Alabama Democrats rally around former Dem senator to challenge Trump-backed Tuberville in fall
Doug Jones, the former Democratic senator in Alabama, on Tuesday won the Democratic nomination for governor, the Associated Press reports. It’s been nearly three decades since a Democrat won a gubernatorial election in solidly red Alabama. You’ve got to go back to former Gov. Don Siegelman’s 1998 victory. DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB Jones will now face a steep uphill climb to defeat Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who easily captured the Republican nomination, in the race to succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Kay Ivey. Tuberville, a top Senate ally of President Donald Trump, is backed by the president as he runs for Alabama governor.
Bluegrass Democrats make their choice to replace McConnell, take on Trump-backed Barr
Bluegrass State Democrats chose their challenger and hopeful successor to longtime Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., on Tuesday night. Charles Booker, a progressive former state representative who has squared off with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., in the past, clinched the Democratic nomination for Senate in Kentucky, besting a crowded field of seven candidates. Booker will now face Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., who similarly dispatched a deep field of candidates, but was heavily spurred by a late endorsement from President Donald Trump. PRO-REPARATIONS PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRAT WHO WANTS ICE ABOLISHED MOUNTS LONGSHOT SENATE BID TO SUCCEED MCCONNELL And Trump will be a predominant factor heading into the November contest. Though the president’s approval ratings are dismal across the country, Booker will still have to beat history if he wants to win out against Barr. That’s because Kentucky hasn’t had a Democratic senator since 1999, and Trump has consistently won in the state since launching his political career a decade ago. Still, Booker is familiar with the big stage, having won the Democratic nomination in 2022. He ultimately lost to Paul by over 20 points. Kentucky Democrat Gov. Andy Beshear’s win in 2023 does give Democrats some hope in the state that they can break the cycle of GOP domination. ‘NEW DEMOCRAT PARTY’: SENATE GOP SOUNDS OFF ON ‘EXTREME’ GRAHAM PLATNER AS SENATE RACE IN MAINE HEATS UP But like so many races during this and previous cycles in the Trump era, the president was the main factor on the Republican side. “We did have a lead before the endorsement,” Barr said during a campaign event on Monday. “Our lead has skyrocketed since then in the polling that we’re looking at, but we don’t take anything for granted.” It helped him topple his main opponent, former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who remained confident that even without Trump’s coveted endorsement, he could still win. REPUBLICANS FAIL TO ATTACH SAVE AMERICA ACT TO PARTY-LINE FUNDING PACKAGE Trump lauded Barr for his loyalty to him and added that he is the “only Candidate who will easily defeat the Democrat in what will be one of the most important Elections in American History.” Trump also touted Barr as a strong supporter of eliminating the filibuster, the voting barrier that has derailed the GOP’s Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act. The legislation has so far wallowed in the background of the upper chamber, thanks in part to Democrats’ strong objections to it and a lack of support among Republicans to pass it. Last month, a version of the SAVE America Act failed to gain enough Republican support at a simple 50-vote threshold. “He will do everything in his power to get it done,” Trump said. “It is desperately needed by the Republican Party to pass the SAVE AMERICA ACT, and all other things necessary for a strong and brilliant Country!”
Trump ally Tommy Tuberville cruises to Alabama GOP governor nomination
Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a top Senate supporter and ally of President Donald Trump, cruised to the GOP gubernatorial nomination in his home state of Alabama on Tuesday. Tuberville defeated longshot rivals Ken McFeeters, an insurance agency owner, and Will Santivasci, a small business owner, to capture the Republican nomination in the solidly red state in the race to succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Kay Ivey. A former longtime college football coach — who spent 10 years as head coach at Auburn University in Alabama — Tuberville was elected to the Senate in 2020. Tuberville ran as an outsider who was closely aligned with Trump. “God bless the great state of Alabama!” Tuberville wrote in a social media post after clinching the nomination. DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB Trump, on the eve of the primary, doubled down on his support for Tuberville. “He is a Lifelong Leader, both on and off the field — A true WINNER!” the president posted on social media. Tuberville, who was the overwhelming polling and fundraising frontrunner in the primary, will now be the clear favorite to win November’s gubernatorial election in Alabama, a state that Trump carried by 30 points in 2024. Republican Governors Association chair Gov. Greg Gianforte of Montana said in a statement that “Tuberville has proven he is an America First fighter who can deliver real results for the people of Alabama. As Governor, he will defend Alabama’s values, work with President Trump to continue bringing good-paying jobs to Alabama, and stand up to the radical left’s woke ideology.” Tuberville will face off in the general election against former Democratic Sen. Doug Jones, who easily topped a crowded field of rivals to win his party’s gubernatorial nomination. The Democratic Governors Association, in a social media post, said: “Doug has dedicated his career to fearlessly fighting for what is right for the people of Alabama – no matter how difficult. And he’s running to continue that important work.”
Kentucky physician advances to general election after receiving glowing Trump endorsement: ‘True friend’
Ralph Alvarado, a Kentucky state senator, advanced to the general election Tuesday evening to be Rep. Andy Barr’s, R-Ky., potential successor shortly after receiving an endorsement from President Donald Trump. Alvarado, who has positioned himself as a pro-Trump, America First candidate, strengthens the president’s record of endorsements in a state that’s produced a handful of the administration’s most vocal critics within his party. Amid frustrations with Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Trump praised Alvarado’s alignment in his endorsement message. TRUMP STIRS GOP PRIMARY DRAMA WITH VISIT TO MASSIE’S KENTUCKY HOME TURF “A true friend to MAGA, RALPH HAS BEEN WITH US FROM THE VERY BEGINNING!” Trump said in a post to social media on Monday. The president noted Alvarado’s efforts to turn out Hispanic voters in 2016 as a member of the National Hispanic Advisory Council for Trump. “Dr. Ralph Alvarado has my complete and total endorsement to be the next representative from Kentucky’s 6th congressional District,” Trump added. Alvarado has a background in healthcare, working as a physician for nearly 30 years, according to his online biography. He embarked on a political career in 2014 when he ran for the Kentucky General Assembly, becoming its first Hispanic member. KENTUCKY SENATE RACE FOR MCCONNELL’S SEAT HEATS UP In his campaign materials, Alvarado also highlighted his consistent support of the president. “In Kentucky, a triple crown is rare,” Alvarado said in a video. “But so is a triple-Trump. 2016, 2020 and 2024 — I stood with President Trump every single time. And in Congress, I’ll stand with him again.” Although Alvarado must still win the general election, his district has leaned heavily Republican in the past. Its incumbent, Barr, last won reelection in 2024 in a 63% to 37% victory over Democratic challenger Randy Cravens. Barr, who has represented Kentucky’s 6th congressional district since 2013, is pursuing a seat in the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy of outgoing former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. McConnell, 84, is retiring.
Longtime news anchor-turned-House candidate wins Dem primary in key Pennsylvania district
Democrat Janelle Stelson, the longtime former anchor for Lancaster’s NBC affiliate, defeated Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas in a battle to take on one of the more endangered Republicans in the House, Freedom Caucus stalwart Scott Perry. Perry, of Dillsburg, was an ally of Elon Musk’s DOGE endeavor and has staked out reliably conservative positions on most issues, chairing the Freedom Caucus in 2022, but barely held onto his seat in 2024 against Stelson by a few thousand votes. Stelson was criticized for reportedly retaining her residency in Lancaster — which is in Rep. Lloyd Smucker’s district — while running in Perry’s district, which covers much of her former news station’s coverage area. As of 2025, Stelson moved to a rental property in East Pennsboro Township, across the Susquehanna River from Harrisburg, according to the York Daily Record, which reported on the controversy. TRUMP-BACKED INCUMBENT REP. SCOTT PERRY WINS RE-ELECTION IN PENNSYLVANIA Douglas also reportedly criticized Stelson for the lack of primary debates. Stelson also was a longtime registered Republican before changing her affiliation sometime during the Trump era, according to local reports. While she has the support of Gov. Josh Shapiro, she admitted in an ABC-Harrisburg interview that she differs from some in her party on certain issues. KNIVES OUT FOR FETTERMAN: MAVERICK SENATOR JOINS LONG LINE OF DEMS PUNISHED FOR BREAKING FROM LEFT “One of the things I was very against President Joe Biden, the border was quickly becoming more of a mess than usual,” Stelson told the outlet, while adding that President Donald Trump’s response to the crisis has been a bridge too far. She also told the outlet she would support repealing Trump’s tariffs and that she is pro-choice. Perry, meanwhile, has held fast to his seat, at times easily and at times not so much, amid an increased moderate-to-progressive influx of new voters in Harrisburg’s southern suburbs like Camp Hill and Lower Allen. Come November, voters across the nation will be looking to Cumberland County and the Susquehanna Valley as one of the most conservative members of Congress battles for his political life in Pennsylvania’s increasingly shifting political landscape.
Bharat Mandapam Summit Rehearsal: Delhi traffic Police issue advisory, check routes to avoid on May 19, diversions and more
The rehearsal is in preparation for the International Big Cat Alliance Summit and the India-Africa Forum Summit, scheduled at Bharat Mandapam from May 28 to June 1.
Tamil Nadu retains two-language policy, Vijay-led TVK govt to stick to state’s long-held policies
Tamil Nadu School Education Minister A. Rajmohan stated that the new Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government will keep the policy of teaching only Tamil and English in schools.
Texas American Muslim University sued by Paxton, accused of misleading would-be students
TexAM is accused of misrepresenting itself as a university and adopting branding too similar to Texas A&M. Its leaders say they were already complying with state demands.
Texas Sen. Brian Birdwell gets U.S. Senate green light for Pentagon post
The longtime state legislator, who announced in June he wasn’t seeking reelection, will serve as an assistant secretary of defense.
Chip Roy gets $2.75 million infusion from GOP megadonor Alex Fairly in attorney general runoff
Roy is the only candidate who’s “able and prepared to do the job,” Fairly said. Roy’s opponent, Mayes Middleton, has been criticized for his lack of legal experience.