Dems descend on Denver to size up 2028. We asked who wants in the race
DENVER — Democrats are already making their case for 2028. Fresh off sweeping midterm victories, party leaders and rising stars descended on Denver for the “What’s Next” conference. Several potential presidential contenders tested their 2028 messaging before a crowd of activists, strategists and operatives. The conversations offered an early look at who may be considering a run and who is already stepping aside. Less than 24 hours after announcing a challenge to longtime Senate Democratic leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., told reporters he was “no longer pursuing” a presidential bid. SCHUMER’S LEADERSHIP RIVAL REVEALS MAJOR SENATE RULE CHANGE HE’D PURSUE IF ELECTED “I believe that the size and scale of these majorities, provides an opportunity for the United States Senate to answer the call of the American people,” Van Hollen told reporters in Denver, as he pointed what will be at least a 55-seat Democratic majority in the chamber. Van Hollen’s comments came as Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., weighed whether to make another run for the White House in 2028. Booker said he is giving “a lot of hard thought” to a potential 2028 presidential campaign, though he said his focus now is pushing for what he called an “American renewal.” “My purpose right now, I want to see America in the next five years have the biggest renewal, the biggest resetting of the economic table so it works for all Americans,” Booker told Fox News Digital. He pointed to the cost of housing, healthcare and childcare as evidence that many Americans are struggling to get ahead. “The gap I’m concerned about is not the gap between left and right anymore, it’s a gap between the American people and the American dream, and I want to see that gap close,” he said. Asked what he might do differently if he ran again after his unsuccessful 2020 campaign, Booker said candidates should be “their authentic self.” He also warned that political divisions are pulling the country apart, saying, “We are not each other’s enemies. We are our fellow patriots. And we all need to start pulling in the same direction.” While Van Hollen ruled out a presidential bid, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a 2020 Democratic candidate, told reporters in Denver he would not have “any news to make about that anytime soon.” Even so, Buttigieg has not ruled out another run. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, fresh off of major victories in his home state, said, “I’ve decided to be a loud voice in this process that we’re going through right now as a party to put ourselves in the best position to compete.” When asked about his 2028 timeline, Shapiro said “that would be a personal decision my wife and my kids and I make.” “When we’re ready to say something, we’ll let you know,” he added. Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan told reporters that she was “seriously” considering a 2028 presidential run. “I haven’t made any decisions. Whether it’s me or somebody else, I just want to be a part of that next generation of leaders going forward that does things differently and understands who they serve,” she added. Pointing to a new crop of Democrats elected in the midterms, Slotkin said “we had an amazing election night that elected a whole bunch of new folks who represent that.” Meanwhile, Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona said his young family will be a major consideration in his decision. “I have three kids, nine, three and a one-year-old. You know, it’s hard to manage that schedule and I have to figure out how to still be a good dad and run for office,” he said. “If I run I’ll probably be the only one that has kids that age that doesn’t necessarily come from a lot of money. So I’m going to have to figure all that out,” he added. THE MISTAKE NEWLY ELECTED DEMS ADMIT THEY CAN’T AFFORD TO MAKE WITH TRUMP AFTER SWEEPING 2026 WINS Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., who has not said whether he will seek the 2028 nomination, used his speech at “What’s Next” to argue Democrats can build a winning coalition across the country. “In America, all things are possible,” he said, pointing to Democratic victories from New Hampshire to Mississippi. California Rep. Ro Khanna said he is “certainly considering” a 2028 presidential run but has not made a decision. Khanna, one of the few leaders on the progressive left attending a conference organized by a centrist Democratic group, added “I think after the reception here, I’m, more likely to consider it. I mean, but I’m going around the country seeing whether the message will resonate.” Asked about his timetable, Khanna told Fox News Digital, “I think starting next year people will be running.” “Imagine this, we’ve had three 80-year-old presidents in a row and suddenly you’re going to have a new generation on both sides. I think that’s fantastic for this country,” he said. “I’m excited about some of the people if I do run who would be competitors. It’s going to be great. It’s going to showcase America’s talent.” With no clear frontrunner in sight, the Denver conference offered an early look at Democrats testing their messages and weighing whether to seek the party’s nomination.
Dems’ California redistricting mastermind flips script after helping party win 5 GOP seats: ‘Kill’
The architect of California’s Democratic-friendly redistricting plan, which helped the party flip five Republican-held House seats in November’s midterm elections, is now calling on Democrats to put an end to partisan gerrymandering nationwide. Paul Mitchell claimed in a San Francisco Chronicle op-ed published Wednesday that lawmakers should “kill partisan gerrymandering for good.” His comments come after California voters approved Proposition 50 in November 2025, temporarily replacing the state’s independently drawn congressional districts with a Democratic-friendly map for elections through 2030. Mitchell acknowledged in his op-ed that Proposition 50 was designed to benefit Democrats, but defended it as a temporary response to Republican-led redistricting efforts before calling for an end to partisan mapmaking altogether. “I wasn’t trying to do this [op-ed] to time with anyone’s efforts to do further gerrymandering,” Mitchell told Fox News Digital on Thursday evening. “I always planned on doing this as soon as the election was over, and I even did a CNN interview with Elex Michaelson during the election coverage where I said that the answer needs to be to stop this redistricting war and actually fix the problem.” REDISTRICTING EFFORTS BLOW UP IN REPUBLICANS’ FACES AMID HISTORIC HOUSE LOSSES Mitchell went on to say that Prop 50 was “the right response” to Texas Republicans’ redistricting push. “Prop 50 was the right response to what Republicans in TX were doing, but recall that when TX started doing this, our approach wasn’t to just start redistricting ourselves, we did a lot of work trying to get TX to not start the redistricting wars,” he told Fox News Digital. “If then someone had said “congress will be banning mid-decade redistricting” we would have been all for it. And I supported the legislation by Zoe Lofgren that would have [set up] national redistricting standards.” Mitchell argued that Republicans’ midterm losses could make them more receptive to redistricting reform after years of opposing it. “What makes now really important is that Republicans, who have opposed redistricting reform, should now realize that they lost in this war, so getting out of future wars is something maybe they would take more seriously now,” he told Fox News Digital. As for California, Mitchell believes the Proposition 50 maps will remain in place through 2030 and said the focus should be on restoring a fairer redistricting process in 2031. He called for Congress to prohibit mid-decade redistricting but argued that such a restriction alone would not prevent partisan gerrymandering when states redraw their maps after each census. “I think the best solution would be independent commissions in every state,” he said. The California Democratic Party touted Prop 50 as a “direct response to a Republican power grab orchestrated by President [Donald] Trump and state leaders in Texas, who redrew congressional district lines to gain five more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.” Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom similarly claimed in a Nov. 4, 2025 social media post that Prop 50 “is about standing up to bullies like Donald Trump.” Mitchell’s recent op-ed also claims that gerrymandering can erode voters’ ability “to elect the candidates they prefer.” Democrats notably succeeded in flipping all five House seats in California targeted by the party’s redistricting push in the November midterm elections, the AP reported Nov. 4. BLOCKBUSTER SUPREME COURT VOTING RIGHTS RULING IGNITES REDISTRICTING WAR ACROSS SOUTHERN STATES “The incoming Congress should make national redistricting a priority, establishing minimum standards for how all states draw their districts,” Mitchell wrote in the opinion piece. Mitchell serves as the vice president of Political Data Inc., a California-based bipartisan voter data firm. He is also the owner of Redistricting Partners, a Sacramento-based data consulting firm. Mitchell, across his career, has conducted more than 100 redistrictings for states, cities, school boards and community college districts, including the State of New York Independent Redistricting Commission, the Los Angeles City Council Redistricting Commission and the Long Beach Independent Redistricting Commission, according to Redistricting Partners’ website. When asked about whether California’s gerrymandered maps were necessary during a Nov. 8 interview on “California Politics 360,” Mitchell said it would have been “a huge mistake” for Democrats to “sit” on their “laurels.” SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Following Democrats’ sweeping victories in November’s midterm elections, some states have floated redrawing their congressional maps ahead of the 2028 election cycle, Roll Call reported Nov. 9. Meanwhile, outgoing Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said Nov. 4 that he would not call a special legislative session to redraw congressional maps or limit the powers of the incoming governor before his term ends in January 2027, WABE reported. “As long as I’m governor, we will always respect the results of secure, accessible, and fair elections, and also abide by the laws and constitution of our state,” Kemp said in a statement.
Anti-Trump Republican courts other defectors as House weighs another vote against Iran war
EXCLUSIVE: House Republicans and Democrats are preparing another effort to challenge President Donald Trump’s military operations in Iran, with lawmakers signaling that additional Republicans could break with the president and support a War Powers resolution. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., told Fox News Digital that another Iran War Powers resolution could come to the House floor “in the next few legislative days” or around Christmas. This would mark the fourth attempt this year to restrict Trump’s military actions against Iran. “I’m offering Republicans a life boat from MAGA,” Massie told Fox News Digital, expressing optimism that more members of his party could join the effort. 7 REPUBLICANS REBEL AGAINST TRUMP, VOTE WITH DEMS TO REIN IN IRAN WAR POWERS House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., told Fox News Digital that he would oppose the resolution but acknowledged that “Massie has been having conversations with members” in an effort to secure additional Republican support. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., echoed Rogers’ assessment, suggesting that “one or two” additional Republicans could join Massie and the Democrats who previously supported the measure. SWING-DISTRICT REPUBLICAN BREAKS WITH TRUMP, PUSHES LIMITS ON IRAN WAR Reps. Tom Barrett, R-Mich., Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., previously voted in favor of an Iran War Powers resolution. Barrett told Fox News Digital on Thursday that he would maintain his support if the new resolution mirrors the previous legislation. “My position would be consistent for it,” Barrett said. However, Barrett expressed skepticism that additional Republicans would join the effort, noting that few members appeared willing to shift their positions during the previous vote. GOP HOLDS WITH TRUMP ON IRAN WAR, BUT CRACKS EMERGE AS DEADLINE NEARS Massie also acknowledged uncertainty over whether he could secure more Republican votes, criticizing his party’s continued support for Trump’s military operations. “Congress is paralyzed,” Massie told Fox News Digital, accusing Republicans of remaining “still in the suicide pact with this administration.” TRUMP SUFFERS RARE HOUSE DEFEAT AS BIPARTISAN VOTE MOVES TO WITHDRAW TROOPS FROM IRAN CONFLICT House Democrats, meanwhile, expressed optimism that Republicans’ losses in the 2026 midterm elections could encourage more GOP lawmakers to break with Trump’s foreign policy agenda. “If they’re listening to the people that sent them here, yes,” Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., told Fox News Digital when asked whether additional Republicans could support the effort. “That’s what they should do.” Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., also expressed confidence that more Republicans could join the effort, saying she “thinks they would.” Meanwhile, Rep. Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., suggested that Republicans may feel less pressure to remain aligned with Trump following the midterm elections — especially as many prepare to leave Congress and others hunker down to serve in the minority. “The threat of Trump dumping a lot of money into Republican districts is over, perhaps more members of Congress we think represent their communities will listen to what constituents are saying about the war,” Grijalva told Fox News Digital. TRUMP PLEDGES TO VETO ‘INSANE’ DEM BILLS, PINPOINTS ISSUE PARTIALLY TO BLAME FOR REPUBLICAN LOSSES The renewed effort comes as lawmakers continue debating Congress’ constitutional authority over military operations and the president’s ability to conduct sustained hostilities without congressional authorization. Under the Constitution, Congress holds the power to declare war, while the president serves as commander in chief of the armed forces. The War Powers Resolution of 1973 establishes procedures and limits for military operations conducted without congressional authorization. Despite growing discussions among lawmakers, no vote on an Iran War Powers resolution has been scheduled or confirmed.
Florida Republican on Democrats’ strategy: ‘That’s the choice they have to make…persecution or policy’
Florida’s Rep. Randy Fine has a blunt prescription for a House Republican conference staring down a steep Democratic majority in January: stop worrying about compromise, hand the minority gavel to Rep. Jim Jordan, and start fighting, suggesting that Democrats will likely pursue political persecution as the main focus in the next Congress. In a wide-ranging interview with Fox News Digital, Fine—who expanded his own victory margin to 19 points even as Republicans lost control of the chamber—argued that voters punished the GOP not for its policies, but because they didn’t see lawmakers willing to go to the mat for them. ‘HE BLAMED THE JEWS’: GOP CONGRESSMAN LEVELS EXPLOSIVE ACCUSATION AGAINST JD VANCE OVER ELECTION POSTMORTEM For Fine, the message sent by Jordan’s election is unambiguous: “Well, it says to me that we’re ready to fight back. I mean, Jim Jordan has two unique qualifications for the job. “One, he’s our best fighter. He protected and fought for President Trump during the ridiculous impeachments of President Trump’s first term. He’s just somebody who knows how to go into the arena and fight back. “But the second thing is, he’s an extraordinary communicator. And over the next two years, we are in a very diminished minority. That’s going to be our greatest strength, is to point out why the Democratic policies won’t actually improve anyone’s lives, and to point out the policies that we would propose that will. So, as a fighter and a communicator, I think he’s very well positioned to lead us for the next two years.” Fine downplays policy as the primary driver of the disastrous 2026 blue tsunami: “I don’t know that we need to change our policies. And I don’t even know how much of our messaging we need to change. What we need to do is we need to fight. I believe that we lost the election because voters thought we didn’t care about their problems, because they didn’t see us fighting to solve them. “Voters will vote for you if they see you fighting, even if you fail. But they won’t vote for you if they don’t see you fighting. Now I’m a guy who defied the odds. I increased my margin in the election. I may be the only Republican in the country to do that. I won my last election by 14, I won this one by 19.” With House Republicans shifting from passing bills to playing defense after electing Rep. Jim Jordan to succeed outgoing Speaker Mike Johnson as minority leader, Fine drew a sharp line between the two leadership roles. “Well, it’s a very different job. Look, I think if we kept the majority, I think Mike Johnson would still be the speaker. The speaker’s job and the minority leader’s job are completely different. So Mike Johnson’s job for the next 50 plus days is to try to get as many good things passed through the House as he can. FLORIDA CONGRESSMAN DIAGNOSES GOP’S BLUE TSUNAMI LOSSES: ‘WE FAILED TO MAKE THEM THINK WE CARED ABOUT THEM’ “Jim Jordan’s not going to be able to pass anything. The Democrats could have a 90 to 100 vote majority. His job is going to be to fight back when they’re impeaching and they’re interrogating and they are being vindictive, but also again to communicate why their policies will not make people’s lives better. “They’re going to come out and say Medicare for all. We’re going to have to say, ‘No, no there’s no such thing. It’s going to be Medicaid for all. When you give it to everyone, everyone will suffer. We’ll end up like Canada where there are death panels or the UK where you can wait a year or two to get to a doctor.’ That’s what we’re going to have to do: fight back and communicate. That’s a very different job than what Mike Johnson had to do the last two years.” Gridlock may be the persistent feature of the next Congress, but Fine does not completely discard the potential for compromise: “Well, first off, compromise isn’t inevitable. We may not do very much for the next two years. And I think that’s the most likely outcome. Democrats pass ridiculous things, President Trump vetoes them, and then we uphold the veto in the House and the Senate. I think that’s the most likely outcome for the next two years. “If it relates to compromise, you have to see what we’re offered. So, for example, if Democrats would agree to voter ID, which is a huge thing the American people want, they might be able to extract a concession from us. If they’re willing to stop so much of the ridiculous immigration into this country, they might be able to get concessions from us on other things. So, the problem is this: to Democrats, compromise means we give them what they want. It’s always a one-way street. “It’s funny, when Democrats win, they say elections have consequences. When we win, they say we need to be bipartisan. And that’s how their viewpoint is. They never come to our side of the world. So I’ll see if they want to compromise. I’ll be open to it. But it will truly require us getting some of the things that we want that they have fought us on for the time I’ve been in Congress.” On foreign policy objectives, Fine points to several Democrats he’s prepared to work with, while clarifying his position on Israel: “Sure. I mean, look, in the Senate, you’ve got John Fetterman, who I think is an incredibly strong advocate for Western civilization. I don’t think it’s fair to say I’m an advocate for Israel. That makes it sound like I’m just an advocate for a country. It’s more than that. “The United States and Israel are the only two countries in the world that are unambiguously standing up to Muslim terror, which seeks to fundamentally redefine life for all of us around the world. So I’m on the
GOP midterm bloodbath exposes cracks in Vance’s 2028 White House ambitions
Vice President JD Vance has long been viewed as President Donald Trump’s heir apparent, but a string of developments following Republicans’ bruising midterm losses is raising new questions about his potential path to the White House in 2028. Vance is facing criticism from some Republicans over his explanation for the party’s election defeats, particularly his decision to blame the Iran war. Meanwhile, other prominent Republicans are beginning to draw support for potential 2028 bids, complicating the political picture for the vice president. The political debate follows a devastating election for Republicans, who lost their majorities in both chambers of Congress beginning next year, with at least 30 GOP House members losing their races. The losses have prompted competing explanations from within the party over what went wrong and what Republicans should do differently. Some of Vance’s allies have reportedly urged him to consider sitting out the 2028 race following the midterm losses, The Wall Street Journal reported Nov. 7. However, others close to the vice president still expect him to run, The Washington Post reported Friday, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding his political future. TRUMP SAYS HE DOESN’T DISAGREE WITH VANCE THAT IRAN WAR FUELED GOP LOSSES A Vance ally pushed back on suggestions that the midterm losses have diminished his 2028 prospects, saying the vice president will decide whether to run on his own timeline. The ally also argued that Vance would be better served by winning a competitive Republican primary than being handed the nomination, expressing confidence in his ability to prevail if he runs. In a Nov. 4 post on X, Vance identified several concerns among voters who abandoned Republicans, including inflation, America First priorities and the U.S. relationship with Israel, but singled out the Iran war as the main reason for the party’s defeats. “The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night,” Vance wrote, adding that Republicans needed to acknowledge the political cost of the conflict as they consider where to go next. The post drew sharp criticism from Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., who told Fox’ LiveNOW in a Nov. 8 interview that he would not support Vance in a potential 2028 presidential primary. PENCE DELIVERS SCATHING REBUKE OF VANCE’S IRAN WAR ASSESSMENT, BLAMES TRUMP POLICIES FOR GOP LOSSES “I definitively will not be supporting the vice president in that nominating contest,” Fine said, comparing Vance’s remarks to rhetoric from “1932 Germany.” Fine, who is Jewish, accused Vance of blaming Jewish people for the Republican losses, pointing to his criticism of the war and the pollster’s finding that some voters wanted a change in America’s relationship with Israel. Vance did not explicitly blame Jewish people in his post, and his office previously declined to respond to Fine’s characterization. VANCE COURTING DISGRUNTLED TRUMP VOTERS TO FORM ‘NEW RIGHT’ ALLIANCE AFTER REPUBLICAN BLOODBATH, SOURCES SAY Some Republicans are already expressing support for possible alternatives to Vance. Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., told Fox News Digital after the midterms that he was “all in” for Secretary of State Marco Rubio, describing him as a potential unifying figure for Republicans following their election losses. Rubio is among several prominent Republicans whose names have surfaced as possible 2028 presidential contenders, along with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. Former Vice President Mike Pence also disputed Vance’s explanation for Republicans’ midterm losses, arguing in an exclusive Fox News Digital interview Thursday that voters had grown frustrated not because Trump launched the Iran war, but because his administration failed to finish it. “There’s no question that the war in Iran became a frustration for millions of Americans, but it wasn’t because President Trump started the war or took on Iran. It’s because we stopped short and didn’t finish it,” Pence said. “As Americans saw the politics of appeasement that the administration embraced, one negotiation after another, I think people became … frustrated with the lack of progress, frustrated with the price of fuel at the pump.” Trump, meanwhile, has publicly defended Vance’s assessment of the midterms, rejecting suggestions that the remarks damaged their relationship. “No, not at all,” Trump told reporters Sunday when asked whether Vance’s comments had strained their relationship, according to The Hill. But the president also stood by his decision to launch the war, arguing that he would make the same choice again despite the political fallout. Donald Trump Jr. also backed Vance’s assessment, writing “Every word of this is [100 emojis]” in response to his Nov. 4 post on X. On Thursday, Trump directed Vance to focus his attention on alleged corruption and crime in Democratic-led cities and states rather than pursuing negotiations with Iran, declaring that the United States no longer needed a deal with Tehran. Vance had played a central role in diplomatic efforts involving Iran, including negotiations over a short-lived truce earlier this year. “The Blue States, such as Minnesota, California, Illinois, and many more, are all poorly run, corrupt disasters,” Trump wrote in the post. “Billions of Dollars is being stolen each and every month. Our Budget could be quickly BALANCED with the correction of this large scale criminal activity. CORRUPTION is in the Democrat Leadership’s blood!” “We don’t need a deal with Iran. Those days have long since passed. We’ve got their money, Hundreds of Billions of Dollars, and we’ve got their Strait!” the president continued. VANCE ‘PRIVATELY’ BLASTS NETANYAHU AS IRAN WAR DIVIDES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND 2028 AMBITIONS LOOM Trump has previously signaled support for Vance as his potential successor, telling donors during an Oval Office meeting over the summer that Republicans needed to elect the vice president in 2028, Fox News Digital reported at the time. But Trump has stopped short of publicly endorsing Vance, and the president has continued to leave open the possibility of other Republicans entering the race. When asked on Nov. 4 whether he had talked about a prospective 2028 White House run with Vance, Trump replied that the two discuss “a lot of things,” Axios reported. Trump added:
One industry surged DC lobbying 337% under Trump — here’s what’s driving the push
FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump has made tariffs a centerpiece of his trade agenda, and businesses are spending more on D.C. bureaucrats to help navigate those rules. Rachel Greszler, who authored a new report from Advancing American Freedom (AAF), said companies are paying lobbyists to seek exemptions from tariffs instead of using that money to grow their businesses, hire workers or raise wages. A new report from former Vice President Mike Pence’s group found that lobbying disclosures mention tariffs rising 239% in the third quarter of 2026 compared with the same period in 2024. The total spending reported on those filings jumped 337%, though it may include lobbying on issues beyond tariffs. A MUST-WIN MIDTERM STATE IS THE REAL LOSER OF TRUMP’S CANADA TRADE WAR “Affordability is top of mind for many Americans,” Greszler told Fox News Digital, arguing that changing tariffs are raising costs, threatening jobs and squeezing paychecks. Businesses are responding by stepping up their lobbying efforts. Fourteen organizations spent more than $1 million on lobbying in the third quarter, up from two in the same quarter of 2024. Another 105 spent more than $100,000, compared with 26 two years earlier. Tariffs may also be affecting prices consumers pay. TRUMP BET TARIFFS WOULD BRING BACK AMERICAN FACTORY JOBS. NEW REPORT SAYS IT DIDN’T WORK FLOURISH NY FED TARIFFS CHART: 30552508 Federal Reserve Bank of New York researchers estimated they added 2.9 percentage points to prices across the consumer goods they studied, including imported and U.S.-made products. Greszler warned that small businesses unable to afford lobbyists to seek tariff exclusions could be forced to scale back or close. Trump has defended tariffs as a central part of his trade agenda, arguing they will strengthen U.S. manufacturing and bring jobs and investment back to the country. The White House has also said foreign exporters will ultimately bear the cost. FLOURISH TARIFF REVENUES CHART: 30871804 A separate analysis from Advancing American Freedom estimated tariffs resulted in about 75,000 fewer manufacturing jobs in their first year and up to 1 million fewer jobs nationwide than would have been expected under pre-tariff trends. The group said manufacturing was among the hardest-hit sectors, despite being a central target of the administration’s effort to bring factory work back. The group also said U.S. trade with Canada fell by $50 billion, or 6.5%, before the latest round of Section 338 tariffs took effect. During that period, imports from other countries rose instead of U.S. manufacturing expanding. As the administration continues to reshape trade policy, businesses will have to decide whether to keep spending on lobbyists and tariff planning or delay investments, hiring and expansion until the rules become clearer.
GOP newcomer who toppled Cory Mills sets sights on fraud, inflation as he heads to Capitol Hill
EXCLUSIVE: Florida Republican congressman-elect Ryan Elijah told Fox News Digital that he is heading to Washington with an “appetite” to crack down on fraud, protect consumers and tackle inflation, while calling for bipartisan cooperation in the incoming Congress. Elijah, a former Central Florida sports broadcaster, made his remarks amid heightened scrutiny of fraud involving taxpayer-funded federal programs across the country. “I’m going to lean into consumer protection — that’s something I fought for my whole life — and lean into fraud,” Elijah told Fox News Digital. “There is so much more Washington could do against fraud. I hope there is a bipartisan appetite on both sides to not only protect consumers but also target some of this fraud that is wasting so much of our tax dollars.” The incoming Republican, who beat embattled Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., in the Republican primary in August, expressed optimism that lawmakers from both parties could find common ground on addressing fraud and rising costs, arguing that voters sent a clear message during Tuesday’s midterm elections. Elijah said voters “made it loud and clear to both parties” that they “want change, they want inflation to come down, and they want life to become a little easier. So I think both parties need to look at that.” Elijah also emphasized that members of Congress represent “100% of the people in their district, not just 50%,” arguing that bipartisan solutions are necessary to restore public trust and accountability in Washington. FLORIDA CONGRESSMAN DIAGNOSES GOP’S BLUE TSUNAMI LOSSES: ‘WE FAILED TO MAKE THEM THINK WE CARED ABOUT THEM’ Beyond fighting fraud, Elijah pledged to restore a spirit of public service to Congress, criticizing lawmakers who use their positions to enrich themselves. “What you do see is the people that enhance themselves, and people don’t want to see that. None of that should be taking place,” Elijah said while discussing congressional insider trading. “Members of Congress should not sit on a committee and be able to trade stocks, and that is something that I would support if it moves forward in the next Congress,” he continued. “We all have to be on the same playing field, the person back home and the person on Capitol Hill.” Elijah outlined his preferred committee assignments, telling Fox News Digital that he would like to serve on the House Energy and Commerce Committee or the House Financial Services Committee, where he could focus on consumer protection and financial oversight. He also expressed interest in serving on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, describing it as “a great way to bring projects back to my district.” Elijah said his district has “so much growth ahead of us,” arguing that a seat on the committee could help address its infrastructure needs. The incoming lawmaker addressed the challenges facing Republicans after losing control of Congress in the midterm elections, urging his party to remain united. Elijah said Republicans must “hold the line” on the “progress we’ve made so far” while working to advance their priorities in a divided Washington. Elijah is expected to be sworn into the 120th Congress in January.
Inside the House GOP strategy to capitalize on Democrats’ warring factions in the new Congress
EXCLUSIVE: House Republicans are heading into the next Congress ready to brawl. Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., who is set to go from the No. 3 most powerful House Republican to No. 2 next year, told Fox News Digital that the GOP will hold the new Democrat majority “accountable” for their far-left faction’s ideas over the next two years, even if they cannot control what bills get a vote. Emmer, who has served as House majority whip for the past four years, was elected Tuesday to serve as minority whip alongside incoming House Minority Leader Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. The Speaker of the House position turns over to Democrats, and will likely be won by current minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. And despite Jeffries poised to take control of what legislation gets to the House floor, Emmer signaled House Republicans would find ways to push their agenda as well. JIM JORDAN BECOMES NEW HOUSE GOP LEADER AFTER CLOSED-DOOR VOTE, DEFEATING STEVE SCALISE “What’s their answer to dealing with costs and wages? We’re going to investigate Trump,” Emmer said in reference to Democrats. “That’s not going to solve the problems that they created. So that’s going to be the job of the whip, is to make sure that we have a coordinated process — committee hearings, floor votes — to expose and define exactly who these people really are.” PROGRESSIVE GROUP’S 182-PAGE BLUEPRINT MAPS OUT POTENTIAL DEM INVESTIGATIONS INTO TRUMP, CORPORATE ALLIES Emmer, in his first print interview since winning the House minority whip job, would not go into detail about how Republicans would utilize floor votes, however. “There’s a toolbox with a bunch of different tools, and you’re going to have to build that strategy as you go from week to week,” he said. The Minnesota Republican also signaled there would be little appetite for bipartisanship over the next two years, a sentiment he suggested would come from the other side of the aisle. “Well look, they’re not going to work with us, that’s pretty clear, and I don’t even know if they’re going to be able to work with each other,” Emmer said. HAKEEM JEFFRIES FACES PROGRESSIVE HOLDOUTS BUT NO RIVAL AS HOUSE SPEAKER RACE TAKES SHAPE He repeated a short time later, “I see nowhere where they’re going to work with Republicans. And Republicans who think they are should think again, because they will tell you nice things, and then they will just go do what they do.” Meanwhile other House Republicans are already coming up with ideas on how to put Democrats on the spot on the House floor in the new Congress. “We’ll file amendments,” said Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla. “And I think that’ll be where having good debaters and communicators would be important.” Holding amendment votes is commonplace before large pieces of legislation like the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which Congress has enacted annually for decades to update and reauthorize critical national security policies. Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., suggested an emphasis on a parliamentary procedure called the “motion to recommit,” which allows the minority party to get a vote on altering or even killing a bill in its tracks. “I expect we’ll use that smartly,” LaLota said. “But as well, a Speaker Hakeem Jeffries will be wise to work these problems backwards, to know that anything he puts on the floor that he wants to become law or budget needs President Trump’s signature and probably 60 votes in the Senate.” Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., said “there’s been a lot of conversation about going on offense.” “We want to make sure that they know when they come to the floor, they’re gonna dread it, I hope,” Harris said. DEMOCRATS RALLY BEHIND GOP LAWMAKER’S HEGSETH IMPEACHMENT PUSH, SIGNAL MORE TO COME IN JANUARY But there’s another mechanism for forcing a House vote that’s been used more and more often in recent years — often by their fellow Republicans. Privileged resolutions allow lawmakers on either side to get a vote on a given bill within two days of its introduction. It generally begins with a procedural vote on whether to “table” the bill or refer it to committee in order to stop it, before a vote on the measure itself. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., most recently invoked it to force the House to consider impeaching Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. But that was defeated when the rest of the House GOP banded together to refer the bill to committee. The GOP lawmakers who spoke with Fox News Digital, however, signaled little appetite for using it. “I think either party would be wise to build consensus around things that help actually deliver for the American people,” LaLota said. “The privileged resolutions have been abused in my time here, and there’s a better way to do business.” And Emmer said his main goal for the next two years would be winning back the House majority in 2028 — which he insisted was a realistic goal. He said at least 38 seats flipped by Democrats would be “ready to return to Republican hands,” and could see some old faces return. Asked whether he wanted to see some of those losing GOP incumbents run for their seats again, Emmer said, “I absolutely hope so, I’ve talked to several already.”
Rep Lauren Boebert projected to lose House seat in another Democratic flip
GOP firebrand Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., is projected to lose her seat in the House to Democratic challenger Eileen Laubacher. The Associated Press made the call in the razor-thin race Friday afternoon in favor of Laubacher, who maintained her slim 48.7% lead over Boebert’s 47.9% once 99% of the ballots had been counted. GOP SENATOR SAYS REPUBLICANS CAN ‘FORGET 2028’ AS PARTY LOOKS TO RECLAIM UPPER CHAMBER Libertarian candidate Douglas Mangeris came in third with a little more than 3% of the vote. Laubacher is projected to win Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, according to the AP. Boebert was running for her fourth term in the state. She served her first two terms in Colorado’s third district and was running for her second term in the state’s fourth district. 2026 MIDTERMS: PRIMARIES, KEY RACES AND ELECTION RESULTS The 39-year-old congresswoman’s loss comes amid a blue wave that saw Democrats flip seats in Republican strongholds like Texas, Kansas, South Carolina and Mississippi. Democrats now have 256 seats in the House of Representatives to Republicans’ 169. A party needs 218 for a majority. Several races nationwide remain uncalled nearly two weeks after Election Day. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Former CIA Director John Brennan’s son arrested after FBI uncovers dozens of alleged child porn images
The son of former CIA Director John Brennan was arrested for allegedly possessing child pornography, Fox News has learned. Kyle Brennan, 40, was charged with transportation of child pornography, according to a federal complaint. The case originated when Adobe CyberTipline reports flagged accounts linked to Brennan for uploading illicit files involving minors. In April and June 2024, Adobe submitted two reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding an account allegedly used to upload suspected child sexual abuse material. FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS BLUE STATE’S LAW PROHIBITING ICE AGENTS FROM WEARING MASKS ON THE JOB The FBI’s Washington field office is involved in the investigation. Around April 7, 2024, three files were uploaded to the Adobe account. A review of the files indicated a file that appeared to be a morphed image combining the face of a minor girl, later identified as a 12-year-old, with the naked body of another minor, federal prosecutors said. Comcast records showed that the IP address used to upload the files was registered to Kyle Brennan at an address in Warrenton, Virginia, where he lives. Records from Apple later confirmed that the private relay account was registered to Brennan, authorities said. DOJ LAUNCHES GRAND JURY PROBE INTO MARXIST MOGUL NEVILLE ROY SINGHAM’S FUNDING OF LEFTIST GROUPS In July 2024, authorities searched Brennan’s home and seized his iPhone. The case was referred to the FBI in October, and a judge signed off on a warrant so investigators could examine the records and seize Brennan’s phone. On Friday, an FBI analysis of the iPhone, which was named “Kyle’s iphone (2)” contained a photograph of Brennan’s Virginia driver’s license and revealed approximately 88 images depicting girls under the age of 18 engaged in sexually explicit conduct, prosecutors said. One image appeared to be a “fully nude, pubescent minor girl on a locker bench,” the complaint states. “The girl’s wrists and ankles were bound and her mouth was gagged,” it said. The Justice Department is investigating John Brennan, who served under former President Barack Obama, regarding his role in the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Fox News Digital has reached out to a representative for John Brennan and the Justice Department for comment.