Anders Hagstrom Share
New York AG Letitia James urges people to exercise 'sacred right to vote'
With New York early voting set to start Saturday, state Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday urged people to exercise the franchise, vowing to defend the "sacred right to vote."
"The right to vote is the right from which all other rights emanate," James said on Thursday, calling it "sacred" and adding that "it's really critically important that individuals understand that so many individuals have died for that right to vote."
"You may have heard on the news that some powerful individuals in our country are attacking the right to vote, and they're trying to deconstruct ... the guardrails of our democracy," she said. "As long as the right to vote is under threat, my office will stand together in the court of law, in solidarity at rallies and at the ballot box until every eligible voter can make their voice heard."
James, a Democratic incumbent who is currently running for re-election, faces Republican candidate Saritha Komatireddy in the state's 2026 attorney general race.
Posted by Alex Nitzberg Share
Vance unveils $1.3 billion in funding for US fertilizer production at Nebraska campaign stop
Vice President JD Vance announced the federal government is investing $1.3 billion in domestic fertilizer production in Nebraska on Thursday.
Vance made the statement during a campaign stop in North Platte, Nebraska, saying President Donald Trump's administration is invested in protecting American farmers.
"What this means, not just for Nebraska, but for the entire country, is that 32,000 farmers, farmers who are farming over four million acres all across the United States of America, they are gonna have fertilizer at a lower cost and made by American hands right here in the United States of America," Vance said.
Posted by Anders Hagstrom Share
Trump pushback, Biden 'disaster' and gender surprise: 5 key moments from Kansas Senate debate
Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., and Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton sparred over President Donald Trump, immigration, Iran, transgender athletes, artificial intelligence and personal controversies during a contentious Kansas Senate debate Wednesday night.
The hourlong showdown came less than two weeks before Election Day as Marshall seeks a second term and Hamilton, a longtime pastor, tries to become the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Kansas since 1932.
The race has drawn increased national attention as Republicans and Democrats battle for control of the Senate, with Trump traveling to Kansas earlier this week to campaign for Marshall.
Posted by Alec Schemmel Share
Vice President Vance calls to 'ignore the polls,' suggests they can be 'demotivating' to voters
Vice President JD Vance indicated on Thursday that polls can be "demotivating" to Republican voters, urging people to "ignore" them and "run like we're down."
"I remember in the 2020 campaign, I wanna say, there was a Wisconsin poll that had Donald Trump down by 17 points in Wisconsin," Vance said, adding, "during the 2024 campaign, there was the famous poll that had us down in Iowa by three points, which, if we lose Iowa by three points, or even if we only win Iowa by three points, we were in for a long night.
"Those polls all proved to be false," he said, noting, "I talk to people. And I do think they have the effect of demotivating our voters, which is why I encourage people, ignore the polls, run like we're down, and try to make the best case that we can."
Posted by Alex Nitzberg Share
'Fire every commissioner': Minnesota GOP nominee vows sweeping purge over fraud
Minnesota's gubernatorial candidates clashed over the state's fraud scandals in their second debate of the week, with Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth pledging to fire all state commissioners on her first day in office and Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar defending her response.
The scandals have rocked the North Star State, raising questions about how large-scale abuse of state programs went undetected and putting government oversight at the center of the governor's race.
"Fraud unchecked here in the state of Minnesota has gone far too long, and it has finally come to the surface," Demuth said.
"The thing that I will do on day one is I am going to be firing all commissioners, choosing new commissioners that are expert in their field, that will carry out the accountability and transparency that is needed in our state. We have to change the culture of fraud."
Klobuchar called Demuth's remarks "absurd" and said she contacted U.S. Attorney Andy Luger after the fraud came to light to ask what prosecutors needed.
"He said, 'I need more prosecutors'," Klobuchar said. "I called the highest level of the Justice Department, and I got him those prosecutors."
This is an excerpt of an article by Fox News Digital's Amanda Macias and Andrew Mark Miller, click here to read more
Posted by Amanda Macias Share
House Dem leader's attack on voter ID comes back to haunt him after election fraud bust in his state
House Democrats' No. 3 leader is under fire for his opposition to voter ID in his home state of California.
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., spoke at a press conference earlier this month criticizing a measure on Californians' ballot this Election Day that, if passed, would mandate that voters show government-issued photo ID at the polls.
He made the comments just weeks before the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a crime bust that saw several U.S. permanent residents accused of registering to vote despite not being citizens.
Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., hammered Aguilar's opposition to voter ID and argued the DOJ's recent actions made it "obvious" that the ballot measure, called Proposition 39, was needed.
"Give me a break," Calvert told Fox News Digital. "You have to show an ID to board an airplane, cash a paycheck, rent an apartment or even buy cold medicine at the grocery store. Democrats claiming that requiring photo ID before casting a ballot is somehow 'racist' or 'voter suppression' is complete nonsense and an insult to every voter's intelligence."
Posted by Elizabeth Elkind Share
Trump voters reveal their biggest fear heading into midterms — and it's not rising prices
WICHITA, Kan. - Voters at President Donald Trump's Kansas rally said the cost of living remains a major concern, but many feared Democratic control of Congress even more.
This midterm election cycle features six Republican-controlled Senate seats that are considered toss-ups, including Kansas Republican Sen. Roger Marshall's contest against Democrat Adam Hamilton. That race has become an unexpected challenge for Republicans in their quest to keep control of the Senate.
And voters who lined up to get a chance to see Trump in Wichita told Fox News Digital that they recognized the stakes, particularly the effect Democrats flipping both chambers of Congress could have on the president's agenda.
"Trump doesn't get the support that he needs to protect America, and that our country will turn into Paris, France," Kathy Bond told Fox News Digital of the riots roiling through the French capital. "That's my biggest concern."
Posted by Alex Miller Share
Abortion, ICE and socialism spark fireworks in swing state governor debate: 5 top moments
Republican Tom Tiffany and Democrat David Crowley sparred over abortion, taxes, immigration and Wisconsin's growing data center industry Wednesday night as Wisconsin's gubernatorial candidates faced off in a heated debate.
Tiffany, a Republican congressman, and Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, offered competing visions for Wisconsin as they vie to succeed Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.
The WISN-hosted debate came less than two weeks before Election Day, with polls showing a tight race. A September Marquette Law School poll found Crowley leading Tiffany 49% to 46% among likely voters, a difference within the survey's margin of error. RealClearPolitics rates the race a toss-up.
Posted by Morgan Phillips Share
Obama praises North Carolina Supreme Court Justice amid midterm elections
Former President Barack Obama praised North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls, showing her support amid election season.
"Justice @Anita_Earls has spent her career fighting for civil rights and protecting voting rights. She’s the only candidate running for North Carolina’s Supreme Court with a proven record of standing up for all North Carolinians," Obama declared in a post on X. "Make a plan to vote at IWillVote.com/NC."
Earls, who running against former state Rep. Sarah Stevens, shared the former president's post and wrote, "Thank you for highlighting this important race, @BarackObama!"
Posted by Alex Nitzberg Share
ICE crackdown divides swing state candidates as GOP nominee vows to mandate sheriff cooperation
Republican Wisconsin gubernatorial nominee Tom Tiffany vowed Wednesday to mandate cooperation between local sheriffs and federal immigration authorities, drawing a sharp contrast with Democrat David Crowley over President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown during their general election debate.
Tiffany said Wisconsin law enforcement agencies should be required to honor federal immigration detainers, arguing that coordination with ICE allows authorities to remove illegal immigrants accused of crimes while they are still being held in county jails.
"I will make sure that local, county and state law enforcement coordinate with federal law enforcement," Tiffany said in the debate hosted by WISN-TV.
Asked directly whether he would mandate that cooperation by law, Tiffany replied: "Yes, I believe we should. They should honor detainers."
Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, said he would not support a blanket ban on cooperation with federal immigration authorities and agreed that immigrants convicted of crimes should be deported. But he called for restrictions on ICE operations, including barring contracts between local law enforcement and ICE, requiring judicial warrants for agents to enter jails and prisons and prohibiting agents from wearing masks.
"We need to make sure that we're protecting people's civil liberties," Crowley said.
Posted by Morgan Phillips Share
Ex-Rep MTG says if Trump strikes Iran ahead of the midterms, Abdul El-Sayed will win Senate race
Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene suggested that if President Donald Trump were "dumb enough" to strike Iran ahead of Election Day, Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed will win his election contest.
"If Trump is dumb enough to attack Iran again before the midterms, @AbdulElSayed will win the senate seat in Michigan. It’s a stupid senseless war and America hates it. We also hate neocons. This is not an endorsement, I’m not a Democrat, but I’m also not a neocon Republican," Greene declared in a post on X.
Republican National Committee national press secretary Natalie Baldassarre said in a statement to Fox News Digital, "Foreign policy decisions about confronting overseas threats are made in the Situation Room - not on X. Abdul El-Sayed is a terrorist sympathizer and is inspired by radicals who cheer when Americans die. Republicans are putting America first and focused on defeating terrorists - both at home and abroad."
White House spokesman Davis Ingle said in a statement to Fox News Digital, "Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene quit on her constituents and the America First movement in the middle of her term. President Trump is fighting every single day to Make America Great Again – we don’t have time for quitters."
Greene, a vociferous Trump critic who was previously an ardent supporter, had a major falling out with the president, and ultimately departed from office in the middle of her term.
El-Sayed is running against Trump-backed GOP U.S. Senate candidate former Rep. Mike Rogers.
Posted by Alex Nitzberg Share
Kansas Senate rivals distance themselves from party leaders in fiery debate
Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., and Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton repeatedly sought to distance themselves from the most unpopular elements of their respective parties Wednesday night during a contentious Kansas Senate debate.
Both candidates battled over President Donald Trump, immigration, the war in Iran and more in a race that could help determine control of the Senate.
The debate opened on a personal note, with both candidates pressed over controversies that have fueled attack ads in the closing weeks of the campaign.
Posted by Alec Schemmel Share
Trump dominates El-Sayed's attacks against Rogers, but GOP rival offers unexpected policy split
President Donald Trump was the unofficial third person on stage at Wednesday's Michigan U.S. Senate debate, as Democrat Abdul El-Sayed repeatedly invoked him while seeking to cast Republican Mike Rogers as Trump's "sock puppet."
El-Sayed mentioned Trump 18 times during the hour-long debate and repeatedly called Rogers' responses "MAGA bingo," accusing the Republican of relying on Trump-aligned talking points. Rogers, however, broke with Trump on a couple of trade issues.
The phrase became a running theme throughout the night, with El-Sayed declaring "MAGA bingo" after Rogers accused him of supporting socialist policies, open borders and defunding the police. Rogers eventually turned the attack back on his opponent, suggesting that the real bingo game was every time El-Sayed included Trump in his answer.
Rogers, however, did not align with Trump on every issue. He split with Trump on trade, calling the president's tariffs a "mixed bag" and saying tariffs on Canada may have been "not well thought through."
He also opposed Chinese automakers building vehicles in the United States, saying during the debate that Congress should ban the ability for the Chinese to build cars in the United States. El-Sayed countered by pointing out that Trump has said he would be open to Chinese automakers building vehicles in the United States and questioned whether Rogers would stand up to Trump on the issue.
Posted by Elaine Mallon Share
Franklin Graham offers voters 'help' picking between Republicans and Democrats
Franklin Graham, son of the late Christian evangelist Billy Graham, offered "help" for people in choosing who to vote for during the nation's midterm elections.
"Do you know who to vote for in the midterms? Let me give you some help, but you decide. The Democratic Party wants open borders, while the Republican Party wants secure borders. The Democratic Party wants noncitizens to be able to vote; the Republican Party supports requiring voter ID. The Democratic Party wants to give taxpayer-funded benefits like healthcare to noncitizens; the Republican Party says No to that. And there are a hundred more issues," Graham wrote in a post on X.
"The choice is yours—but look prayerfully at what both parties stand for," he added.
Graham is the president and CEO of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
Posted by Alex Nitzberg Share
Neil Bush, son of former President George H.W. Bush, votes for Dem Talarico in Texas Senate race
Neil Bush, the son of the late President George H.W. Bush and brother of former President George W. Bush, announced that he voted for state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic candidate in the Texas U.S. Senate contest.
“My vote was motivated by two things: deep concern about Ken Paxton's record and genuine admiration for the character and principles I see in James Talarico,” Neil Bush wrote in a Facebook post.
"I have been deeply troubled by Paxton's conduct as Texas Attorney General, particularly his decision to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election in other states in an effort to help Donald Trump remain in power," he added.
Bush said that he thinks President Donald Trump has damaged the GOP.
"More broadly, I believe Donald Trump and those who have enabled him have done enormous damage to the Republican Party. I worry about a political culture in which loyalty to an individual takes precedence over loyalty to principle, and where those who hold power begin to believe they are no longer accountable," he wrote.
But Bush also explained why he supports Talarico.
"I've never met James Talarico, but I have been enormously impressed by the way he approaches complicated and controversial issues. He speaks with respect, seeks common ground, and seems genuinely interested in bringing people together rather than driving them apart. His faith appears to be a deeply rooted source of humility, compassion, and conviction rather than a political weapon.
"I see in him the qualities I admire most in public servants: integrity, civility, humility, and a willingness to listen to those with whom he disagrees. My impression is that he is a principled, pragmatic leader who understands that public office is a responsibility to serve, not an entitlement to power," he wrote.
"I have been a Republican for most of my life, and I still believe deeply in many traditional Republican principles. But character matters more than party affiliation. Our democracy depends on leaders who respect our institutions, tell the truth, accept accountability, and seek to unite rather than divide," Bush declared.
The Paxton campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's comment request on Thursday.
Posted by Alex Nitzberg Share
Ilhan Omar addresses allegations she married her brother after federal raid
Rep. Ilhan Omar , D-Minn., dismissed longstanding allegations that she married her brother for immigration purposes as "insane" during a Wednesday interview, while saying she was unaware of any familial relationship with her former husband.
"Not to my knowledge," Omar told MS NOW's Chris Hayes when asked whether there was any "weird kernel of truth" to allegations involving her ex-husband, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi.
Omar said the allegations originated on a Somali blog before spreading through conservative circles. The claims, which President Donald Trump has repeatedly amplified, have not been substantiated.
The interview marked Omar's first since federal agents searched her Washington, D.C., home on Oct. 12 as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
The Justice Department previously confirmed that agents executed a judicially authorized search warrant. Omar has denied wrongdoing and accused Trump of being involved in the investigation.
Posted by Brittany Miller Share
High diesel prices sharpen economic fight in Kansas Senate race
High diesel prices took center stage in the Kansas Senate debate as Republican Sen. Roger Marshall and Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton argued over the causes of rising fuel costs.
Marshall blamed the war between Russia and Ukraine rather than the U.S. war with Iran, while Hamilton said voters would not accept that explanation.
Diesel averaged $6.32 per gallon in Kansas this week, up from $3.62 a year ago, according to AAA.
The issue is particularly important in Kansas, where diesel powers much of the agricultural economy.
Marshall also criticized Hamilton’s support for portions of the Green New Deal, arguing that renewable-energy policies have prevented the construction of new refineries. Hamilton said he supports parts of the proposal but not the entire package.
The debate reflects the broader economic challenge facing Republican candidates as they seek to defend Trump’s agenda while voters remain concerned about the cost of everyday goods and energy.
Posted by Bradford Betz Share
Democrats sue Trump administration over election authority
Democratic leaders have sued the Trump administration in federal court, accusing the president and his administration of improperly interfering with states’ authority to administer elections.
The lawsuit, filed by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Democratic campaign committees, challenges federal efforts involving voter-roll reviews and ballots cast by people the government identifies as likely noncitizens.
The case also cites the Justice Department’s effort to stop California from counting ballots from voters included on a federal list. Democrats argue that the administration is relying on unsubstantiated claims of widespread noncitizen voting and threatening state election officials.
The Justice Department says its actions are lawful and intended to protect election integrity.
The legal fight comes less than two weeks before Election Day, when control of Congress and numerous state offices will be decided.
Posted by Bradford Betz Share
Trump heads to Iowa as Hinson walks political tightrope
President Donald Trump is scheduled to campaign in Sioux City, Iowa, on Thursday for Republican Senate candidate Ashley Hinson.
Trump is expected to speak at 6 p.m. ET at a rally aimed at energizing Republican turnout in the final weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Hinson has sought to present herself as both an ally of Trump and an independent voice for Iowa, saying she will support the president when it benefits the state but push back when necessary.
Her Democratic opponent, state lawmaker Josh Turek, has also emphasized bipartisanship while criticizing Trump’s tariffs and handling of the war with Iran.
The race is among the contests that could help determine control of the Senate.
Posted by Bradford Betz Share
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Covered by: Bradford Betz, Alex Nitzberg, Brittany Miller, Elaine Mallon, Alec Schemmel, Morgan Phillips, Alex Miller, Elizabeth Elkind, Amanda Macias and Anders Hagstrom