DOJ appeals to Supreme Court to reverse block on segregating 20K California ballots
The Justice Department asked the Supreme Court to temporarily block lower-court rulings that denied its request to segregate more than 20,000 California mail-in ballots cast by people it says are likely not U.S. citizens. The DOJ argues the limited injunction would preserve the ballots while their eligibility is investigated, without canceling any votes. California and the federal government dispute whether the ballots are unlawful. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the request, with Judge Patrick Bumatay dissenting. The case remains under review, and the DOJ is seeking relief while the dispute proceeds. This is a breaking news report. Check back here for updates. Fox News’ Shannon Bream and Bill Mears contributed to this report.
Mamdani, Hasan Piker among radical left-wing voices erupting over Haley Stevens’ endorsement switch
Prominent Democrats and left-wing voices nationwide exploded with fury after Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., endorsed Republican Mike Rogers in the final stretch of that state’s U.S. Senate race in Michigan over the weekend. In her video posted to social media on Sunday after attending church service with Rogers, Stevens noted how El-Sayed told her to “stay away” from his campaign and slammed him for embracing radical steamer Hasan Piker — who was among those criticizing the endorsement stunt. “Working class people’s lives are on the ballot on Tuesday—their healthcare, their rent, their bills,” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in an X post. “Haley Stevens just betrayed them by endorsing the very Republican she said she wanted to run against.” Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel said on X shortly after the endorsement: “Congresswoman Stevens is not a current member of the Michigan Democratic Party, nor will she be in the future.” EL SAYED’S LEFT-WING ALLIES ATTACK ‘EVIL’ STEVENS AFTER BOMBSHELL ROGERS ENDORSEMENT Stevens, who will leave Congress in January, lost the Democratic primary to El-Sayed earlier this year. She was widely viewed as the moderate, establishment candidate compared to the more progressive, left-wing policies of her opponent. On Sunday, Stevens abandoned the party in the final hours of the Senate campaign as Democrats seek to win back control of the upper chamber. “This is a despicable betrayal from Rep. Stevens,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on X. “Senate Democrats are united in our support for Abdul El-Sayed, because we know he will fight for the economic interests of working families in Michigan, unlike Mike Rogers, who is a tool of Donald Trump and billionaire donors.” DEMOCRAT HALEY STEVENS ENDORSES GOP SENATE NOMINEE MIKE ROGERS AT DETROIT CHURCH “Haley Stevens made a terrible decision, blindsided everyone and isolated herself from the House Democratic caucus,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. “We will have a discussion about appropriate next steps upon our return.” Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., called Stevens “clearly disturbed,” and said she “has thrown her constituents under the bus” on several key midterm issues. HALEY STEVENS RIPPED BY FELLOW DEMS FOR REFUSING TO EXPLICITLY BACK EL-SAYED: ‘STAY THE F— OFF TELEVISION’ “Too many people live off their 15 minutes of fame,” Pocan continued. “In this case, she threw away an entire career because she couldn’t get over a loss and needed attention. Pathetic. Sad. Clearly she has some serious issues. But no one will take her seriously ever again.” Outside of her own colleagues condemning her endorsement, Stevens also saw an immediate staff exodus after she posted the video. After the endorsement, a visibly upset El-Sayed demanded the media focus their questions on political issues, rather than Stevens’ stunt. EL-SAYED’S HASAN PIKER PROBLEM FOLLOWS HIM TO DEM CONVENTION AS JEWISH VOTERS BREAK RANKS “I’m going to ask that when we take questions, you keep your questions focused on the issues that Michiganders really care about. Now that might not drive clicks for you. I get it. I understand your business, right? But they’re the issues that Michiganders are paying attention to,” he said. FORMER RIVAL DODGES FULL-THROATED EL-SAYED ENDORSEMENT AFTER BITTER SENATE PRIMARY Stevens drew an official condemnation from the Democratic Party at a national level, too. “Haley Stevens’ disappointing decision to endorse Mike Rogers, a Trump ally who would join Republican efforts to sell out working families, is a betrayal of the values of the Democratic Party,” Democratic National Committee (DNC) chairman Ken Martin said in a statement on behalf of the organization. “At a moment when Democrats are united in fighting for Michigan families and standing up to Trump’s agenda, we reject these efforts to sow division within our party. We will not allow last-minute political stunts to derail our momentum and we will triple down on our efforts to elect Abdul El-Sayed on Tuesday.” The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), chaired by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., lashed out at Stevens’ decision, too. MICHIGAN SENATE RIVALS CLASH OVER MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD ALLEGATIONS AS ROGERS DOUBLES DOWN ON EL-SAYED “The stakes of this election could not be higher: Mike Rogers is a rubber stamp for Donald Trump, and together they plan to continue sowing chaos and making life unaffordable for families while prioritizing their billionaire donors at the expense of Michigan families,” the DSCC statement said, adding the group will “reject any efforts to divide Democrats ahead of Tuesday’s crucial election.” DEMOCRAT RIPS HASAN PIKER AS ‘HACK WHO THRIVES ON HATE’ OVER HIS WARNING TO AMERICAN JEWS ABOUT ISRAEL Piker, who was at the center of some of the reason Stevens’ broke from El-Sayed, simply wrote: “i [sic] condemn haley stevens.” Piker has caused major controversy in the Michigan race due to his proximity to El-Sayed. Since his primary win, the progressive candidate has sought to distance himself from the streamer. “This is the single most unproductive, selfish thing a Democratic candidate has done all cycle and likely many cycles before that,” Pod Save America co-host and speechwriter to President Barack Obama said on X. “Having misjudged candidates in the past myself, I hope everyone who tried to recruit, support, and defend Haley can now admit what a mistake it was.” HALEY STEVENS URGES EL-SAYED TO DITCH HASAN PIKER AFFILIATION AFTER MICHIGAN PRIMARY Fellow PodSaveAmerica cohost Jon Lovett called Stevens a “sleaze.” “Not to downplay Haley Stevens’ vermin-like betrayal of her party and her constituents and her nation… But given her track record as a clownish loser, do we really believe any who will now follow her weren’t already going to vote for the Fascist?” podcaster and former television sports personality Keith Olbermann said in an X post. Stevens, who was narrowly defeated by El-Sayed in Michigan’s Aug. 4, 2026 primary election, crossed partisan lines after saying for months that she would support El-Sayed. It all devolved after Stevens expressed concern last week over an ad aired in El-Sayed’s favor that was widely viewed as antisemitic. She said she would appear at a weekend
Judge tosses case against ex-FBI officials accused of lying to Congress about Hunter Biden investigation
A federal judge tossed criminal charges against two former FBI officials accused of lying to Congress about the Hunter Biden investigation Monday, delivering a blistering rebuke of the prosecution and accusing the Trump administration’s Justice Department of weaponizing the justice system. U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui dismissed the criminal complaint against former FBI officials Nikki Cole Floris and Bradley Benavides from the bench, sharply criticizing the government’s handling of the prosecution. “What has transpired here cannot be described as anything other than weaponization,” Faruqui said, describing the case as a “rush job” directed by President Donald Trump and FBI Director Kash Patel. The case stemmed from allegations that the officials lied to Congress about their knowledge of Hunter Biden’s laptop and the bureau’s handling of investigations involving him ahead of the 2020 presidential election. EX-FBI OFFICIALS ARRESTED IN HUNTER BIDEN LAPTOP PROBE AS TESTIMONY COMES UNDER SCRUTINY The ruling capped a series of hearings in which Faruqui questioned the government’s decision to pursue the case through a criminal complaint rather than a grand jury indictment and blasted prosecutors for attempting to add another charge without first securing judicial approval. Republicans have long accused the FBI of improperly handling information about Hunter Biden ahead of the 2020 presidential election, alleging that political bias influenced the bureau’s decisions. Prosecutors alleged that Floris and Benavides made false statements during congressional interviews in 2023 about what they knew and did that were contradicted by internal FBI communications and witness accounts. During a preliminary hearing last week, Faruqui blasted prosecutors for filing an unsigned, unsworn criminal complaint seeking to add obstruction charges without first obtaining judicial approval. Faruqui struck the revised complaint from the record, forcing prosecutors to proceed on their original allegations that the former officials lied to Congress. FBI CO-DEPUTY DIRECTOR ANDREW BAILEY RESIGNS AFTER YEAR IN ROLE The judge questioned why prosecutors had bypassed standard procedures, while defense attorneys pointed out that the revised complaint also softened the government’s original allegations about the officials’ involvement in Hunter Biden investigations. Faruqui, who was appointed a U.S. magistrate judge in 2020, has previously sharply criticized federal prosecutors handling cases under the Trump administration. He apologized to the suspect accused of plotting an assassination attempt against Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. JUDGE WHO APOLOGIZED TO ACCUSED WOULD-BE TRUMP ASSASSIN LIGHTS UP DOJ IN HUNTER BIDEN FBI CASE “To me, it’s extremely disturbing that he was put in five-point restraints, a person with no criminal history. It’s troubling,” said Faruqui, referring to suspect Cole Allen’s jail treatment in May. “I never heard of one Jan. 6 defendant who was put in five-point restraints or in a safe cell. If the only way to keep him safe is the most punitive thing, that’s a problem.” Faruqui also previously clashed with federal prosecutors in Washington over Trump administration law-enforcement surge cases, accusing U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office of overreaching by bringing some matters in federal court that he said belonged in local court. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and FBI for comment. Fox News’ Jake Gibson contributed to this report.
Haley Stevens’ endorsement stunt backfires with El-Sayed setting single-day fundraising record
Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign says it raised more than $2.4 million in a single day, setting a fundraising record in the final stretch of the Michigan race. The Democratic candidate’s campaign said Sunday’s haul came from more than 65,000 donors, who gave an average of $36.74. Nearly 29,600 people contributed to the campaign for the first time. The fundraising surge came on the heels of Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., endorsing Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers on Sunday after months of turmoil following her primary loss to the more progressive candidate. DEMOCRAT HALEY STEVENS ENDORSES GOP SENATE NOMINEE MIKE ROGERS “As Michiganders head to the polls, the momentum behind Abdul’s campaign has never been stronger,” campaign spokesperson Cole Wozniak said in a statement following the final-hour cash haul. Stevens, who was considered the more moderate establishment candidate in her primary against El-Sayed earlier this year, said she remains “a very proud Democrat” who loves Michigan. She insisted, however, in the video message posted to social media over the weekend that she could not support El-Sayed, citing his backing from radical left-wing political streamer Hasan Piker. “Hey Michigan, as you may have seen, our Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, Abdul said that I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I should stay away and he’s right. And that’s why I’m endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today,” Stevens said in a video posted on X. The endorsement of the Trump-backed Republican candidate drew swift criticism from Democrats. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it “a despicable betrayal” and said his caucus in the upper chamber remains united behind El-Sayed. Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel also condemned Stevens’ decision, saying she had “abandoned everything she claims to care about.” El-Sayed brushed off the endorsement Sunday, telling reporters he does not think about Stevens or Rogers and was focused on voters and policy. He also has attempted in recent months to distance himself from Piker amid the streamer’s rising national recognition and increased scrutiny on his controversial statements — including antisemitic sentiments and claiming that “America deserved 9/11.”
Steve Hilton rallies at ‘symbol of 16 years of Democrat failure’ in closing days of California race
Republican California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton rallied Sunday in Pacific Palisades, a Los Angeles neighborhood devastated by the January 2025 wildfires, blaming Democratic leadership for the destruction and slow recovery just days before voters will choose the state’s next governor. “I’m so sorry. And it’s so sad about what happened because it could and should have been avoided,” Hilton told supporters and residents. “This place is a symbol of 16 years of Democrat failure.” The Palisades Fire burned more than 23,000 acres and destroyed roughly 6,800 structures, many of them homes. Fueled by powerful winds and dry conditions, the blaze displaced tens of thousands of residents and devastated large sections of the community, leaving a massive rebuilding effort in its wake. JURY DEADLOCKS IN FEDERAL TRIAL OF MAN ACCUSED OF STARTING DEADLY PALISADES FIRE IN LOS ANGELES Hilton argued that the disaster and its aftermath reflected broader failures of California’s Democratic leadership, from wildfire prevention and emergency response to rebuilding efforts. “These are not random, disconnected events,” Hilton said. “These are what has gone wrong in the state of California over 16 years of one-party rule.” Democrats have held California’s governorship for the past 16 years. Hilton faces Democrat Xavier Becerra, a former state attorney general and Health and Human Services secretary under President Joe Biden, in Tuesday’s election to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom. Hilton, a former Fox News commentator who previously advised British Prime Minister David Cameron, has made criticism of the state’s Democratic leadership a central theme of his campaign. STEVE HILTON LAUNCHES AD MOCKING XAVIER BECERRA’S ’36 YEARS’ AS A CAREER POLITICIAN IN CALIFORNIA GOV RACE At the rally, he accused state and local officials of failing to adequately prepare for the fires and help residents rebuild, blaming what he called a combination of “incompetence, ideology and corruption.” He also criticized environmental and land-management policies, arguing that inadequate brush clearance contributed to the destruction. “The ideology that for years and years and years not just failed to clear the brush that could have prevented these fires here and in Altadena … but deliberately chose not to do that,” Hilton said. Hilton pledged to appoint a recovery CEO to oversee rebuilding efforts if elected, arguing that residents had waited too long for their communities to recover. “I spent the time, I’ve listened, and I can tell you right now, when I’m governor, I will appoint a recovery CEO to finally get things done, to finally get what you deserve,” Hilton said. He closed by urging voters to reject the idea that California must remain under Democratic control. “This is not a blue state. It is not a red state. It’s the Golden State,” Hilton said. “And we are going to fight with everything we’ve got.”
Poll flashes warning signs for Republicans in 7 battleground Senate races
Republicans are trailing Democrats in seven key Senate battlegrounds, including longtime GOP strongholds Texas and Kansas, according to a poll released Sunday, just days before the midterm elections. The New York Times/Siena poll found Democratic candidates leading in five states currently represented by Republican senators — Alaska, Kansas, Maine, Ohio and Texas — while the race in Iowa is virtually tied. In Michigan, the only Democratic-held Senate seat surveyed, the party’s candidate holds a double-digit lead. Don Levy, executive director of the Siena Research Institute, said the results suggest Democrats could capture control of the Senate, though he cautioned that several races remain within the poll’s margin of error. SENATE CONTROL IS A COIN FLIP — AND DEMOCRATS’ PATH RUNS THROUGH TRUMP COUNTRY “While a blue wave and Democratic control of the Senate is, according to our polls, a distinct possibility, with so many races within the poll’s total margin of error, a Senate majority for either party remains possible,” Levy said. The findings are particularly striking in Texas, which has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1988, and Kansas, where Democrats have not won a Senate race since 1932. In Texas, Democratic state lawmaker James Talarico leads Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton 50% to 43% among likely voters. In Kansas, Democrat Adam Hamilton leads Republican Sen. Roger Marshall 49% to 44%. The poll also found former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown leading Republican Sen. Jon Husted in Ohio, 49% to 44%, while Democrat Troy Jackson leads Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine, 51% to 45%. In Alaska, former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola leads Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan 48% to 46%. Iowa is even closer, with Democrat Josh Turek edging Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson 48% to 47%. In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed holds the largest lead of the seven Senate races surveyed, leading Republican Mike Rogers 53% to 42%. The poll also found signs of broader dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump and Republicans’ handling of the economy. Just 38% of likely voters across the seven states approve of Trump’s job performance, according to the Times, despite Trump carrying five of those states by double-digit margins in the 2024 presidential election. Democrats hold a nine-point advantage over Republicans on which party voters trust more to address the cost of living, with Democratic Senate candidates leading on the issue in all seven states. The poll also found Democratic candidates leading among independent voters in every state surveyed. VETERAN DEM OPERATIVE SAYS SUBPAR GOP CANDIDATES POISED TO HAND OVER SENATE MAJORITY Democratic candidates improved their standing in six of the seven states compared with Times/Siena polls conducted in September. Alaska was the lone exception. Still, the poll offered some encouraging signs for Republicans. Voters who made their decisions within the past month favored Republican candidates by nine points, and several races remain within the margin of error. The Times also noted that polling underestimated Collins in 2020, when she trailed in every survey before winning re-election comfortably. Democrats must defend their existing Senate seats and flip at least four Republican-held seats to capture control of the chamber. The surveys of likely voters were conducted from Oct. 23 through Nov. 1, with state-level margins of sampling error ranging from plus or minus 3.4 percentage points in Texas to 5 percentage points in Alaska.
Trump takes midterm campaign blitz to historic stage for grand finale before Election Day
President Donald Trump is set to deliver his closing midterm campaign message Monday at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., capping a weekslong campaign blitz that has taken him across more than 20 states as Republicans fight to maintain control of Congress in Tuesday’s elections. Trump is scheduled to speak at 2 p.m. ET and participate in nine tele-rallies throughout the day, following in-person campaign stops in Iowa and Kansas on Sunday. The president has made 30 in-person political appearances since August, including more than 27 rallies in October, with a longtime adviser who has joined him on the road offering a behind-the-scenes look at the travel, logistics and memorable moments along the way. LEAVITT SAYS TRUMP IS DEFYING MIDTERM HEADWINDS AS HE BARNSTORMS COUNTRY Alex Bruesewitz, a senior adviser to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign who has accompanied him on roughly 10 to 15 trips in recent weeks, told Fox News Digital that organizing rallies for a sitting president presents challenges far different from those of a traditional campaign. “It’s actually much different than the campaign,” Bruesewitz said. “When you’re doing an event moving the current president of the United States, the logistics that go into it are nuts.” The operation requires extensive coordination among White House staff, Republican operatives, campaign aides and advance teams, with the White House Office of Political Affairs, Office of Public Liaison and Republican National Committee all playing roles, according to Bruesewitz. “President Trump will continue crisscrossing the country with unmatched energy and enthusiasm to deliver a simple message: with Republicans in control of Congress, Americans can expect safer streets, lower taxes, secure borders, and energy dominance,” White House spokesperson Olivia Wales told Fox News Digital. TRUMP TOUTS ‘GOLDEN AGE’ AT OHIO RALLY, URGES VOTERS TO DELIVER GOP MIDTERM WINS The demanding schedule has also produced some memorable moments aboard Air Force One. Bruesewitz recalled one particularly exhausting West Coast trip that left him sleeping aboard the presidential aircraft at 4 a.m. “I had a picture of me sleeping on the Air Force One at 4 a.m. [that] ended up somehow in the group chat of all the congressional first spouses,” he recalled. The photograph drew messages from lawmakers’ wives surprised by how exhausted he appeared. TRUMP WON THIS RELIABLY RED STATE BY DOUBLE DIGITS. NOW A DEADLOCKED RACE IS BRINGING HIM BACK Despite the long hours, Bruesewitz described an atmosphere reminiscent of Trump’s 2024 campaign, with staffers moving from one event to the next and the president maintaining a packed schedule. And while the president remains focused on official business and preparing his remarks during flights to campaign stops, Bruesewitz said the mood aboard Air Force One shifts considerably on the way home. On return flights, staffers unwind with music and football, including a recent Green Bay Packers game that Bruesewitz, a devoted fan of the team, watched aboard the presidential aircraft. PRESIDENT TALKS ‘TRUMP OCEAN,’ TRADES JOKES WITH TENNESSEE CROWD AS KID ROCK KICKS OFF SPRAWLING RALLY The campaign stops have also featured appearances by high-profile celebrities, including boxing legends Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield and rapper Nicki Minaj. Bruesewitz recalled escorting Tyson to his seat after the boxing legend arrived at an event in New York, drawing excited reactions from attendees who recognized him. SKY-HIGH GAS PRICES AREN’T SHAKING TRUMP’S MAGA FAITHFUL IN OIL COUNTRY AS SUPPORTERS WARN OF BIGGER THREAT But one of Bruesewitz’s favorite moments came during a recent stop in Port Huron, Michigan, where Minaj joined Trump for an appearance that drew a packed arena despite competing with a Detroit Lions football game. Bruesewitz said the stop was particularly memorable because many attendees were seeing Trump in person for the first time. “You could see and sense the enthusiasm of the attendees in the crowd,” he said. “They were excited about Nicki going, but they were also just so pumped to be able to see the president in person.” TRUMP’S MAGA FAITHFUL SEND WARNING TO REPUBLICANS AHEAD OF HIGH-STAKES MIDTERM ELECTIONS The final stretch also brought a late shift in Trump’s campaign schedule, with in-person stops in Kansas and Iowa reinstated for Sunday after initially being scrapped in favor of tele-rallies aimed at reaching voters across nearly 20 states. After weeks of travel, packed arenas and a demanding schedule aboard Air Force One, Trump’s campaign operation is set to close Monday with an appearance at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and a rapid-fire series of tele-rallies as Republicans make their final appeal to voters ahead of Election Day.
Michigan Dem claims Stevens shot down Rogers endorsement rumor hours before turning on El-Sayed
The decision by Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., to endorse Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers was apparently a sudden change of heart, and tied to the Abdul El-Sayed campaign’s stay-away order this weekend. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., said Stevens told her Saturday night that reports of an impending Rogers endorsement were not accurate. “It’s very hard,” Dingell told local FOX 2 on Sunday night. “Haley Stevens told me at midnight last night this was all a rumor and was not true.” DEMOCRAT HALEY STEVENS ENDORSES GOP SENATE NOMINEE MIKE ROGERS AT DETROIT CHURCH Five hours later, Stevens was standing shoulder to shoulder with Rogers at a Detroit church service. “She texted me at 7:45, watching you on MS NOW, heart, heart,” Dingell continued. “And by the way, I talked to her. Look, I’m just upset. I’m very concerned. It’s sad, but I don’t want to be distracted anymore.” The Detroit church event was intended to bring unity for El-Sayed’s campaign, because Stevens had won the Black vote, but instead, after being told by the Democratic nominee to stay away, she unified with Rogers. FORMER RIVAL DODGES FULL-THROATED EL-SAYED ENDORSEMENT AFTER BITTER SENATE PRIMARY “We got a phone call this morning and, you know, there’s been a lot of unfortunate activity, I think,” Rogers told FOX 2 Detroit. “Abdul discarded Haley Stevens, was rude to Haley Stevens, has been rude, I think, to many in the African-American community. At least that’s what they’re telling me. And I think this just boiled over when he dis-invited her to the campaign event that was supposed to happen today. And basically said don’t need you and don’t need your supporters.” Rogers welcomed the early November surprise with just two days to go before Tuesday’s Election Day in a race that could flip the Democratic Senate seat red and help President Donald Trump’s party keep control of the upper chamber. HALEY STEVENS RIPPED BY FELLOW DEMS FOR REFUSING TO EXPLICITLY BACK EL-SAYED: ‘STAY THE F— OFF TELEVISION’ “I think she picked up the phone today after having lots of, apparently, conversations with a lot of people and picked up a phone and said, ‘Hey, I heard you’re going to church, you want some company?’” Rogers added. “And so that was, I mean, we were very welcome for her, I’m very welcome to have her support.” The unity event became divisive for the former Democratic Senate primary combatants after Stevens called on El-Sayed to condemn an outside group’s ad that she said blamed Israel for high grocery prices. Stevens’ fiancé Jason Turkish, a Democratic donor and Jewish lawyer, said earlier in the week that he was going to vote for Rogers, raising concern from El-Sayed’s campaign and other Democrats. ROGERS OPENS DOOR TO DEMOCRATIC VOTERS AFTER EL-SAYED’S PRIMARY VICTORY: ‘THERE IS STILL HOPE’ El-Sayed’s campaign then asked Stevens to skip his events through Election Day to avoid distracting from the race, sources said. In a social media video, Stevens said, “I don’t belong in Abdul’s campaign.” Rogers said Democrats were “veering off into the virulent hate” directed at a group of people, while Stevens’ mother, Maria Marcotte, told Reuters her daughter was concerned about rhetoric she believed frightened constituents. BLACK VOTERS, JEWISH DEMOCRATS IN MICHIGAN WARY OF VOTING FOR EL-SAYED, SAY ‘HE’S TAKING ADVANTAGE’ Despite the rift, El-Sayed’s campaign said it raised $1.2 million in the four hours after Stevens’ endorsement, its second-best fundraising day since the August primary. Fox News Power Rankings’ latest projection rates the race as a Toss Up. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 Senate majority. While midterm election history tends to deliver power back to the party in the minority, Trump and Republicans have put added emphasis on retaining Senate control to hold back what is expected to become a Democrat-controlled House. Reuters contributed to this report.
The GOP reveals a fresh $100B talking point as the battle for Congress looms
EXCLUSIVE: With both parties vying to convince voters they have the better answer on the economy, Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler is pointing to $100 billion in support for local employers as proof that Trump’s policies are working. “We just recorded our second consecutive year of getting $100 billion to Main Street businesses,” Loeffler told Fox News Digital, crediting Trump’s tax cuts, deregulation and trade policies. SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS BUILT THE AMERICAN DREAM. DEMOCRATS WANT TO TAKE IT FROM YOU The economic debate could help determine which party controls Congress, as both parties try to persuade voters their policies will improve household finances and business prospects. Loeffler said the business owners she meets want to expand but need confidence that Washington will support long-term investment. They most often tell her they need more skilled workers, she said. DSA-BACKED CANDIDATES ARE WINNING PRIMARIES AND THEIR VISION FOR AMERICA IS VERY DIFFERENT “What they can’t tolerate is having Washington say that they’re gonna massively regulate them, massively tax them,” she said. The Small Business Administration said it guaranteed 62,205 loans worth $39.5 billion through its 7(a) and 504 programs in fiscal 2026, its third-highest loan volume on record. The agency’s $100 billion total also includes private investment, disaster aid and business support. The SBA said the 43-day government shutdown halted lending through its main loan programs for nearly two months, preventing an estimated $5 billion in financing over the fiscal year.
How to watch critical 2026 midterm election races in TX, OH, MI, WI, GA, IA, NV, ME and FL
Control of Congress is on the line Tuesday as voters decide pivotal Senate and House races across the country, while closely watched contests for governor will shape the political landscape in key states during President Donald Trump’s second term. Republicans are fighting to defend their congressional majorities as Democrats seek gains in battlegrounds from Texas and Georgia to Michigan and Maine. Open seats, vulnerable incumbents and competitive statewide races have put nine states at the center of the fight for power in Washington and state capitals. With races stretching across multiple time zones, here are the key contests to watch, when polls close and how to follow live results as Election Night unfolds. SENATE CONTROL IS A COIN FLIP — AND DEMOCRATS’ PATH RUNS THROUGH TRUMP COUNTRY Texas voters face two major statewide showdowns, with Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton battling Democratic state Rep. James Talarico for the Senate seat held by outgoing Republican John Cornyn, while GOP Gov. Greg Abbott seeks a historic fourth term against Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa. TRUMP WON THIS RELIABLY RED STATE BY DOUBLE DIGITS. NOW A DEADLOCKED RACE IS BRINGING HIM BACK The Senate contest has emerged as an unusually competitive race in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since Lloyd Bentsen in 1988, pitting Paxton’s conservative appeal and history of legal controversies against Talarico’s campaign focused on political change. Meanwhile, Abbott’s reelection bid offers another test of Republican dominance, with border security, education and the economy shaping the fight over the state’s future. Ohio features a Senate rematch of sorts, with former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown seeking a return to Washington against Republican Sen. Jon Husted, who was appointed to fill Vice President JD Vance’s former seat. Brown is attempting a political comeback in a state that has shifted toward Republicans, while Husted seeks his first electoral victory for the Senate. Husted’s campaign also enlisted Ohio native and former NFL coach Jon “Chucky” Gruden for campaign appearances. Voters will decide who succeeds term-limited Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, with Republican Vivek Ramaswamy facing Democrat Amy Acton. Ramaswamy’s campaign recently pulled a controversial ad featuring Acton’s estranged mother after criticism from fellow Republicans, including DeWine. Michigan’s open Senate seat could prove pivotal to the balance of power in Washington, with former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers facing Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in the contest to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters. ABDUL EL-SAYED’S ALLEGED FAMILY TIES TO MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD SURFACE AFTER DENYING ANY LINK DURING NBC INTERVIEW The Senate race has grown increasingly contentious as Rogers and Republican allies have raised allegations about El-Sayed’s family’s purported ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, citing old social media posts by his half-sister. El-Sayed has denied any connection to the organization and publicly disavowed it, while independent fact-checkers have found no evidence establishing his personal affiliation. The state also features a gubernatorial showdown between Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Republican Rep. John James, testing whether Michigan voters will maintain Democratic control of the governor’s office or turn to Republicans. Wisconsin’s open governor’s race pits Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany against Democratic Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley as voters choose a successor to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. The contest centers on the state’s political direction, including taxes, public spending and education, after Crowley defeated progressive state Rep. Francesca Hong in a crowded Democratic primary. Georgia offers two major statewide contests, with Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff defending his seat against Republican Rep. Mike Collins in a state Trump narrowly carried in 2024. Ossoff’s race will test whether Democrats can hold a Senate seat in a state that has delivered closely contested presidential and Senate elections, while the open governor’s race between Republican businessman Rick Jackson and former Democratic Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms will determine who succeeds term-limited Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. Iowa voters will decide whether Republicans can retain two major offices in a state Trump carried comfortably in 2024. Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson faces Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek for the Senate seat being vacated by Republican Joni Ernst, while Democratic state Auditor Rob Sand faces Republican Zach Lahn in the open governor’s race to succeed retiring longtime GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds. Although the Hawkeye State has shifted toward Republicans in recent election cycles, Democrats previously enjoyed sustained statewide success through figures including former Sen. Tom Harkin and former Gov. Tom Vilsack. The contests will test whether Democrats can regain ground, with affordability, agriculture and state economic policy among the central issues. Nevada’s marquee contest features Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo seeking another term against Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford. The race will test whether Republicans can retain the governor’s office in a state where Democrats have remained competitive in statewide elections, with housing affordability, education and public safety among the issues facing voters. Lombardo, the former Clark County sheriff, defeated incumbent Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak in 2022, with Ford now hoping to hit the jackpot in Carson City. Maine’s Senate race pits longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins against former Democratic state Senate President Troy Jackson in one of the country’s most closely watched contests. Collins is seeking another term in a blue-leaning state that supported Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Meanwhile, Jackson is attempting to turn Maine’s Democratic presidential voting pattern into a Senate pickup after replacing Graham Platner, who withdrew as the Democratic nominee following a sexual assault allegation that he denied. The contest will test Collins’ longstanding crossover appeal and could have major consequences for the Senate’s balance of power, as she remains New England’s only Republican member of Congress. Florida voters will choose a successor to term-limited Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, with Republican Rep. Byron Donalds facing former Republican congressman-turned-Democrat David Jolly. The race presents a contest over the future of Florida’s government, including affordability, immigration and the direction of state policy. Republican Sen. Ashley Moody, appointed to the seat vacated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also faces DSA-affiliated Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon in a