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GOP Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee said a communications staffer was reprimanded after making a “stupid” and “hurtful” social media post.

“Earlier today while working on the farm, my phone began going crazy because of a post made by a member of my comms team. The post was stupid, hurtful and a complete distraction from my America First focus. The employee has been reprimanded,” Ogles said in a post on Tuesday night.

The House Republican appears to have been referring to a post on his @RepOgles X account that read, “Homosexuality has no place in America. Happy Nuclear Family Month.”

REPUBLICAN SAYS ‘MUSLIMS DON’T BELONG IN AMERICAN SOCIETY,’ DRAWS FIERCE DEMOCRATIC BACKLASH

Fox News Digital reached out to Ogles’ office on Wednesday.

Gov. Bill Lee signed a resolution that cleared the Tennessee state legislature to designate June 2026 as “Nuclear Family Month.”

CHICAGO COLLEGE REMOVES LGBTQ PRIDE FLAG OVER INSTITUTIONAL NEUTRALITY CONCERNS

“Homosexuality exists. In America. In fact Andy, you have family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and constituents who are gay and lesbian. It doesn’t make them less than or somehow unworthy of being an American. What an absolutely idiotic statement to make,” Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York wrote on X.

Ogles’ post appears to have been deleted from X.

On Monday, Lawler wished a “Happy Pride Month” to those who celebrate it in June.

MAMDANI MARKS PRIDE MONTH, SAYS HONORING ‘QUEER AND TRANSGENDER’ CONTRIBUTIONS WOULD TAKE MORE THAN 30 DAYS

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“June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate love, acceptance, and the freedom to be yourself. Happy Pride Month to all who are celebrating!” Lawler declared in a post on X.

Senate Republicans may need more convincing from the Trump administration that the “anti-weaponization” fund is officially dead, even after acting Attorney General Todd Blanche spelled out its doom on Tuesday. 

Many Republicans demanded that the administration make it crystal clear that not only was the nearly $2 billion fund done, but that it would never come back. And at stake is a multibillion package to fund immigration enforcement operations. 

During a closed-door meeting Tuesday, Senate Republican leadership assured members that Blanche would lay out the fate of the fund, and hoped that it would be enough to quell dissent among the ranks. 

TRUMP ADMIN BACKS OFF CONTROVERSIAL $2B FUND, CLEARING PATH FOR STALLED GOP IMMIGRATION BILL

And he did during a hearing in the House, where he repeatedly said that the administration was not moving forward with the fund.

“The reasons for the fund, I think, remain as important as they were before, but we are not moving forward with the fund,” Blanche said. 

The fund was announced last month as part of a settlement between the Trump family and the Internal Revenue Service, and pitched as a mechanism for people who felt they were targeted by the government to get a financial kickback. Republicans were concerned that without proper guardrails, people convicted of assaulting police officers during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on Capitol Hill could access the taxpayer cash flow.

Some in the GOP wanted President Donald Trump to come out and officially kill the fund. 

“I assume if Blanche is saying it, the president must agree,” Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said.

GOP DEMANDS TRUMP KILL CONTROVERSIAL $2B FUND BEFORE REVIVING ICE FUNDING PACKAGE

But some Republicans want an even more concrete show from the administration that it’s actually dead and gone. 

“I’m not sure that’s gonna be good enough for some people,” Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said. 

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., contended that if the administration really meant it, it would support legislation to permanently prevent the fund from returning in any form. He planned to push an amendment to the broader, roughly $70 billion reconciliation package that would make sure of that.

“I just feel like we just need to do a Wayback Machine and just pretend like this never existed and take whatever steps are necessary to make sure it can never exist or disperse,” Tillis said. “Not in the current environment.” 

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said that Blanche previewed his remarks on the fund to him, and hoped that it would be enough to unite the fractured Republicans to move forward with budget reconciliation this week. 

GOP’S PRIMED FOR PRIMARY SEASON PAYBACK ON TRUMP’S MOST AMBITIOUS, CONTROVERSIAL POLICY

“I think, as I’ve conveyed to you before, everything comes down to a function of math,” Thune said. “It’s do we have the votes? Do we have 50 votes to execute on getting a bill like that across the floor? Because we have to have Republicans hanging together in order to do that.”

Republican leadership hopes to launch the process on Wednesday in order to get the roughly $70 billion package to the House by the end of the week. 

Some Republicans are hopeful that it will be enough to get the process back on track. 

“If it goes like we’re told it will go, well, there’s a reasonable possibility, then we will move pretty quickly to the reconciliation,” Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said. 

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Part of the issue is that if Republicans aren’t on the same page, several Democratic amendments that would both tackle the fund and halt momentum for the package could pass.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, was one of several critics of the fund, and she hoped that Blanche would make it “crystal clear that the administration is not going to proceed” with the issue. Whether she or others in the same camp would vote against amendments remained an open question. 

“I’m not going to predict what’s gonna happen to a very fluid situation,” Collins said.

The judge who ordered President Donald Trump‘s name removed from the Kennedy Center is married to an attorney who has represented a former anti-Trump FBI lawyer, served as counsel to the House Jan. 6 committee and currently represents former President Joe Biden — relationships that Trump blasted as clear conflicts of interest following the ruling.

Trump claimed in a heated Truth Social post that U.S. District Court of D.C. Judge Christopher Cooper’s wife, Amy Jeffress, a former Obama-era Justice Department attorney turned top lawyer of Trump’, encouraged her husband to reject Trump’s Kennedy Center renovation plans and remove his name from the building.

He pointed to Jeffress’ past and current clients, which include some of his most prominent critics, as evidence that she is “a Radical Left Democrat” who is influencing her husband to rule against him.

“Trump Hating Judge wants to keep it open because his wife probably told him to do so!” Trump wrote of Cooper, referring to his rejection of Trump’s plans to close the Kennedy Center for two years for renovations.

FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS TRUMP’S NAME REMOVED FROM KENNEDY CENTER, SAYS ONLY CONGRESS CAN RENAME IT

Cooper issued his ruling on May 29, finding that the Kennedy Center board exceeded its legal authority when it voted to rename the institution to include Trump’s name. He ruled that only Congress can change the institution’s name based on the Kennedy Center’s founding statute, which makes clear that the venue is dedicated to President John F. Kennedy.

Trump also alleged Jeffress “doesn’t use the ‘Cooper’ name because they, as a couple, don’t want people to know that she has a Conflict of Interest with an important Judge.”

The president pointed to Jeffress’ professional background, which included serving as a counselor to Attorney General Eric Holder during the Obama administration. Trump and his allies have accused the Obama administration of politicizing intelligence about Russian interference in the 2016 election and promoting allegations of ties between Trump’s campaign and the Kremlin. The FBI named its investigation into Russia’s alleged ties to Trump’s campaign Crossfire Hurricane.

WHO IS NORM EISEN? MEET THE ANTI-TRUMP ATTORNEY REPPING FBI AGENTS SUING THE DOJ

Thousands of text messages exchanged between Peter Strzok, a senior investigator on the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane probe, and his then-lover Lisa Page, an FBI lawyer and adviser to Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, became public in 2018. Although Page was not involved in the Russia investigation, the pair’s anti-Trump messages prompted criticism from some who argued the exchanges revealed political bias within the FBI.

Jeffress represented Page during congressional scrutiny of the FBI’s handling of its investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server for official State Department business. Page was not involved in the Clinton email investigation itself.

She later represented Page again in a civil lawsuit against the FBI and the Justice Department, in which she argued that the disclosure of the text messages was improper.

Years later, Jeffress served as outside counsel to the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, advising members on legal issues involving evidence, witness testimony and executive privilege claims. The committee examined the causes of the riot, efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, and Trump’s actions leading up to the attack.

TRUMP’S NAME ADDED TO KENNEDY CENTER FOLLOWING UNANIMOUS BOARD VOTE TO RENAME HISTORIC BUILDING

The president also pointed to Jeffress’ law firm, Hecker Fink LLP, formerly known as Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP, which represented E. Jean Carroll in her civil lawsuit against him.

Since July 2025, Jeffress has served as Biden’s personal attorney and is representing the former president in a lawsuit seeking to block the Justice Department from releasing transcripts and audio recordings of Biden’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur, who investigated Biden’s handling of classified documents.

“Amy is totally wired into the Left System, from her husband down, and it is impossible for me to be treated fairly,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “He has a total Conflict of Interest, and should be brought up on charges for not revealing these facts.”

Appointed by President Barack Obama, Cooper has served on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C., since 2014.

The criticism facing Cooper is not the first time he has been accused by Trump or his allies of having a potential conflict of interest. Cooper previously drew scrutiny during Special Counsel John Durham’s prosecution of former Clinton campaign-linked attorney Michael Sussmann, with critics arguing that he should have recused himself because his wife, attorney Amy Jeffress, represented former FBI lawyer Lisa Page, a figure tied to the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation.

The Sussmann case stemmed from Durham’s probe into the origins of the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation. Prosecutors alleged that Sussmann falsely told the FBI he was not acting on behalf of any clients when he presented allegations about a purported communications channel between the Trump Organization and Russia’s Alfa Bank during the 2016 election. Cooper rejected Sussmann’s effort to dismiss the case before trial and allowed Durham’s prosecution to proceed, but a jury ultimately acquitted Sussmann in May 2022 after a two-week trial overseen by Cooper.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Cooper’s office, Jeffress, a representative for former President Joe Biden, Page, a representative for Garland, and Hecker Fink LLP for comment.

Cooper and Jeffress have been married since 1999. Their wedding was officiated by former Biden Justice Department Attorney General Merrick Garland, who at the time was a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

Though California voters are heading to the polls tonight, they may not know the results of several key primary races for days – a fact that has people across the political spectrum raising concerns.

“The fact that California elections often can’t be resolved for weeks is kind of insane and not common in other electoral systems around the world,” Nate Silver, a top political data analyst, wrote on X on Tuesday afternoon. “Like honestly ‘it’s going to take us several weeks to tell you who won the election’ is failed state sh-t and should be much more stigmatized. The fact that it’s tolerated is bad too a textbook example of learned helplessness.”

Lengthy vote counts in California are a product of the state’s reliance on mail voting and its thorough review process. Under California law, every registered voter receives a mail-in ballot and votes that arrive at election offices up to a week after election day are considered valid so long as they were postmarked by election day.

RNC RAILS AGAINST CALIFORNIA’S LATE MAIL-IN BALLOT COUNTING AMID NATIONAL LITIGATION: ‘IT IS ABSURD’

In tight primaries where a handful of votes decide outcomes, this process can cause voters to go weeks without knowing who will advance to the general election.

“Every other state manages to count its votes in a somewhat timely manner,” Rep. Kevin Kiley, an independent who caucuses with the GOP, wrote on X. “California’s inability to competently handle the basic administration of democracy is embarrassing. It’s also indicative of why our state has so many other problems.”

TRUMP MAKES LATE-NIGHT ENDORSEMENTS IN SIX STATES AHEAD OF TUESDAY PRIMARIES, INCLUDING CALIFORNIA

Florida famously tweaked its election laws after the state failed to declare a winner during the 2004 presidential election and has since had relatively few problems in providing quick and accurate counts.

Some, however, defend California’s system, arguing that the slow pace of counting is a worthwhile trade-off to ensure greater access for voters.

USPS GIVES CRITICAL WARNING ABOUT MAIL-IN BALLOTS AS ELECTION DAY LOOMS NEXT WEEK

“The delayed count is in service of maximizing turnout and access,” Democratic strategist Addisu Demissie wrote on X. “LA County is bigger than 40 states, but, well, a county.”

He added that critics were being unreasonable, as knowing the results of the elections by the end of the week, which he says is acceptable.

David Dayen, executive editor at The American Prospect, a liberal magazine, pointed out that fraud prevention efforts – such as checking all ballot signatures against a master file – lengthen the counting process.

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 In a different vein, Logan Dobson, a conservative political operative, argued that California’s slow vote counting could throw the nation into disarray if the United States moved to a national popular vote system, leaving the results of presidential elections unclear for days or even weeks.

“This is correct and extremely embarrassing for US democracy,” Princeton Professor Arthur Spirling wrote, responding to Silver’s criticism. “What’s also bad is the number of people, political scientists among them, who show up to tell you there’s no other way and you’re damaging the civic fabric by pointing out how ridiculous it is.”

Democrat Rebecca Bennett will face Rep. Tom Kean Jr., R-N.J., an embattled lawmaker sidelined for months by an undisclosed health issue, in November’s general election. 

Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, won the Democratic nomination in a crowded primary for a battleground New Jersey House seat, according to The Associated Press. 

Kean, who has not appeared in public since early March, ran unopposed for the GOP nomination.

Bennett’s primary victory sets up what could be the two-term incumbent’s toughest re-election fight yet. The suburban swing district is considered critical to House Republicans’ efforts to hold their slim majority.

VIDEO SHOWS DEM CANDIDATE DODGING TRUMP VIOLENCE QUESTION AS CAMPAIGN ISSUES RESPONSE

Gov. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., narrowly carried the northern New Jersey swing seat during her gubernatorial race in 2025. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rated the contest as a “toss-up.” 

The brewing general election battle comes as Kean has faced mounting scrutiny for a prolonged absence from Congress that has left even House GOP leadership in the dark.

“He’s had a medical issue, and he’s gonna be fully transparent and disclose all that,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters in May. “I mean, that’s what he told me. But I don’t even know the details, and I have to respect that.”

Kean released a written statement shortly before polls closed Tuesday saying he will be “completely transparent” about his medical issue when he resumes in-person work, which he said he expects to do “within a matter of weeks.”

“I understand the need for transparency on this matter, and I look forward to sharing my experience with the public,” he continued, without further elaborating on his condition.

DEMOCRAT TINA SHAH CALLS TRANSGENDER HEALTHCARE FOR CHILDREN A ‘NO-BRAINER’ IN COMPETITIVE NJ HOUSE RACE

Kean previously said in mid-May that he would resume work “in the next couple of weeks,” according to the New Jersey Globe.

The New Jersey Republican has missed all 104 of the most recent roll call votes, according to GovTrack, a website that monitors congressional absences. He last voted March 5.

His office has continued to post on social media and Kean has even introduced legislation during his absence.

President Donald Trump highlighted his endorsement of Kean in a post on social media, stating the incumbent lawmaker “WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN.”

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Tina Shah and Michael Roth — two former Biden administration officials — challenged Bennett for the Democratic nomination. Brian Varela, a businessman running on a progressive platform, also launched a bid for the seat.

Bennett, a first-time candidate, ran a less progressive campaign than the other Democrats in the race. She was the lone Democrat to stop short of calling for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Kean defeated Democratic challenger Sue Altman by roughly 5 points in 2024. He is the son of former two-term New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean, who led the Garden State throughout much of the 1980s.

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), House Republicans’ campaign arm, immediately criticized Bennett following her primary win.

“The truth is, Bennett is a tax-and-spend liberal who worships the socialist Squad and wants to make life more expensive for New Jerseyans,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole said in a statement Tuesday. 

A Senate Appropriations Committee hearing was derailed Tuesday after Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin got into a heated exchange, prompting the Democrat to tell Mullin to “calm down.”

Van Hollen, who is best known for flying to El Salvador to meet with controversial illegal immigrant and alleged gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia, accused the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of having a “pattern” of abuse while enforcing immigration law. He pointed to several recent DHS-involved shootings, including those involving Venezuelan national Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis and activists Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota.

Mullin pushed back against the allegation as an “exaggeration of words,” saying, “When you say there’s a pattern, there’s not a pattern.”

“Oh, I would say three in a row is a pattern,” retorted Van Hollen, to which Mullin shot back, “No, sir … a pattern of three people when we average 1900 a day is not a pattern.”

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION NAMES ROSARIO ‘PETE’ VASQUEZ TO SERVE AS NEXT US BORDER PATROL CHIEF

Van Hollen insisted “there was a pattern.” As the two talked over each other, Van Hollen shook his head, saying, “Let’s get out the dictionary, put your semantics aside, the reality is this is a big problem.”

He pressed Mullin to commit to sharing evidence from the federal officer-involved shootings to Minnesota authorities.

“It sounds like you’re not willing to share evidence with the state authorities who are trying to get to the bottom of this. And I will just say, Mr. Secretary, that given the statements that came out of this administration, including the White House, it is hard to trust this administration to do an independent investigation,” said Van Hollen.

“But yet you trust your last administration?” Mullin fired back.

“I’m just saying if we’re calling an apple what an apple is and an orange what an orange is, don’t sit there and start cherry-picking one administration to believe and another administration not to believe,” Mullin continued.

In response, Van Hollen raised his hands and said, “Mr. Secretary, just, just please calm down.”

MARKWAYNE MULLIN GOES OFF ON DEMS’ ‘GARBAGE’ MEMORIAL DAY ‘POLITICAL STUNT’ AT ICE FACILITY

During the hearing, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., pressed Mullin to commit to abiding by court orders, citing a federal judge’s claim that DHS had violated just under 100 orders in Minnesota. Murphy also criticized DHS for “spending money like stone drunk sailors,” including on “the massive detention centers that you are building.”

Murphy asked Mullin, “Now that you are on the job, can you commit to us that if a court judges something ICE is doing, something DHS is doing as illegal, unconstitutional, tells you to stop, that you will comply with the court order?”

Mullin answered, “We will never break the Constitution, and we’re not going to break the law, but we’re going to enforce our nation’s laws, and we’re going to enforce the laws that you guys passed and that we implement. We will never go outside that. And if we do, we’ll hold each other accountable for that.”

“But that doesn’t sound like the same thing as committing that you will obey a court order,” pressed Murphy. “Will you, or will you not implement court orders?”

GOP DEMANDS TRUMP KILL CONTROVERSIAL $2B FUND BEFORE REVIVING ICE FUNDING PACKAGE

In response, Mullin said, “If we didn’t think courts were politicized, then I would probably be able to answer that. But we see courts over and over again that use their bench for their political opinion, not just the rule of law.”

He chided Murphy, saying, “Don’t put words in my mouth,” adding, “What I’m saying is we will enforce the law, and we’re never going to break the Constitution.”

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Looking aside to his colleagues on the committee, Murphy remarked, “Listen, if you’re a Republican or Democrat on this committee, you should be really, really freaked out.”

“We should be really concerned about the rulings that come out of the courts, and how often they get overturned,” retorted Mullin.

Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson of Iowa on Tuesday captured her party’s Senate nomination in the race to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Joni Ernst.

Hinson, a former TV news anchor who is in her third term representing Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, defeated former state senator and former U.S. Senate candidate Jim Carlin in the GOP Senate primary, The Associated Press reported.

The Republican-controlled seat in Iowa is a top target for Democrats, and the race is one of about a dozen crucial showdowns in this year’s midterm elections that will determine whether the Republicans hold on to their current 53–47 majority in the chamber.

Hinson was backed by President Donald Trump; Senate Majority Leader Sen. John Thune; the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is the campaign arm of the Senate GOP; and by Ernst as she cruised to her party’s nomination. Hinson, who in 2020 flipped a Democratic-held seat that covers the northeastern portion of Iowa, is seen as a rising star in the party.

THE MIDTERM RACES THAT COULD TIP THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE SENATE

“It has been working Iowans from all 99 counties – and I’ve visited every single one of them – who powered this campaign and delivered a resounding victory tonight,” Hinson said in a statement released moments after her race was called.

And she emphasized, “We’re going to continue fighting every day to make life more affordable for Iowa families, to take on Big Pharma and Big Health Insurance, and to root out corruption in Washington by banning Members of Congress and their spouses from trading stocks and participating in prediction markets.”

Iowa was once a top battleground state that former President Barack Obama carried in his 2008 and 2012 White House victories. But the state has shifted to the right in recent election cycles, with Trump carrying the state by nine points in 2016, eight points in 2020, and by 13 points in November 2024.

Republicans hold both of the state’s Senate seats — Ernst and longtime Sen. Chuck Grassley — and all four of Iowa’s congressional districts, as well as all statewide offices except for state auditor.

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But Democrats are energized heading into the midterms, when the GOP as the party in power will face traditional headwinds, a challenging political climate thanks to persistent inflation and sky-high gas prices due to what polls show is an unpopular war with Iran and Trump’s sinking approval ratings.

And Iowa Democrats, in particular, are energized after flipping two GOP-held state Senate seats in special elections last year.

Hinson will face off in the general election against state Rep. Josh Turek, a Paralympian. Turek defeated state Sen. Zach Wahls in an expensive and contentious Democratic Senate primary.

Wahls, a progressive who Republicans have likened to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, had the backing of liberal champion Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Turek, the more moderate Senate contender who flipped a GOP-held Iowa House seat in 2022, was backed by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and had the tacit support of longtime Democratic Senate Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. And VoteVets, an establishment-aligned outside group, has spent big bucks on behalf of Turek.

“Josh Turek is a two-time Paralympic gold medalist who has represented his country on the world stage and has built a reputation in the legislature for working across the aisle to get things done for Iowans,” Schumer and Gillibrand said in a statement. “His nomination tonight puts the Iowa Senate seat firmly in play, and in November, Iowans will reject Ashley Hinson’s self-serving politics and send Josh Turek to the U.S. Senate.”

But National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Regional Press Secretary Samantha Cantrell said that “Chuck Schumer spent $10 million dollars to coronate Josh Turek as his rubber stamp for Democrats’ radical tax-and-spend agenda. In November, Iowans will reject him and elect Ashley Hinson to keep fighting for Iowa families, farmers, and workers.”

And the NRSC quickly went up with a digital ad targeting Turek for what Republicans argued is his “radical agenda.”

Hinson is aiming to succeed Ernst, a retired Army Reserve and Iowa National Guard officer who served in the Iraq War and was first elected to the Senate in 2014.

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Ernst grabbed plenty of national attention in that campaign with her “make ’em squeal” ads as she won the high-profile Senate election to succeed retiring longtime Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin.

Fox News’ Sally Persons contributed to this report.

Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek of Iowa on Tuesday captured his party’s Senate nomination in the race to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Joni Ernst.

Turek, a Paralympian, defeated state Sen. Zach Wahls in Iowa’s Democratic Senate primary, The Associated Press reported, and will now face off against Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson, who cruised to the GOP nomination.

The Republican-controlled Senate seat in Iowa is a top target for Democrats, and the race is one of about a dozen crucial showdowns in this year’s midterm elections that will determine whether Republicans successfully hold onto their slim majority in the chamber.

THE MIDTERM RACES THAT COULD TIP THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE SENATE

Turek, a moderate Democrat who flipped a GOP-held Iowa House seat in 2022, was backed by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and had the tacit support of longtime Democratic Senate Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. And VoteVets, an establishment-aligned outside group, has spent big bucks on behalf of Turek.

“Josh Turek is a two-time Paralympic gold medalist who has represented his country on the world stage and has built a reputation in the legislature for working across the aisle to get things done for Iowans,” Schumer and Gillibrand said in a statement. “His nomination tonight puts the Iowa Senate seat firmly in play, and in November, Iowans will reject Ashley Hinson’s self-serving politics and send Josh Turek to the U.S. Senate.”

But National Republican Senatorial Committee Regional Press Secretary Samantha Cantrell said that “Chuck Schumer spent $10 million dollars to coronate Josh Turek as his rubber stamp for Democrats’ radical tax-and-spend agenda. In November, Iowans will reject him and elect Ashley Hinson to keep fighting for Iowa families, farmers, and workers.”

Wahls, a progressive candidate who Republicans likened to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, was endorsed by liberal champion Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. The Democratic primary grabbed plenty of national attention and drew tons of outside money.

DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB

Hinson, a former TV news anchor who is in her third term representing Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, defeated former state senator and former U.S. Senate candidate Jim Carlin in the GOP Senate primary, The Associated Press reported.

Hinson was backed by President Donald Trump; Senate Majority Leader John Thune; the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is the campaign arm of the Senate GOP; and by Ernst as she cruised to her party’s nomination. Hinson, who in 2020 flipped a Democratic-held seat, is seen as a rising star in the party.

Iowa was once a top battleground state that former President Barack Obama carried in his 2008 and 2012 White House victories. But the state has shifted to the right in recent election cycles with Trump carrying the state by nine points in 2016, eight points in 2020 and by 13 points in November 2024.

Republicans hold both of the state’s Senate seats — Ernst and longtime Sen. Chuck Grassley — and all four of Iowa’s congressional districts, as well as all statewide offices except state auditor.

But Democrats are energized heading into the midterms, when the GOP, as the party in power, will face traditional headwinds, a challenging political climate thanks to persistent inflation and sky-high gas prices due to what polls show is an unpopular war with Iran, as well as Trump’s sinking approval ratings.

And Iowa Democrats, in particular, are energized after flipping two GOP-held state Senate seats in special elections in 2025.

The general election winner will succeed Ernst, a retired Army Reserve and Iowa National Guard officer who served in the Iraq War and was first elected to the Senate in 2014.

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Ernst grabbed plenty of national attention in that campaign with her “make ’em squeal” ads as she won the high-profile Senate election to succeed retiring longtime Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin.

Fox News’ Sally Persons contributed to this report.

Former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull has clinched the GOP nomination in New Mexico’s open-seat gubernatorial race.

Hull, widely viewed as a leading contender entering Election Day, campaigned on public safety, government experience and economic growth.

He defeated businessman Doug Turner and former New Mexico Human Services Secretary Duke Rodriguez. 

Turner pitched himself as a business-minded conservative and political outsider focused on jobs and education reform. Rodriguez, a healthcare executive and former state cabinet secretary, emphasized addiction treatment, healthcare and government reform.

2026 MIDTERMS: PRIMARIES, KEY RACES AND ELECTION RESULTS

Throughout the race, Hull argued New Mexico needs tougher approaches to violent crime, fentanyl trafficking and border security while criticizing Democratic leadership in Santa Fe.

Hull’s victory solidifies Republican support behind a candidate many in the party see as a strong statewide contender heading into November.

THE RED STATES RACING AHEAD IN AMERICA’S POWERFUL WEALTH BOOM — AND THE STATES FALLING BEHIND

He will now face former President Joe Biden’s Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in the general election as Republicans attempt to flip the governor’s office in New Mexico for the first time since 2019.

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The gubernatorial race to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in November is expected to be one of the most closely watched political contests in the state in 2026. 

Trump-backed Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, conceded to MAHA-backed Republican Zach Lahn after the polls closed Tuesday night in Iowa’s GOP gubernatorial primary.

Lahn, a farmer and businessman who campaigned on an “Iowa First” message, pulled off a surprising upset over Feenstra in the race to succeed outgoing Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds. 

Besides Feenstra, Lahn beat out former state Rep. Brad Sherman, former Iowa Department of Administrative Services Director Adam Steen and state Rep. Eddie Andrews in his bid to move on to the November general election and eventually the governor’s mansion. 

The result marked a major setback for Feenstra, who represents Iowa’s 4th Congressional District and entered Election Day as the best-known Republican in the race. Feenstra had a congressional profile, a fundraising advantage, support from prominent Iowa Republicans, including former Gov. Terry Branstad, and a late endorsement from President Donald Trump. 

TRUMP-ENDORSED HINSON SECURES IOWA SENATE NOMINATION AS DEMOCRATS EYE GOP SEAT

Lahn had just around a 1,600-vote lead ahead of Feenstra shortly after midnight Eastern Time with 99% of the votes counted, according to The Associated Press’ elections tracker.  

“I just called Zach Lahn, and said, ‘Hey, you got to carry this torch. We got to keep this state red. You got to make sure you beat Rob Sand.’ And I’m all in to help him out,” Feenstra said to supporters at his election night gathering, according to a video recording shared by Iowas News Now reporter Skylar Tallal.  

Trump endorsed Feenstra just days before the primary, calling him “MAGA all the way” and giving him his “Complete and Total Endorsement.” Feenstra campaigned as a close ally of the president, highlighting his support for Trump’s agenda on border security, tax cuts, energy production and agriculture.

Lahn, meanwhile, ran as an outsider candidate and drew support from MAHA Action, the political group aligned with the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. His campaign website describes him as a father, farmer and businessman advancing an “Iowa First” agenda.

IOWA MAN SUSPECTED OF KILLING 6 FAMILY MEMBERS IN ‘ACT OF EVIL’

The race opened after Reynolds announced she would not seek reelection despite being eligible to run again, creating Iowa’s first open gubernatorial contest since 2006. Republicans have controlled the governor’s office since 2011.

Lahn will now face Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand in November. Sand, Iowa’s only Democratic statewide officeholder, advanced unopposed through the Democratic primary and has built a political profile centered on government accountability and anti-corruption efforts.

Early ratings have suggested the general election could be competitive. The Cook Political Report moved the race from “Lean Republican” to “Toss Up” in April, while Inside Elections has rated the contest “Lean Republican.”

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If Sand were to win in November, he would become the first Democrat elected governor of Iowa since Chet Culver’s victory in 2006.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA – Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra were leading in unofficial early returns Wednesday morning and appeared positioned to advance to the November California gubernatorial election in the race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in steering the nation’s most populous state and one of the world’s largest economies.

Hilton, a one-time British political strategist turned American conservative commentator and former Fox News Channel host who is backed by President Donald Trump, and Becerra, a former California attorney general who later served as a Cabinet secretary in former President Biden’s administration, were in the lead early Wednesday morning, with votes still being counted and results not yet certified.

“Change is coming to California, and it’s long overdue,” Hilton told supporters at his primary night watch party in Orange County.

Hilton, in an exclusive Fox News Digital interview following his speech, said speaking “honest, simple truths” to voters boosted his campaign. “Everything is too expensive in California. We’re going to cut people’s costs,” he pledged.

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Becerra, who, if elected in November, would make history as California’s first Latino governor since Romualdo Pacheco briefly served in 1875, told supporters that his campaign’s success is “more than a Hollywood ending. More than a milestone. That’s the everyday miracle of living in a state that makes the improbable seem inevitable. And I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Democrat-dominated California holds what’s known as a jungle primary in which all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, appear on the same ballot, with the top two finishers advancing to the general election.

Tom Steyer, a billionaire hedge fund founder turned environmental activist who unsuccessfully ran for his party’s 2020 presidential nomination and who has shelled out over $200 million of his own money in his bid for governor, was in third place as the results continued to be tabulated and as additional mail and provisional ballots remained to be counted.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican, as well as Democratic candidates former Democratic Rep. Katie Porter, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, were also among the whopping 61 candidates on the ballot.

Hilton is hoping to become the first California Republican to win a gubernatorial election since then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2006 re-election.

In his speech, Hilton showed off the lining of his blazer, with American and California flags, that he said Schwarzenegger a few years ago urged him to wear. “Arnold, I did that for you,” Hilton said.

DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB

Former Vice President Kamala Harris and Sen. Alex Padilla mulled launching Democratic bids for governor, but both last year announced they would take a pass. That resulted in the lack of a clear Golden State gubernatorial frontrunner for the first time in more than a quarter-century.

And the race was overshadowed for much of last year, as the devastation from the Los Angeles-area wildfires and President Donald Trump’s immigration raids grabbed headlines in California.

But the showdown for governor entered the spotlight earlier this year when one of the leading candidates, Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, dropped out of the race and then resigned from Congress after facing multiple allegations of sexual assault and misconduct that he continues to deny.

Swalwell’s exit from the race opened the door for first Steyer and then Becerra to rise in the polls.

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Steyer, who unsuccessfully ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, spent more than $200 million of his own money to blanket the airwaves and the internet with ads. Meanwhile, more than $80 million in outside money has also been spent on the race.

Bianco, who launched his campaign for governor in April of last year, was among the top contenders in the race until Trump’s endorsement of Hilton in early April appeared to blunt his momentum.

South Dakota Republican businessman Toby Doeden will move on to a July runoff in the GOP gubernatorial sweeps, while the race for the second contender remained too close to call overnight Wednesday.

The news is a blow to incumbent Gov. Larry Rhoden, who still has a shot to face off in the runoff depending on whether he, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., or South Dakota House Speaker Jon Hansen make it through.

Rhoden, the longtime lieutenant governor under former Gov. Kristi Noem, is a rancher who rose through the ranks of state legislative leadership before succeeding the former Homeland Security secretary.

Often seen with his trademark cowboy hat, the western South Dakota native spent 16 years in the state legislature and has focused on continuing Noem’s platform of making South Dakota one of the nation’s most affordable and business-friendly states.

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Rhoden opposes abortion, supports Second Amendment rights and has worked with his former boss on homeland security matters, including cooperating with ICE on immigration enforcement operations.

President Donald Trump was conspicuously mute in the crowded primary, an observation South Dakota News Watch recently questioned Rhoden about.

“I don’t spend a lot of time fretting about it,” the governor said.

“If you look at who he’s endorsed, he likes endorsing winners and seldom goes out on a limb. And here we have a four-way primary with a seated House member in the race,” Rhoden said, adding that Trump appears to like making safe bets.

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Rhoden, along with Doeden and Hansen, faced a challenge from Rep. Dusty Johnson, the state’s lone congressman, whose statewide profile was considered stronger than that of the other candidates in the race.

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Doeden ran as a political outsider and positioned himself as a populist candidate.

Largely self-funded, Doeden positioned himself as a conservative alternative to the Pierre establishment.

Hansen, meanwhile, is the establishment conservative challenger who has served in the State House for more than a decade.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave Alabama Republicans a victory, issuing an emergency order that the state can use a congressional map likely to benefit the GOP in November’s midterm elections.

The justices granted Alabama’s emergency appeal to use a map adopted by the state legislature in 2023 that includes a single majority-Black district for this election cycle. The court’s three liberal justices dissented.

Alabama Republicans had sought to revive the previously blocked map, which is expected to give the GOP an opportunity to gain an additional congressional seat by replacing a court-drawn south Alabama district that helped elect a Black Democrat with a map that contains only one majority-Black district.

The ruling came after the Supreme Court last month vacated a lower court ruling blocking Alabama’s 2023 congressional map and sent the case back for further review. Last week, however, a three-judge federal panel again blocked the GOP-backed map and ordered Alabama to continue using a court-drawn map containing two districts in which Black voters are a majority or have an opportunity to elect their preferred candidates.

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Republican Gov. Kay Ivey celebrated the ruling Tuesday evening and confirmed that Alabama’s Aug. 11 special primary election would be conducted under the 2023 map.

“The U.S. Supreme Court confirmed what I have said all along and that is that Alabama knows our state, our people and our districts best,” Ivey said in a statement.

“Today’s decision is a win for the people of Alabama and our elections,” she continued. “Alabama is doing our part to keep America strong, and I am proud our state continues to fight the fight to ensure activists do not get the final say.”

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“I will see y’all at the polls August 11!” Ivey added.

The redistricting fight comes as President Donald Trump has encouraged Republican-led states to redraw congressional maps following the Supreme Court’s Callais decision, which limited the use of race in congressional redistricting. Alabama argued that the lower court’s remedial map improperly elevated race over traditional districting principles, while voting-rights groups argued that the state’s map diluted Black voting power.

In an unsigned majority opinion, the court wrote: “The State has also made a strong showing of irreparable harm and that the equities and public interest favor it.”

SUPREME COURT JUST GAVE BLACK VOTERS A SHOT AT REAL POWER BEYOND SAFE SEATS

“We have repeatedly cautioned that lower federal courts should not “alter the election rules on the eve of an election,” the majority added.

In a dissenting opinion, Justice Sonia Sotomayor argued that the map discriminates against Black Alabamians.

“Before the Court are two paths,” Sotomayor wrote. “Down one lies an orderly election, held under a tried-and-tested congressional map that protects Black Alabamians’ right to vote and with which all voters, elections officials, and candidates alike are familiar.”

SUPREME COURT RULES ON KEY VOTING RIGHTS ACT RULE AS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WAGE REDISTRICTING WAR

“Down the other lies a chaotic election, held under a never-before-used congressional map that intentionally discriminates against Black Alabamians, that Alabama adopted in unashamed defiance of a prior court order di­rectly affirmed by this Court, and that will require officials to change the voter registrations of hundreds of thousands of voters in just days at best, a task that Alabama previ­ously represented would take months,” she continued.

“The majority chooses the second path and disregards both democratic values and the rule of law.” she added.

The ACLU also criticized the ruling, arguing it permits Alabama to use a racially discriminatory map.

“Today’s ruling delays relief for voters who have already spent years fighting for an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice and to have their voices heard,” Davin Rosborough, deputy director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project, said in a statement.

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“We remain committed to pursuing equal opportunities in Congress for our clients and Black Alabamians,” he added. “We will fight for those rights even in the face of those who continue to move the goalposts and undo our nation’s progress in realizing its promise as a multi-racial democracy.”

Fox News Digital’s Adam Pack and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Justin Murphy won New Jersey’s Republican U.S. Senate primary Tuesday, setting up a general election fight against Democratic Sen. Cory Booker in a state where Republicans have not won a U.S. Senate race since 1972.

The race was close among the top three candidates with 90% of the votes counted. Murphy was followed by suspended New Jersey State Trooper Richard Tabor, and former News 12 New Jersey reporter Alex Zdan. Physician Robert Lebovics finished last.

Murphy is an attorney and U.S. Navy veteran from Tabernacle, New Jersey, who previously served as a local committeeman and ran unsuccessfully for the GOP Senate nomination in 2024, finishing a distant third. He launched another campaign this cycle to take on Booker, casting himself as a conservative, pro-Trump grassroots candidate.

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Murphy faces an uphill but nationally watched race against Booker, a high-profile Senate Democrat and frequent Trump critic who is running unopposed on the Democratic side of the ticket as he seeks another term after first winning the seat in a 2013 special election. While Republicans are hoping to flip the seat, the party has not won a U.S. Senate race in the state since 1972.

Murphy, who describes himself as self-employed, is a former Tabernacle deputy mayor and a U.S. Navy veteran, according to the New Jersey Globe. He previously ran for the GOP Senate nomination in 2024, finishing far back in third, before launching another bid this cycle as a conservative candidate running on cleaning up his state’s pollution, protecting it from ever-expanding windmill construction, parental rights, medical freedom and improving Medicare for seniors.

“I will convey my Conservative principles with confidence, energy, and optimism. The last time New Jersey elected a Republican to the US Senate was 1972; my campaign represents a new day in New Jersey politics,” Murphy states on his campaign website. “Being self-employed, I can identify with middle-class voters. I know firsthand financial struggle, debt, and stress.  I know the long hours and countless weeks without a paycheck that many small business owners experience as a normal part of their working adult lives. Small business owners will have no better friend in Washington.”  

DEMS PICK CHALLENGER FOR GOP CONGRESSMAN WHO VANISHED FROM PUBLIC VIEW AMID HEALTH MYSTERY

The GOP primary unfolded without an obvious Trump-backed favorite. Trump does not appear to have endorsed in New Jersey’s Republican Senate primary. His late New Jersey endorsements ahead of Tuesday’s primary went to House Republicans Tom Kean Jr., Jeff Van Drew and Chris Smith.

Murphy received support from two county Republican organizations and ran in some counties under the slogan “American Conservative Republican,” according to NJ Spotlight News’ 2026 U.S. Senate primary voter guide.

The general election will test whether Republicans can make inroads in a state that has remained stubbornly difficult for GOP Senate hopefuls.

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Booker won re-election in 2020 by more than 16 points, and early race ratings have generally listed the seat as safely Democratic heading into November.

Rep. Tom Kean Jr., R-N.J., said Tuesday he is “more energized than ever” and plans to return to in-person work “within a matter of weeks,” issuing a new statement after months away from Capitol Hill because of an undisclosed medical issue.

Kean, who represents New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, has been absent from Congress for months while dealing with undisclosed health issues keeping him away from Washington and the campaign trail. Kean said in April that he was addressing a “personal medical issue,” but he has not publicly disclosed the nature of the issue.

“Serving the people of this district is the honor of my life. Every day, I wake up determined to build on the results I have delivered for New Jersey families such as lowering costs, restoring the SALT deduction, funding our law enforcement, helping veterans, standing with Israel, strengthening our economy, and making government work better,” Kean said in a statement Tuesday, amid growing scrutiny over his absence.

REP. TOM KEAN JR. SAYS HE EXPECTS TO RETURN TO CONGRESS ‘IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS’ AFTER MISSING 100 VOTES

Kean has not cast a vote since March 5, according to The New York Times. House voting records also listed Kean as “Not Voting” on a May 21 roll call vote.

“I am optimistic about the road ahead, and ready to earn the support of voters in every corner of the district,” Kean continued. “I am more energized then ever to keep fighting for the people of New Jersey’s 7th District. Right now I am focused on my recovery and under the advice of healthcare professionals I will transition from virtual work to in person work within a matter of weeks. At that time I will be completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition.”

Kean added that he “understand[s] the need for transparency on this matter” and looks forward to sharing his experience with the public.

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Ahead of Kean’s Tuesday primary election, during which he ran unopposed, President Donald Trump endorsed the New Jersey Republican.

Trump praised Kean in a Truth Social post Monday night, describing him as a strong supporter of the president’s “America First Agenda,” adding the New Jersey Republican is “working tirelessly” on border security, crime, the economy, taxes, energy, veterans and Second Amendment issues.

“Tom Kean has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election,” Trump concluded, telling people to get out and vote.

Trump’s support remains one of the most powerful forces in Republican primaries, with candidates across several states openly competing for his backing ahead of key contests. His endorsement of Kean signals the White House and GOP leaders are still lining up behind the incumbent as Republicans fight to defend their narrow House majority this fall.

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Four Democrats — Rebecca Bennett, Michael Roth, Tina Shah and Brian Varela — were competing for the nomination to face Kean in November, but Bennett edged them out Tuesday night during the Democratic primary.

The Associated Press described Bennett as a former Navy helicopter pilot, Roth as a former Small Business Administration official, Shah as an intensive care doctor and Varela as a businessman, with each candidate raising seven figures as Democrats target Kean’s battleground seat.

The race to replace a political titan from the Treasure State has taken shape with three challengers who will square off in November. 

What was expected to be an easy path to victory in Montana was shaken up earlier in 2026. Now, three new faces — former U.S. District Attorney Kurt Alme, ex-University of Montana President Seth Bodnar and former Montana state Rep. Reilly Neill — are all headed to the big stage in November.

Republican Sen. Steve Daines’ sudden exit from his reelection campaign opened up the race in ruby-red Montana. 

2026 MIDTERMS: PRIMARIES, KEY RACES AND ELECTION RESULTS

Now, it’s a three-way battle between his chosen successor, an insurgent independent candidate and a former state legislator. 

Alme has a home field advantage given the groundwork Daines laid throughout his political career, turning Montana from a purple to ruby red bastion for the GOP.  

But Alme hasn’t run for statewide office before. He was tapped twice by President Donald Trump to serve as U.S. District Attorney in Montana and had a stint in Gov. Greg Gianforte’s administration. 

And he’s leaning into Trump’s backing, along with the endorsements of Daines and Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., to make his case to voters.

“We think that the Republican platform — and certainly President Trump’s approach to governing — is a winner in Montana,” Alme told Fox News Digital in March. “And we think that if we stick to our conservative roots, we’re going to perform well against anyone.”

FROM REALITY TV TO CITY HALL? TRUMP-BACKED SPENCER PRATT SOARS IN LA MAYOR RACE AS CALIFORNIANS VOTE

His opponents, however, have both been critical of the circumstances that led to his entering the race. 

Daines, just as the candidate filing deadline in Montana was nearing its end, opted to drop out of the race. Then Alme stepped in almost immediately, a move that drew accusations that Daines tried to rig the Republican primary in the state.

Bodnar charged in a statement after collecting the needed signatures to make it on the ballot that “D.C. insiders tried to rig this election in March by installing a handpicked candidate who will do their bidding. 

“Our campaign has spent months building a political movement of Montanans who want the chance to send leaders to Washington who will always put Montana first,” Bodnar said. “I will never pay allegiance to party bosses or political elites, and I will work every day until Election Day to earn the vote of every Montanan.”

Bodnar, who has similarly not run for public office, is leading all candidates in fundraising.

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His latest financial filing showed the independent raised over $754,000 since March for a total of $2 million since entering the race. Neill raised $294,000 during the same period, gaining an edge on Alme, who raised $259,000. 

Given the GOP’s grip on the state, which Trump has won by double digits in each election he’s run, Bodnar and Neill both face an uphill battle.

A pro-Palestinian plastic surgeon in New Jersey who testified as a witness in a major terrorism case on behalf of a convicted Islamic cleric won election to Congress.

Adam Hisham Hamawy, a former Army combat medic born in Egypt, won a 12-way Democratic primary contest for a solidly blue House seat, according to The Associated Press.

Hamawy was considered to be the frontrunner to succeed retiring Trenton-area Rep. Bonnie Watson-Coleman, D-N.J., and garnered support from the Democratic Party’s far-left flank.

He attempted to weather mounting scrutiny for his ties as a young adult to Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, who was convicted of inciting the 1993 World Trade Center bombing that killed six people and injured thousands. The infamous “Blind Sheikh” was also an influential figure among al Qaeda terrorists.

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Hamawy testified as a witness for the defense and has faced lingering questions for his role in the convicted sheikh’s 1996 trial.

Fox News contributor Andrew McCarthy, the chief prosecutor in Abdel Rahman’s criminal trial, said Hamawy’s testimony ultimately helped the government’s case despite it being offered to undermine the prosecution’s case.

“As was uniformly the case with witnesses presented in the extensive defense case, his testimony, once cross-examination was over, did more to bolster the prosecution’s proof of a jihadist terrorism conspiracy against the United States than to help the accused,” McCarthy said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

His campaign told Fox News Digital that a past affiliation with Abdel Rahman, who was also convicted of conspiring to assassinate Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, amounts to “guilt-by-association” shaming. He has denied any wrongdoing and was never criminally charged.

The political newcomer also faced questions over his ties to a now-shuttered al Qaeda-linked front group in Eastern Europe, which he briefly volunteered for in 1994, Jewish Insider first reported.

Hamawy is endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.; and controversial Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, among other leading progressives. American Priorities, a nascent pro-Palestinian super PAC, also poured money into the race to put him over the top.

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The district, spanning liberal Mercer County up through Somerville to the Plainfields, is considered a safe Democratic seat in a blue-trending state that has moved away from the relatively close margins President Donald Trump received in his 2024 race. 

With a crowded field, few have coalesced around an alternative to Hamawy, while one opponent — Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp — did call out the surgeon as a “radical extremist.”

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., told Jewish Insider he had “deep concerns” about Hamawy’s “associations with terrorist organizations and leaders who have attacked America.”

Activist Sue Altman, who lost to adjacent-district Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in 2024, is another of the dozen running against Hamawy.

She recently won support from influential figures among the party’s establishment, including former Gov. Jon S. Corzine, ex-Sen. Robert “The Torch” Torricelli and ex-Sen. Bill Bradley. 

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Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., notably credited Hamawy with saving her life on an overseas deployment to the Middle East in 2004, and he, in turn, credited her with helping secure his evacuation in 2024 after his medical mission was reportedly trapped by a closed border crossing near Khan Younis, Gaza.

During that humanitarian trip, Hamawy said he had “never… witnessed the level of atrocities and targeting of my medical colleagues,” in an apparent reference to the Israeli government.

Trump-backed Republican Steve Hilton expressed confidence Tuesday as California Republicans fight to avoid being shut out of the governor’s race under the state’s unique “jungle-primary” system.

Hilton is one of two main Republicans in the race, alongside Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.

After Hilton received President Donald Trump’s endorsement, his neck-and-neck position with Bianco became a lead, but as the election neared, concern arose that two Democrats may outdo he and the sheriff – leaving no Republican on the ballot,

“I’m very excited that it looks like we’re going to have a good night tonight,” Hilton said.

“I think the president’s endorsement has been a great honor. The vice president endorsed me this morning. What an incredible thing for someone who’s a new American citizen,” the former Fox News host – a native of Great Britain – added.

Hilton portended a good night regardless of Bianco’s decision to stay in the race.

“I think everyone in California understands we need change,” he said.

Hilton said California Republicans – of which there are more numerically than any other state – are energized and that the early ballot returns depict such.

“I’m pretty confident that we are going to do fine one way or the other.”

The mood extended beyond the governor’s race. In Los Angeles, independent mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt spent Election Day courting voters in neighborhoods Republicans and independents increasingly see as receptive to change.

Pratt was spotted at the famed Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles, mingling with voters at the soul food establishment – and also seen in another clip hosting a cookout in a park in a majority-minority community.

With Gov. Gavin Newsom term-limited and Mayor Karen Bass under fire for her handling of crime, homelessness and the Palisades fires, Republicans and Pratt see an opportunity for marked change in California.

Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger – who like Hilton is an immigrant and Republican – was the last member of the Grand Old Party to hold court in Sacramento.

FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump’s Department of the Interior unveiled a new patriotic installation at Freedom Plaza in downtown Washington, D.C., placing Revolutionary War figures at a site long associated with protests and encampments. 

“This exhibition featuring Caesar Rodney and the 12 Soldiers of the Revolutionary War is a powerful tribute to the patriots whose service and sacrifice helped secure the freedoms we enjoy today,” Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum told Fox News Digital.

The installation pairs a statue of founding father Caesar Rodney with 12 bronze Revolutionary War soldiers, honoring patriots whose sacrifices helped found the nation. Freedom Plaza has frequently been the site of political protests, including when it was known as “tent city” during economic protests in 2011 and more recently as the staging area for protests during the violent summer of 2020, when riots broke out in cities nationwide following the death of George Floyd.

“As we prepare to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, this exhibition is one of the many ways President Donald J. Trump is ensuring that the stories of the men and women who built this nation are preserved, honored and shared for generations to come,” said Burgum. “Our history is one of courage, opportunity and exceptionalism, and this exhibition helps bring that legacy to life for all Americans.”

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Caesar Rodney is best known for his overnight ride from Delaware to Philadelphia in July 1776, traveling nearly 80 miles through a storm to break a deadlock within Delaware’s delegation. His vote helped secure unanimous support among the colonies that cast votes for independence.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, Freedom Plaza will offer visitors a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the courage and sacrifice of Americans who fought to secure our independence nearly 250 years ago,” DOI official Matthew Middleton told Fox News Digital.

The 12 other soldiers represented are Simon Knowles, Caesar Glover, Joseph Warren, Jude Hall, Peter Muhlenberg, James Armistead Lafayette, Samuel Whittemore, Jack Sisson, James Caldwell, Peter Salem, Naphtali Daggett and Salem Poor.

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During the protests of 2020, a statue of Rodney in Wilmington was removed as monument debates over historical figures with ties to slavery intensified. The statue was moved to Freedom Plaza to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.

Freedom Plaza has a storied history as a political protest hotspot in the nation’s capital. 

Occupy D.C. demonstrators set up at Freedom Plaza in October 2011, one of two major federal-property protest sites in the city, sparking many battles with the National Park Service.

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It became a gathering point during the 2020 George Floyd protests, with activists assembling there before marching through city streets. The riots and unrest in Washington were concentrated closer to the separate Lafayette Square and the later “Black Lives Matter Plaza,” which D.C. began dismantling in March 2025.

In 2020, demonstrations ripped through downtown D.C. outside the White House’s North Lawn, covering the areas of the Freedom Plaza and BLM Plaza.

Freedom Plaza was first established in 1980 and originally named Western Plaza. The site was renamed in 1988 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. It frequently served as an encampment site for the homeless until recent federal crackdowns under the Trump administration.

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The plaza will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the exhibit’s installation, Fox News Digital has learned.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said Tuesday that he disagreed with the tactics New Jersey State Police used after they were ordered by Gov. Mikie Sherrill to secure the scene outside Delaney Hall, describing the agency as “a sword.” 

Clashes erupted outside the detention center in Newark on Friday after protesters defied an order from the State Police to relocate to a nearby “First Amendment zone.” The area has seen frequent demonstrations in recent days after illegal immigrant detainees penned an open letter alleging physical and psychological torture, claiming they were being denied medical care and adequate food.  

On Saturday, Sherrill said the New Jersey State Police Public Safety Response team was sent to the area in a move “absolutely necessary to protect public safety, and avoid escalation from ICE.” 

“I mean, clearly I agree that she was supposed to take action, 100 percent. She’s the governor. She’s the leader of this state. Our agencies are going to follow her, her attorney general, her staff. We’re going to defer to her, because she is the leader of this state. And she needed to make strong and aggressive decisions,” Baraka, a fellow Democrat, said Tuesday.

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“She made a decision to involve the state police, which is probably the tools that she has at her disposal. So I don’t disagree with any of that up to that point. What I disagree with is the tactics that were employed by the state police when they got here,” he continued. 

“Look, the state police is a sword. If you’re going to use them, you have to expect people to get cut. And those are the thinking that has to go into this. And I just think that we, going forward, have to have larger discussions about tactics on the ground. The local authorities, our public safety director has to be involved in every decision going forward in our city. Right? The elected officials have to be involved, our health department,” Baraka also said. “And to their credit, there have been cross conversations with individuals, but not collective ones. And we finally had a collective conversation.” 

Baraka also mentioned Tuesday that the city of Newark has been in active litigation against GEO Group, the operators of Delaney Hall, for the past year. GEO Group has a national contract with ICE.

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“And from the beginning, we have advocated for the immediate closure of this building, Delaney Hall, due to the GEO Group’s failure to comply with code ordinances, which we believe pose a serious health and safety risk,” he said. 

“The reports of detainees suffering miscarriages, receiving inadequate medical care, psychological abuse, is troubling, which forces us now to expand, and our business administrator will talk about that, our lawsuit against Delaney Hall, further than just code enforcement violations,” Baraka continued. 

Newark Business Administrator Eric Pennington said Tuesday that he emailed the GEO Group Monday night “indicating that we want to get access” to Delaney Hall “to make sure that the health and safety of the individuals inside is appropriate.”

“We have not received a response yet but we expect to get that today. If they don’t allow us in, we, along with partners who are out here to protect the individuals inside, they will join our lawsuit … along with the state health department … to have this facility shut down until it can be inspected and ensured that it is safe for the individuals who are in there,” Pennington said. “So we are awaiting GEO Group’s response now and we expect to go to the court within the next day or two, to continue the existing lawsuit.” 

A DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital last week that all detainees are provided with three meals a day, clean water, clothing, bedding, showers, soap and toiletries.

The office of New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport also announced Tuesday that it “filed a lawsuit against The GEO Group, Inc., which operates the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark,” asking a court to “grant the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH) full access to the facility, which is the focus of well-documented concerns about inhumane and unsanitary conditions for detainees.

“If ICE and the GEO Group – with a $1 billion government contract – have nothing to hide and the conditions inside Delaney Hall are as safe and as sanitary as this private corporation and the Trump Administration claim, then there is no legitimate reason why my health inspectors are being kept from full access throughout the building,” Sherrill wrote on X in response to the announcement. “We are going to keep working for better conditions inside Delaney Hall until it is closed for good.”

The Department of Homeland Security responded by calling the lawsuit “frivolous.”

“ICE is committed to transparency, and Delaney Hall complies with all required state and local laws. Just last week on May 28, four representatives of the New Jersey State Health Department arrived at approximately 11:00 AM.  They entered the facility and inspected the food service department. The inspection of the kitchen was completed and they departed around 12:30 PM. We will continue to grant state and local inspectors’ access to the facility where appropriate,” it added.

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Fox News Digital has reached out to the GEO Group for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano, Preston Mizell, Alexandra Koch and Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.