Republican who reportedly dropped out defeats Trump’s pick in key swing-district primary
Republican voters in Michigan’s 8th Congressional District chose Thomas J. Smith as their challenger to freshman Democratic Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet on Wednesday – defying President Donald Trump’s endorsement of opponent Amir Hassan – in one of several House races the GOP hopes will help expand its majority in November. The district stretches across Flint, Saginaw, Midland and Bay City, and has become increasingly competitive in recent election cycles. Al Lemmo also vied for the nomination. Smith was a longtime GM employee, according to his website. “We need strong conservative leadership that protects our constitutional freedoms, supports working families, secures our borders, and restores accountability in Washington,” he said on his website. TRUMP-BACKED FIREBRAND WINS ARIZONA GOP GOVERNOR PRIMARY, SETTING UP HIGH-STAKES SHOWDOWN Smith reportedly suspended his campaign in July and endorsed Lemmo, according to the Detroit News, while Trump endorsed Hassan and invited him onstage at a recent rally. Hassan spoke then about how many members of his family worked for GM. “The contrast is clear, the time is now,” Hassan said. “Protecting America, getting back to the fundamentals… that’s what we’re doing this cycle.” HOUSE REPUBLICANS AIM TO TURN DEMOCRATIC CIVIL WAR INTO MIDTERM WEAPON SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Lemmo, a retired Army automotive mechanical engineer, ran on a pro-life and pro-onshoring platform. DEMOCRATS TARGET MORE GOP HOUSE SEATS AFTER SOCIALIST VICTORIES ROCK LEFT-WING PRIMARIES Smith recorded just over 50% of the vote by Wednesday morning, and was declared the winner by the Associated Press. Smith told the Detroit News he is “humbled and honored that Republicans have chosen me to take the fight to Kristen McDonald Rivet.” Rivet, who was a state senator representing Bay City before her tenure in Congress, won her primary Tuesday. She defeated the GOP’s Paul Junge by about six points in 2024’s contests.
Republicans move to oust embattled Florida GOP lawmaker in bitter primary fight
House GOP divisions are erupting on the midterm campaign trail as Republicans fight an uphill battle to keep control of Congress for the latter half of President Donald Trump’s term. The infighting touched down in Florida on Wednesday, where two House Republicans are endorsing a primary opponent to incumbent Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., who is facing multiple investigations into his finances and allegations of domestic abuse, among other claims. Mills has denied any wrongdoing. Reps. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., and Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., announced they’re backing former local TV anchor Ryan Elijah for Mills’ seat and said they “urge our fellow Republicans to join us in supporting him.” “Ryan Elijah is an excellent candidate and will ensure victory for us in Florida 7,” Haridopolos told Fox News Digital. The Florida congressman will be in attendance at Mills’ debate against Elijah on Wednesday night and plans to sit next to the candidate’s wife. GOP PARTY FISSURES EXPOSED IN BATTLE FOR S.C. SENATE SEAT TO REPLACE GRAHAM: ‘I DON’T LIKE HEARING THAT’ Notably, President Donald Trump has endorsed Haridopolos, Luna and Mills for re-election — a fact Mills brought up in his response to Fox News Digital. “I’m the only candidate in this race endorsed by President Donald Trump. Not once, not twice, but three times. I’m proud to have earned his trust because he knows I’ll continue fighting to advance the America First agenda and deliver results,” Mills said. “The fact is, my office has returned more than $107 million to the people of Florida’s 7th District, led Florida in constituent services, built one of the strongest conservative voting records in Congress, and flipped this district from blue to red,and kept it red. My record speaks for itself.” It comes after another GOP source told Fox News Digital that some Florida Republicans were worried about the chances of keeping Mills’ seat if he won the primary on Tuesday, Aug. 18. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report downgraded its projection for Republicans from “Solid R” to “Likely R” earlier this year. And with a Cook rating of R+5, Democrats could be within striking distance if Republicans see a tough enough cycle in November. Mills is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee and the Department of Justice (DOJ), according to a source, though he has consistently insisted that he has not done anything wrong. WATCH: CORY MILLS BLASTS DOJ PROBE AS ‘POLITICAL OP’ AHEAD OF FLORIDA PRIMARY The Republican military veteran dismissed reports of a DOJ investigation as a “desperate lie” by his opponents and said on X late last month, “We are not aware of any DOJ investigation, nor has there been any confirmation of such investigation by DOJ or FBI, and would fully cooperate if there was one.” Fox News Digital reached out to Mills for a response to Haridopolos and Luna’s endorsement. Mills is one of several House Republicans whose allegations of misconduct are posing a headache for the GOP on the campaign trail. Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., announced overnight that he would drop his re-election bid after an explosive report detailed sexual harassment accusations by two young female staffers. Edwards has denied those accusations but has admitted to at times making staff feel uncomfortable. GOP LAWMAKER’S GIFTS, ‘EFFUSIVE AFFECTION’ TOWARD YOUNG STAFFERS DETAILED IN EXPLOSIVE ETHICS REPORT And Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, has been accused of domestic abuse by his ex-wife and former father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, and is facing pressure from congressional Republicans to drop out of his race as well. One House GOP source called the situation a “f—ing trainwreck” in comments to Fox News Digital. Miller has denied any wrongdoing and asked the House Ethics Committee to initiate an investigation in order to clear his name. The former Trump aide has resisted calls to exit the race, insisting he will win in November and that the public accusations from his ex-wife are a bid to derail his political career. All three House seats are on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) target list, meaning Democrats are pouring money and resources into those races. One House Republican, who was granted anonymity to speak freely, told Fox News Digital that all three should drop out of their races, stating, “We must lead by example.”
Political newcomer seeks to unseat twin of Trump impeachment foe in swing Virginia district
Douglas Ollivant decisively beat two fellow political newcomers in the Republican primary contest to take on incumbent Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Va., in November. Vindman, whose twin brother is a high-profile foe of President Donald Trump, currently represents Virginia’s 7th Congressional district, a seat previously held by the state’s Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger. The Republican primary race between Ollivant, Rick Smithers and Philip Harding was unique in that none of the candidates had held elected office before, though two have government experience. The lack of reliable polling made it difficult to foretell who would emerge triumphant — but Ollivant ran away with victory, earning 56.6% of the vote compared to Harding’s 30.7% and Smithers’ 12.8%. THE BALLOT BOX SHOWDOWNS THIS MONTH THAT YOU NEED TO WATCH Ollivant is a retired Army officer who served as the National Security Council director for Iraq during the George W. Bush administration. He worked as a national security analyst and consultant after that. Smithers is a pastor and construction business owner who branded himself as the biggest outsider in the race. Harding is a businessman with a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University. He also earned his graduate degree from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. All three candidates have generally aligned themselves with Donald Trump, though the president did not endorse anyone in the race. FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS: DEMOCRATS LEAD IN THE HOUSE, BUT REDISTRICTING KEEPS THE GOP IN THE GAME According to FEC data, Ollivant had the cash advantage, raising $251,134. Harding raised $125,916 before primary Election Day, and there was no reported fundraising data for Smithers. Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, located in the northeastern part of the state and encompassing Culpeper and Fredericksburg east into Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline and parts of Prince William County, is considered a true swing state. Vindman, who ran unopposed this time around, won the vacant seat by only three points. SCOOP: HOUSE REPUBLICANS TARGET DOZENS OF VULNERABLE DEMOCRATS ON EVE OF TAX FILING DEADLINE As Democrats hope to retain the seat in November, Republicans are eyeing it as a potential flip, which would be a welcome pickup as the GOP fights tooth-and-nail to keep control of Congress, a historically difficult feat for the party in power during a midterm election year. Vindman’s twin brother Alexander is a longtime foe of Trump. Alexander Vindman is a former military official, and the then-National Security Council director for European affairs testified against Trump during the first failed impeachment attempt in 2019. Alexander is an ardent defender of Ukraine, and became a central figure of the impeachment attempt, claiming that in a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump attempted to make military aid for the embattled European nation contingent on an investigation into the Biden family’s involvement in Ukrainian business activities. Ultimately, the impeachment failed, and both Alexander and Eugene Vindman were removed from the National Security Council. Alexander Vindman later became a frequent anti-Trump guest on CNN and MSNBC, as well as on the left-wing podcast circuit.
Secret FBI probe cast Trump as possible Russian asset after Comey firing, memos show
The White House released newly declassified FBI memos showing that the bureau opened a 2017 counterintelligence investigation into whether President Donald Trump’s firing of James Comey was connected to Russia. The investigation, codenamed “Oxferd Comma,” opened after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey in May 2017, according to the White House’s release. It is unclear as to why the word “Oxford” was seemingly misspelled. The probe was launched due to national security concerns about whether Trump himself was a Russian asset, the documents allege. Investigators sought to determine whether Trump was “directed by, controlled by, and/or coordinated activities with, the Russian Federation in a manner constituting a threat to the national security of the United States and/or a violation of federal criminal statutes,” according an FBI memo on May 16, 2017, jump-starting the investigation. “In addition, this investigation will also seek to determine whether President Trump and others yet to be named obstructed and/or conspiracy to obstruct any associated FBI investigation,” the same memo added. Comey was appointed by then-President Barack Obama, serving as FBI Director from 2013 to 2017. He oversaw the launch of the “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation in July 2016 after receiving information that Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos had suggested Russia possessed damaging information about Hillary Clinton. Comey also ran an investigation into Clinton about the use of her private email servers and sent a letter to Congress days before the 2016 election saying the FBI had discovered emails that “appear to be pertinent.” Trump later fired Comey after taking office, with the administration initially citing his handling of the Clinton email investigation. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for additional comment on Wednesday. This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
Dems’ leftward lurch gets legs as El-Sayed’s Michigan Senate victory sparks party debate
DETROIT, MI – Abdul El-Sayed’s victory over moderate Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan’s high-stakes Democratic Senate primary is a massive boost for the party’s left-wing in its ideological battle with the center-left establishment. It also gives instant ammunition to Republicans aiming to flip a crucial battleground Senate seat the Democrats must hold as part of their midterm push to win back control of the chamber. Republican nominee former Rep. Mike Rogers, in a Fox News Digital interview ahead of the primary, argued that El-Sayed is “way too extreme for Michigan. I mean, Abdul, he has his own special sauce of crazy.” MEET THE FAR LEFT INSURGENTS WAGING WAR ON THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN THE 2026 MIDTERMS El-Sayed is a far-left figure backed by progressive champions and socialists like Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and other members of the Squad. A former Wayne County Health Department director, El-Sayed, if elected in November, would make history as the nation’s first Muslim senator. He is an epidemiologist who unsuccessfully ran for governor as an insurgent candidate in 2018. He has made support for “Medicare-for-all” a major component of his campaign. He has also called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and is a vocal critic of Israel amid its war with Hamas — even characterizing Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” against Palestinians. El-Sayed, who served as a top surrogate on Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign, has also vowed not to accept PAC donations. El-Sayed’s primary election victory has some wondering if the party of the late Rep. John Dingell, who was famously known as the “Dean of the House” during his historic tenure in Congress, and his wife Rep. Debbie Dingell, the current dean of the Michigan congressional delegation, has broadly shifted to the left, or if this is a one-off election dynamic. MIKE ROGERS ARGUES ABDUL EL-SAYED IS ‘A SPECIAL SAUCE OF CRAZY’ “It’s not all that clear that the party has shifted that far to the left,” Matt Bennett, one of the leaders at the Third Way, a leading center-left Democratic organization, told Fox News Digital. Pointing to the increasing visceral opposition to President Donald Trump by Democrats across the country, Bennett said the primary results in Michigan may be “a unique situation where candidates matter.” “And in this moment Democratic voters everywhere are very very angry at Trump and they’re flipping over the tables and taking it out on the establishment and Haley, for better or worse, has run as the establishment.” Matt Grossmann, director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research and political science professor at Michigan State University, pointed to what he called a “recruitment failure.” “Stevens was no one’s first choice,” Grossman said of Stevens, as he referred to unsuccessful efforts to recruit term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer or former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to launch a campaign in the race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters. DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB Noting growing opposition among Democrats nationwide to Israel’s ongoing military operations against Hamas in Gaza, and the massive amounts of outside money spent in the historically expensive Senate primary by groups aligned with pro-Israel interests to help Stevens and target El-Sayed, Grossman added “this was a terrible year to be running the most pro-Israel candidate available.” More than $80 million was spent on the primary, making it the most expensive Democratic Senate nomination contest in history. Much of the money came from outside groups supporting Stevens or opposing El-Sayed. The largest spender was United Democracy Project, a political action committee aligned with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which is best known by its acronym AIPAC. El-Sayed said his victory is easy to understand. Speaking with Fox News Digital on Sunday, he said “our job is to listen to folks, as it has been since we kicked off this campaign… to understand the challenges people have in their lives.” “I think the people are telling us that they want money out of politics. Money in your pocket, Medicare-for-all,” he emphasized. “You know, endorsements don’t vote. People vote. And I think right now people are voting with their feet.” SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC), a leading group on the left, referred to El-Sayed narrow margin over Stevens and told Fox News Digital that “any win against $60 million dollars of outside spending by AIPAC and corporate interests is a giant win and sets us on a path of proving our case in November to shake up the system.” The progressive-versus-establishment battle also played out in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, a Republican-controlled swing seat that is among roughly two dozen races expected to help determine control of the House. William Lawrence, a co-founder of the Sunrise Movement climate advocacy group, edged out two more moderate Democrats. Lawrence was backed by Sanders and El-Sayed, as well as several prominent progressive groups. He will face Republican Rep. Tom Barrett in the general election. The party’s internal battle was also on display in Michigan’s heavily Democratic 13th Congressional District. Rep. Shri Thanedar, who was supported by top House Democratic leaders, was narrowly defeated by state Rep. Donovan McKinney. McKinney was backed by Sanders, El-Sayed and “Squad” members Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Summer Lee of Pennsylvania. Bennett noted that Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan crushed a more progressive rival in the 2024 Senate primary before winning the general election by a razor-thin margin over Rogers in a state that President Donald Trump narrowly carried. And Bennett and Grossman pointed out that Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who won the Democratic gubernatorial primary on Tuesday, and Attorney General Dana Nessel, who was renominated, are far from left-wingers. “The party hasn’t shifted far to the left but this particular primary did,” Bennett argued, as he referred to El-Sayed’s victory over Stevens.
McConnell’s absence puts Trump agenda at risk as Kentucky succession questions grow
A deadline that could have determined Sen. Mitch McConnell’s future in the Senate has come and gone as the timeline for the Kentucky Republican’s return remains in the air. Speculation swirled over Aug. 3 and its ramifications for McConnell’s winnowing tenure in the Senate, given that he’s been absent from the public eye since early June and is slated to retire at the end of this year. Armchair election quarterbacks suggested that Monday was the day for Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, to have called a special election to replace McConnell. MCCONNELL OUT OF HOSPITAL, STILL NOT ‘MEDICALLY CLEARED’ TO RETURN TO SENATE But the longtime Republican has not vacated his seat, and Beshear contended that the obscure deadline had no real legal teeth. “I know there are a lot of folks wondering about the significance of August 3 regarding a potential Senate vacancy,” Beshear said on X. “I want everyone to know that this date has no legal impact on my options should there be a vacancy this year.” Still, Kentucky’s Senate succession law has undergone major changes in recent years. Should the Bluegrass State suddenly have a vacant seat in the upper chamber, Beshear wouldn’t be allowed to appoint a replacement as is the case in other states — this was most recently put to the test when Sen. Lindsey Graham suddenly died in South Carolina. COLLINS DROPS THE HAMMER ON TRUMP’S PICK TO LEAD DOJ, JEOPARDIZING PATH TO CONFIRMATION That means if McConnell’s seat were to become vacant, Beshear would be required to call a special election to fill his remaining time in the Senate. When asked for comment on the matter, McConnell’s office directed Fox News Digital to the last statement from the senator, released on July 27, that detailed under doctors’ orders that he was not “medically cleared” to return to the Senate quite yet. “I’m still working hard to get back to my full schedule of work in the Senate and in Kentucky, keeping up with intense physical therapy per my doctors’ orders,” McConnell said. Despite the acknowledgment that Monday meant little legally when it came to replacing McConnell, Beshear noted that his absence is hindering current and future agenda items for the Trump administration. “Worth a reminder: Right now, there’s one less vote for the SAVE Act, Trump’s war with Iran, or the potential replacement of a SCOTUS justice,” he said. TRUMP KEEPS CALLING THUNE DESPITE PUBLIC FIGHT OVER SAVE AMERICA ACT And the Senate is chugging along without the longest-serving Republican leader in history. However, his missing dozens of votes hasn’t necessarily stopped legislation so far. But during the dizzying sprint to wrap up work ahead of a scheduled break during August, his vote could count more than ever. There are three Republicans who are on the fence about Blanche, too. Notably, President Donald Trump’s nomination of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is hanging by a thread, in part, because McConnell is not there. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, announced her intention to vote against him, leaving Republicans with only one vote to spare before his path to leading the Department of Justice closes. “I don’t know what those individuals are going to do, and I just… Mitch is still out,” Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., told Fox News Digital. “But I think he’ll be confirmed. And we’ve got a lot of work to do this week.”
DSA-backed candidate topples millionaire Dem incumbent
Donavan McKinney, a congressional candidate backed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, won his Democratic primary on Wednesday morning, unseating incumbent Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich. From primary candidates in New York like socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier and her victory over incumbent Rep. Adriano Espillat, D-N.Y., the veteran chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, to Melat Kiros, another socialist in Colorado, unseating 30-year incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., DSA-backed candidates have expanded their influence over the party. BERNIE SANDERS, DSA REVEAL DEMANDS FOR DEM PARTY AFTER SOCIALISTS SWEEP NEW YORK ELECTIONS They’ve even enjoyed victories over other progressives — like Thanedar. Thanedar, while still a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, has broken with the DSA on a few critical areas. Most notably, Thanedar broke off his own membership with the DSA in October 2023 over his support for Israel. “I can no longer associate with an organization unwilling to call out terrorism in all its forms. Sunday’s hate-filled and antisemitic rally in New York City, promoted by the NYC-DSA, makes it impossible for me to continue my affiliation. I stand with Israel and its right to defend itself,” Thanedar wrote in a statement after the Oct. 7 terror attacks that left 1,200 Israelis dead. Right before the Fourth of July, Rep. Thanedar also said he agreed with U.S. exceptionalism when asked whether he was proud to be an American. FORMER BERNIE SANDERS OFFICIAL ACCUSES SENATOR OF PUSHING MOST ANTISEMITIC CANDIDATES ‘IN A GENERATION’ “This is a great country. You know, we are a country of immigrants. Immigrants have contributed so much to our country, and you know this is the greatest country on earth. I am so proud to call myself an American citizen, although there are some concerns with the new administration,” Thanedar said. McKinney, for his own part, has listed affordability, environmental and climate justice, and getting money out of politics as among his top priorities. During his campaign, he targeted Thanedar’s personal wealth, arguing the businessman wasn’t representative of his district’s lived experience. Thanedar bought a small chemical analysis lab in 1991 for $75,000, grew it into a multimillion-dollar business with multiple acquisitions, later founding and then selling Avomeen Analytical Services, a chemical testing company. “We deserve a Democratic Party that leads the fight against the billionaires that are robbing us blind. That stands up to corporate PACs. Our country and our children can afford nothing less,” McKinney said in a campaign video. DEMS CLASH OVER AIPAC MONEY, ‘OGRE’ ATTACK AND ELECTABILITY DURING CRUCIAL SENATE DEBATE “People like our congressman, Shri Thanedar, are the problem. A multimillionaire who spent millions to buy a seat in Congress, who has more in common with Donald Trump and Elon Musk than people like us.” Having captured the Democratic nomination, McKinney will go on to the general election on Nov. 3.
Republicans get the Democrat they wanted as socialist Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate primary
After a grueling, messy campaign, a far-left progressive has taken on the Democratic establishment and won. Abdul El-Sayed felled Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., to secure the Democratic nomination for Senate in what became one of the ugliest Democratic primary races in the country. El-Sayed will now face former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, who was uncontested in the GOP primary, in November. Big money, the Democratic old guard and attacks on El-Sayed’s Democratic Socialist leanings dominated the primary, and leave the last man standing on the Left bruised and battered heading into the showdown with Rogers. The face-off to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, who backed Stevens, is a must-win contest for Democrats and one of roughly a dozen general election Senate races expected to determine whether Republicans retain their narrow majority. DEM PRIMARY ERUPTS AS ESTABLISHMENT FAVORITE DISMISSES RIVAL AS ‘CELEBRITY CANDIDATE’ “Michigan… We won. I am so proud to be your Democratic nominee for US Senate. Let’s win in November,” El Sayed wrote in a social media post Wednesday morning, as he declared victory. A couple of hours later, after the race was called, Stevens conceded: “I love Michigan and am so proud to have put up my hand to serve. I spoke with Abdul a few moments ago to offer him my full support as we work to defeat Mike Rogers this November.” At a news conference, El-Sayed preached unity. “To my colleague and friend, Congresswoman Haley Stevens. We shared a great conversation this morning, and I know that it was a bitter end to this very long primary,” he said. “But I also know that Haley brings, the best of herself to her work. She is one of the most committed public servants that you’ll ever meet. she loves democracy. Like, I love democracy and whatever differences that we might have had in the primary, they pale in comparison to what unifies us.” And as a Senate Republican-aligned group instantly fired up an attack ad on El-Sayed using old controversial comments, he took aim at Rogers. “As bitter and as divisive and as cynical as the campaign against us might have been, I want us to realize that there is so much more that unites us now, because the campaign that Mike Rogers and Donald Trump and their GOP MAGA allies are launching is already more bitter,” he argued. “All you got to do is look at the ads you’re already watching on TV that started today. You know, they think they want to use my whole name against me. Mike. Listen, man, if you can’t say the name, it’s Abdulrahman. Keep the name out of your damn mouth.” But even before Primary Day, El-Sayed was already looking ahead to his battle with Rogers, and hoping to curry favor with Stevens’ voters in the process. “I think we all understand the risk of Donald Trump. We all understand the risk of Mike Rogers,” El-Sayed told Fox News Digital. “This is a guy who is not going to stand up and take on the war machine. He’s not going to stand up and take on Big Pharma. He’s not going to stand up and take on big tech.” “He is going to do the bidding of large corporations,” he continued. “I think everybody understands what the stakes are. So I’m looking forward to welcoming everybody who might have voted differently in the primary.” SWING-STATE POLL SPELLS TROUBLE FOR FAR LEFT AS SCHUMER-BACKED CANDIDATE DOMINATES WITH CRITICAL VOTING BLOCS El-Sayed, an epidemiologist and a former Wayne County health director who unsuccessfully ran for governor as an insurgent candidate in 2018, would become the nation’s first Muslim senator if elected. He has made support for “Medicare for All” a major component of his campaign. He has also called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and has been a vocal critic of Israel during its war against Hamas, characterizing Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” against Palestinians. More than $80 million was spent on the primary, making it the most expensive Democratic Senate nomination contest in history. Much of the money came from outside groups supporting Stevens or opposing El-Sayed. The largest spender was United Democracy Project, a political action committee aligned with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which is best known by its acronym AIPAC. “We all knew that they were going to spend their money. We didn’t know they were going to spend $70 million of their money. We didn’t know that they were going to outspend us $11 to $1. And yet we’re still standing,” El-Sayed highlighted in his speech. El-Sayed urged party unity and took aim at former Rep. Mike Rogers, the Republican Senate nominee. Stevens also targeted Rogers during her primary night speech. “Whoever wins is going to go and take on Mike Rogers. Republicans are going to do everything they can to throw all the dirt, all the mud, the kitchen sink at us because they want to keep the U.S. Senate red, so Mike Rogers can keep rubber-stamping Donald Trump’s ridiculous agenda,” she argued. Of the two candidates, Republicans wanted El-Sayed, and old-guard Democrats feared his victory the most. The GOP is leaning into the bloody primary, too, hoping that the battle damage will have staying power in the weeks ahead until November. “Not only is Rogers a battle-tested candidate who has coalesced the support of Michigan’s entire GOP ecosystem, but he will also be the beneficiary of Democrats’ dysfunction come November,” a Republican operative told Fox News Digital. “Abdul El-Sayed has emerged from this cycle’s Democratic primary more damaged than ever and susceptible to more onslaughts of criticism from within their own party.” His surge in the polls sent Democrats scrambling to back Stevens, forcing Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Peters off the sidelines. Peters told Fox News Digital that Stevens was a proven winner who had previously flipped a red district to blue, and that ultimately, the main goal was recapturing control of the Senate. “But it doesn’t happen
Fetterman gives Dems a stinging reality check as Mao-praising communists seize the spotlight
Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman railed against the growing influence of socialists and communists in the Democratic Party on Tuesday, warning that figures such as socialist streamer Hasan Piker are pulling the party toward a more radical future. “I would never try to elevate … a communist just because [Piker] has followers on some, on Twitch, whatever that is. But overall, if you identify with a communist who praises Mao and Cuba and for these places, that should be foreign to any Democrat. Without a doubt, that’s having an impact,” Fetterman told Fox News Digital on the sidelines of the Israel on Campus Coalition conference Tuesday. Piker has emerged as an influential voice on the Democratic left, backing socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and campaigning alongside Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed as left-wing candidates court his millions of online followers. Piker has openly praised Mao Zedong and carried water for Cuba’s communist regime, blaming America for the island’s suffering. Speaking with Fox News Digital after addressing the Israel on Campus Coalition’s National Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Fetterman said the direction of his party has become “troubling” and pointed to Tuesday’s primaries as the latest test of whether Democrats will continue embracing candidates aligned with the party’s progressive flank. JOHN FETTERMAN MAKES IT ‘VERY CLEAR’ THAT HE’S ‘NOT GOING TO BE A REPUBLICAN’ DESPITE DEM BACKLASH Democratic establishment candidates notched several victories in Tuesday night’s primaries, including Rep. Wesley Bell’s defeat of DSA-backed former Rep. Cori Bush’s comeback bid in Missouri. The high-stakes Democratic Senate primary in Michigan, however, remained too close to call early Wednesday, with Abdul El-Sayed, who has drawn support from prominent socialists, facing the more moderate Rep. Haley Stevens. “I see the midterms right now that the more radical, the more anti-Israel, and the people have turned Israel as to the ultimate litmus … When you have Gov. Newsom describing Israel as an apartheid state. He knows better, that that’s not true,” said Fetterman. The Pennsylvania Democrat continued that it should be “pretty obvious” that the party should not “pander to the fringe.” “Those are core values. … Like I said, you just can’t pander to those kinds of people,” he added. President Donald Trump issued his own warning earlier this summer, arguing that the Democratic Party had moved far beyond socialism. “These are not social Democrats,” Trump said in June following socialists notching primary wins in New York. “These are hardcore, godless communists. They’re godless communists. All communists are godless. They don’t believe in God. This is the most serious threat to our country since its existence. In my opinion, 250 years ago. This is a major threat to our country.” FETTERMAN CALLS ZOHRAN MAMDANI A ‘CLOWN’ OVER PUSH TO ARREST NETANYAHU IN NEW YORK CITY When asked by a reporter late Tuesday night what it would mean if more socialists prevailed in primary races, Trump said the Democratic Party is a “mess.” “I think they should form another party, the communist of America party. I think they should have a new party, the communists of America, and it will do well, it’ll get about 10% of the vote,” Trump said. Fetterman spoke at the Israel on Campus Coalition’s flagship event, which brought more than 800 pro-Israel students to Washington for advocacy training, networking and discussions on supporting Israel, combating antisemitism and strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship on college campuses. Fetterman said the shift in the Democratic Party is evident in how even pro-Israel Democrats now feel pressure to qualify their support for the Jewish state. “The left is using the term of Zionist as like a slur or use Zio or Zio, or describing that as someone that in the negative terms,” Fetterman said. “In other words, being proud, pro-Israel, that’s become a slur, and people have to defend that.” TRUMP WARNS ‘GODLESS COMMUNISTS’ WILL TURN CITIES INTO SLUMS AS DEMS FAIL TO FIGHT SOCIALIST SURGE Fetterman also pointed to Iran as another defining fault line within the Democratic Party, defending the Trump administration’s strikes on the country’s nuclear facilities and highlighting his break with most Senate Democrats over presidential war powers. “I think I was the only Democrat to support the Trump administration to bomb the Iranian nuclear facilities,” said Fetterman. “If you don’t want them to acquire a nuclear bomb, it’s pretty reasonable to bomb their nuclear facilities, they want to build one. And overall, the Iranian war, I’ve remained the only Democrat to vote against the War Power[s] Act.” “I would say that for almost half a century, every American president had been trying to address the problem with Iran. The problem is Iran. That’s the problem,” he added.
Grocer-turned-lawmaker says Mamdani’s government-run stores ‘might not even last a year’
A former grocer is joining the chorus of criticism against New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan for government-run grocery stores, arguing it would harm hundreds of small businesses forced to compete with them. “That supermarket will just bleed red the entire time it’s open, from the first time you turn the key until it closes,” Rep. Mike Rulli, R-Ohio, told Fox News Digital. “And I would bet the farm there’s no way these grocery stores last more than five years — they might not even last a year.” Rulli grew up with his family’s Ohio-based grocery store chain, Rulli Brothers, which is now run by his brothers. EXPERTS SCORCH MAMDANI’S GROCERY PLAN AS AN ‘ILLUSION’ THAT WILL HAVE TAXPAYERS FOOTING THE BILL Rulli said his family’s small but thriving two-location business has given him an appreciation for the challenges facing small business owners in New York City, whom he argued would be harmed by competition from Mamdani’s city-run stores. “You will put hundreds of these small businesses out of business. And a lot of these businesses are owned by immigrants,” Rulli said. “So I mean, I don’t think the mayor could possibly have asked for a worse situation.” NY GOVERNOR HOPEFUL VOWS SHOWDOWN WITH MAMDANI OVER SOCIALIST AGENDA: ‘I WILL STOP HIM’ Mamdani, the Democratic socialist mayor of New York City, unveiled a plan for government-funded grocery stores while on the campaign trail. The city has since committed $70 million to constructing one store in each of the five boroughs, with an aim to open all five by 2030. Mamdani discussed the agreement during a recent news conference, saying, “Once a month, our five city-run grocery stores will set prices for this core set of goods at 30% below typical retail prices.” MAMDANI’S CITY GROCERY PLAN COULD LEAVE TAXPAYERS PAYING FOR EVERY BANANA While the plan has been cheered by progressives, it has been panned by business groups such as the Multicultural Business Coalition, which the New York Post reported was threatening to sue Mamdani. Rulli, noting that grocery stores already operate on thin profit margins, said Mamdani’s government shops will likely be “operating at a loss the entire time.” “When you think about the grocery industry, [it] runs on about 27% gross. That’s before you pay your bills. Once you pay your bills, you’re about one-and-a-quarter, one-and-half-percent net,” he said. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER That, he argued, would make it a drain on taxpayers as long as they remained open. “This is the biggest mistake the mayor has made,” Rulli said.