Democrats keep Pennsylvania Supreme Court control after 3 justices win retention races
All three justices on the ballot in Pennsylvania will keep their jobs after winning races on Tuesday in an election that had threatened to change the state Supreme Court’s liberal composition. Democrats will continue to hold a 5-2 majority on the state’s highest court, a result of voters overwhelmingly choosing to retain Democratic justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht. The Associated Press called the races at about 10 p.m. local time. “Tonight, folks across our Commonwealth sent a resounding message by voting to retain all three Supreme Court Justices who will continue to defend the rule of law, safeguard our elections, and protect our constitutional rights,” Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro said in a statement. REPUBLICANS MOUNT CAMPAIGN TO FLIP PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURT’S DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY The race attracted an unusual amount of attention as state and national groups poured what The Associated Press estimated to be more than $15 million into it, exceeding spending in past retention elections and underscoring the stakes of changing the court majority. Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices serve 10-year terms and can be retained for consecutive terms until they reach the age of 75, at which point they must retire. Donohue, who is 72, will be unable to serve out another full term. Republicans’ fight with the judiciary has intensified this year as judges have routinely thwarted President Donald Trump’s agenda. Their defeat in Pennsylvania, a battleground state that has seen high-stakes election litigation in recent years, comes after they suffered a bitter loss in an expensive Supreme Court race in another swing state, Wisconsin, in April. 5 KEY RACES TO WATCH ON ELECTION DAY 2025 Trump weighed in on the race this week, calling for the ouster of the three justices. Trump said they “ruled for Sleepy Joe Biden over and over, and interfered in the 2020 Election” and that it was “time for Justice.” The odds had been stacked against the GOP in Pennsylvania since only one justice, Russell Nigro, had ever been voted out through a retention race. Nigro was defeated in 2005 amid public outrage over legislative and Supreme Court justice pay raises. Republicans dedicated their spending and resources to attempting to persuade voters that ousting the justices would be a well-deserved referendum on the Supreme Court’s controversial decisions surrounding COVID-19 lockdowns and election rules. Democrats argued that a loss would threaten women’s access to abortion and reproductive health services. The state’s highest court rejected Republicans’ attempt to toss out 2.5 million mail-in ballots in the 2020 election but delivered a mixture of smaller wins and losses to the GOP in the 2024 election over mail-in and provisional ballot lawsuits. In 2020, the state Supreme Court also upheld Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s order temporarily shutting down non-essential businesses in the state because of COVID-19.
Jay Jones overcomes mounting scandals to defeat Jason Miyares for Virginia attorney general
The Fox News Decision Desk has projected that Democrat Jay Jones will become the next attorney general of Virginia. Jones overcame weeks of burgeoning scandals, and voters looked past them to pick the Norfolk Democrat over incumbent Republican Jason Miyares, who burnished his record of going after drug companies, gangbangers and traffickers. Jones, the son of longtime Norfolk delegate Jerrauld Jones and a former Biden Justice Department staffer, beat back dueling scandals over a 116 mph reckless driving arrest featuring scrutinized affidavits of 1,000 community service hours sworn to by his own political action committee and the NAACP of Virginia. A recent Fox News Digital freedom of information request failed to produce records from New Kent County prosecutors. The office returned a notification that it could not be produced due to a Virginia State Code listing the records as part of a criminal investigation. JASON MIYARES TOUTS RECORD ON CRIME, FENTANYL AS JONES SCANDAL ROILS VIRGINIA RACE Jones also faced scrutiny for texting Del. Carrie Coyner, R-Hopewell, that he would prefer former House Speaker Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, to be shot twice in the head rather than any bullets be saved for former German Chancellor Adolf Hitler or Cambodian leader Pol Pot. His campaign also received an infusion of cash following the scandal from the PAC aligned with Democratic attorneys general. At his debate with Miyares at the University of Richmond, Jones notably name-checked or referenced President Donald Trump about 50 times, painting the Republican as more interested in defending the White House than the Commonwealth of Virginia. JONES AND MIYARES CLASH OVER MURDER TEXTS AS DEM REPEATEDLY INVOKES TRUMP AT HEATED, HIGH-STAKES DEBATE Jones was seen as the least likely of the three Democratic statewide candidates to win, portending a good night for his party and a bad night for the GOP across the state. Jones’ win also adds weight to the already overwhelming power wielded by the Hampton Roads and Tidewater area in state government. Jones hails from and represented Norfolk in the House. The current House Speaker, Don Scott Jr., is from Portsmouth. Senate President pro tempore L. Louise Lucas represents Portsmouth. And Sen. Mamie Locke, the chamber’s campaign chief, is from Hampton. Only Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell does not hail from that area. He represents the heavily-Democratic Washington, D.C., suburbs centered around George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Republicans, now out of power, meanwhile will continue to have party leadership dotting the map from bustling Hanover and Henrico to the famed Trail of the Lonesome Pine in far southwestern Virginia.
Socialist shockwave: Zohran Mamdani stuns NYC as voters hand power to Democrats’ far-left flank
The Fox News Decision Desk has projected that New York City will elect Democratic Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani as its next mayor. The self-described democratic socialist toppled former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a contentious fight for the future of New York City — and possibly the direction of the Democratic Party. Mamdani, the 34-year-old Ugandan-born state assemblyman from Queens, triggered a political earthquake when he declared victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary in June, pulling an upset over a former governor who was widely expected to win the party’s nomination. He has since been catapulted onto the national stage, teaming up with progressive power duo Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., to rally New York City voters for his affordability agenda, which includes ambitious campaign promises like rent freezes, fast and free buses, city-run grocery stores and free childcare. It’s a race that President Donald Trump himself has been watching closely, labeling Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic” and “My little communist” — monikers Mamdani has rejected. On the eve of Election Day, Trump endorsed Cuomo and floated cutting federal funds to New York City if Mamdani won. FINAL STRETCH: MAMDANI’S LARGE LEAD SHRINKING AS CUOMO GAINS GROUND IN NYC MAYORAL RACE In the days leading up to the election, Mamdani vowed to use the “bully pulpit” and the judicial system to fight back against Trump’s “threats.” “Donald Trump may speak as if it is his decision, but this is money that this city is owed. This is money that we will expect to collect,” Mamdani said Monday. CUOMO CLOSES GAP ON MAMDANI AS NYC MAYOR RACE TIGHTENS DRAMATICALLY IN NEW POLL Mamdani’s primary success exposed a divide within the Democratic Party, which suffered big losses up and down the ballot last year and has since struggled to put up a united front against the Trump administration without clear party leadership. Cuomo resigned from office in 2021 in the face of multiple controversies, including several sexual harassment claims, which he has denied. After losing the primary he was expected to win, Cuomo challenged Mamdani as an Independent candidate in the general election, and has since charged Mamdani of being more a socialist than a Democrat. “The truth is, there’s a quiet civil war going on in the Democratic Party right now,” Cuomo told Fox News last week. “You have an extreme left. Radical left. Bernie Sanders, AOC — Mamdani is just the banner carrier for that movement — versus the mainstream moderate Democrats. They now call me moderate. They used to call me liberal. Now, I’m a moderate because the whole party shifted.” New York Democrats were reluctant to endorse Mamdani’s mayoral campaign after he secured the Democratic nomination. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer refused to endorse Mamdani, despite telling reporters he has a “good relationship with him” and that they are “continuing to talk.” Mamdani was arrested for protesting the war in Gaza and calling for a ceasefire outside Schumer’s home in Brooklyn in 2023. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries gave an 11th-hour endorsement for Mamdani after months of equivocating. The announcement came the day before early voting began. Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., endorsed Mamdani’s campaign in September and later joined him on the campaign trail. When pressed about whether Mamdani would endorse Hochul, he refused to affirm his support for the sitting governor. Hochul will be critical to Mamdani’s plan to raise taxes on corporations and the top 1% of New Yorkers to pay for his radical campaign agenda, as a tax hike would require state approval. The governor has maintained that she will not raise taxes, which earned her some heckling at a recent Queens rally, when Mamdani’s supporters shouted, “Tax the rich!” Mamdani has faced a relentless news cycle since securing the Democratic nomination. Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, the founder and CEO of the Guardian Angels, have said that Mamdani would not do enough to protect Jewish New Yorkers if elected mayor. Mamdani refused to condemn the term “globalize the intifada” during the primary, widely considered a call to violence against Jews. He has since committed to discouraging others from using the term. Weeks before Election Day, a slate of prominent New York City rabbis joined more than 650 rabbis nationwide to sign “A Rabbinic Call to Action: Defending the Jewish Future,” asserting that Jewish Americans “cannot remain silent” on discrimination against Jewish people and citing Mamdani’s stances that are critical of Israel. Mamdani, who is of Indian descent, will be the first South Asian and first Muslim mayor of New York City. Religion has been a defining issue in the mayoral race, as many Jewish New Yorkers have rejected Mamdani’s positions on Israel, including his calling the war in Gaza a “genocide” and his refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Mamdani has maintained that he “would not recognize any state’s right to exist with a system of hierarchy on the basis of race, of religion.” When asked during last week’s mayoral debate if Mamdani has any regrets about his “long-standing” anti-Israel views, the democratic socialist affirmed his commitment to protecting Jewish New Yorkers, as he has throughout the campaign. Mamdani has a long record of supporting the pro-Palestinian movement, including at Bowdoin College, where he founded the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter. With weeks until Election Day, Mamdani charged his opponents and Mayor Eric Adams, who ultimately suspended his re-election campaign after staying out of the Democratic primary to run as an independent, with Islamophobia for a slew of comments made about him on the campaign trail. Mamdani also faced criticism for his past comments about the New York City Police Department, including those comparing the NYPD to the Israel Defense Forces and calling the NYPD “racist, anti‑queer & a major threat to public safety” in 2020, among other insults. “I’ll apologize to police officers right here, because this is the apology that I’ve been sharing with many rank-and-file officers, and I apologize because of the
Soros empire heir reveals who he’s ‘proud’ to back in high-stakes NYC mayoral race
Left-wing billionaire Alex Soros, the son of billionaire philanthropist George Soros, told the New York Times he cast a ballot for Socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. “I was proud to support and vote for the Democratic candidate for mayor,” Soros told the New York Times in an emailed statement on Election Day. Alex Soros is the son of Open Society Foundations founder Geroge Soros, who has helped fund left-wing campaigns stretching from district attorneys to federal elections. Alex Soros succeeded his father as chair of the board of directors of the massive $25 billion nonprofit in 2022. WILL ELECTION DAY 2025 BE REMEMBERED AS THE RISE OF THE SOCIALISTS? Alex Soros’ support of Mamdani is not a surprise, with the Open Society Foundations reportedly donating $37 million across the last decade to left-wing groups that ultimately promoted Mamdani’s nomination this year, such as the Working Families Party, the New York Post reported in July. The younger Soros is a New York native. NYC OFFICIAL EXPOSES MAMDANI’S ‘MARXIST PLAYBOOK’ IN REVEALING NEW FOX NATION SPECIAL The 2025 election cycle only includes a handful of high-profile elections, including the New York City mayoral race that pits Socialist candidate Mamdani against former Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo — who is running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani — and Republican challenger Curtis Sliwa. The cycle also includes a pair of highly anticipated gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia, as well as a special election in California where voters are deciding whether to redistrict the state’s congressional lines. George Soros contributed $10 million to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ballot initiative to redistrict the state, the New York Times reported back in September. Alex Soros’ support of Mamdani comes as President Donald Trump slams the mayoral candidate as a “communist,” as well as his ongoing crusade against the Soros family over their donations to left-wing causes and candidates, including calling for investigations into George and Alex Soros. ‘DEMOCRATS ARE NERVOUS’ ABOUT POTENTIAL ZOHRAN MAMDANI VICTORY, NEW REPORT WARNS “Soros, and his group of psychopaths, have caused great damage to our Country! That includes his Crazy, West Coast friends. Be careful, we’re watching you!” Trump wrote on Truth Social in August. Fox News Digital reached out to the Open Society Foundations Tuesday evening for additional comment on Soros’ support of Mamdani but did not immediately receive a reply.
Democrat Mikie Sherrill wins New Jersey governor race, keeps state blue against Republican challenge
Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill will become the next governor of New Jersey, keeping the state blue in her ballot battle against Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli. By defeating Ciattarelli Tuesday in a very competitive and combustible race that grabbed plenty of national attention, Sherrill will succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. “New Jersey, it is the honor of my life to earn your trust to become this great state’s 57th Governor. I promise to listen, lead with courage, and never forget who I serve,” Sherrill said in a social media post minutes after her victory was projected by Fox News and other news organizations. Sherrill becomes only the second woman elected New Jersey governor, following Republican Christine Todd Whitman, and makes history as the first female Democrat elected governor. SHERRILL PULLS OUT ALL STOPS WITH OBAMA ENDORSEMENT, STAR-STUDDED NEW JERSEY CAMPAIGN PUSH AS RACE TIGHTENS “This was a tough fight and this is a tough state. But I know you, New Jersey. I have fought for you. I’ve spoken with thousands of you over this last year. I know your struggles, your hopes, and your dreams,” Sherrill said in her victory speech. And she vowed to represent all Garden Staters, adding, “I know not everyone voted for me. But I am working for everyone. Every single one of you.” Ciattarelli, at the top of his concession speech to a ballroom jam packed with supporters, announced that he had called Sherrill to congratulate her. “Even though we were not successful tonight, it does not mean we were not successful in talking about the issues that matter. I’m more passionate than ever that these issues need to be solved, because if they’re not, I fear for the future of New Jersey.” And Ciattareli said, “It is my hope that Mikie Sherrill has heard us in terms of what we need to do to make New Jersey that place where everybody can once again feel they can achieve their American dream.” Sherrill has served in the U.S. House since 2019, after flipping the Garden State’s 11th District seat in the northern part of the state away from the Republicans as part of 2018’s blue wave election year during President Donald Trump’s first term in the White House. While the final public opinion polls heading into Election Day indicated Sherrill with a single digit lead over Ciattarelli, she was headed towards a double-digit victory with the vote count still ongoing late Tuesday evening. “We’ve seen, you know, rallies with thousands of people. The early vote, the vote by mail is very, very good,” a confident Sherrill told reporters on Election Day morning, after casting her ballot. “I think I’m going to do quite well today.” The New Jersey Democrat campaigned on a series of key issues, most notably affordability in a state notorious for sky-high taxes. Sherrill championed from the campaign trail that she would bring down costs for Garden State families, including working to end “price gouging” and “fighting for tax relief, lowering health care and energy costs.” And in her victory speech, she highlighted, “I’m going to declare a state of emergency on day one to drive down your utility costs.” She also vowed to protect abortion access, vowed to increase “new home construction that meets the needs of all residents” amid a housing crisis, and close the education gap between New Jersey‘s highly ranked public schools in certain zip codes and districts that have struggled following the 2020 pandemic. “I have a different kind of background, so I’ll be a different kind of governor,” Sherrill told voters in October in her opening remarks ahead of her second gubernatorial debate. “Navy helicopter pilot, federal prosecutor, member of Congress and mom of four kids, I’m laser focused on driving down your costs and making New Jersey more affordable. … I’m going to ensure I’m always fighting for all of you.” Sherrill is a Naval Academy graduate and former Sea King helicopter pilot who spent more than nine years on active duty in the Navy. She left the military in 2003 at the rank of lieutenant and went into law school, according to her congressional biography. The Democrat announced her candidacy for New Jersey governor in November 2024 while wearing a Navy jacket while touting she was ready to “get to work on New Jersey’s future.” She also worked as a prosecutor in the days leading up to jumping into politics. She earned her law degree from Georgetown University before working at a New York City law firm and joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey as a federal prosecutor in 2015, according to her congressional biography. FINAL FACEOFF: DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN NOMINEES IN KEY RACE FOR GOVERNOR BLAST EACH OTHER ON DEBATE After topping a competitive field of rivals in June’s Democratic gubernatorial primary, Sherrill faced off in the general election against Ciattarelli, a former certified public accountant who later owned a medical publishing company before entering politics and serving as a state lawmaker. Ciattarelli first ran for governor in 2017, finishing second in the GOP primary. And four years ago, after capturing the GOP nomination, he came close to ousting Murphy, falling short by just three percentage points. In the final stretch of this year’s campaign, Ciattarelli narrowed the polling gap against Sherrill, but was unable to paint the blue-leaning state red. New Jersey and Virginia are the only two states to hold gubernatorial showdowns in the year after a presidential election, and the contests traditionally are viewed as political barometers ahead of the following year’s midterm elections. And in 2025, they were viewed, in part, as ballot-box referendums on Trump’s unprecedented second-term agenda. While Democrats have long dominated federal and state legislative elections in New Jersey, Republicans have been very competitive in gubernatorial contests, winning five out of the previous 10 elections. New Jersey was eyed as a potential state to flip to Republican control following Trump’s inroads with voters in the state during the 2024 election. Trump cut his 2020
Spanberger says Virginia ‘chose pragmatism over partisanship’ in victory speech
Virginia Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger said her win over Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears “sent a message” across the commonwealth and the country. “Virginia chose pragmatism over partisanship. We chose our commonwealth over chaos,” Spanberger said. “You all chose leadership that will focus relentlessly on what matters most — lowering costs, keeping our communities safe and strengthening our economy for every Virginian,” she said. Spanberger also gave a nod to her achievement of becoming the first female governor of Virginia. OBAMA INSISTED BLACK MEN VOTE FOR HARRIS BUT NOW STUMPS AGAINST VIRGINIA’S BLACK LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR She said that, before her speech, first gentleman-elect Adam Spanberger told their daughters that “your mom is going to be the governor of Virginia.” “Those words have never been spoken in Virginia,” Spanberger said. “Tonight we turned a page … by listening, focusing on practical results, laying out a clear agenda and leading with decency and determination,” she said. SPANBERGER USES SPONGEBOB TO MOCK SEARS-TRUMP RELATIONSHIP, AS PRESIDENT PRAISES GOP NOM Spanberger also gave a brief nod to Earle-Sears, thanking her for a “hard-fought race” and her military and public service in Virginia. “[That] deserve[s] our gratitude,” she said. “I also know those who were supporting my opponent are disappointed today. And for those Virginians who did not vote for me … my goal and intent is to serve all Virginians.” SPANBERGER DEFENDS ABORTION AD CRITICIZING SEARS AFTER BERNIE WARNS AGAINST HIGHLIGHTING ISSUE Spanberger added that Virginia was — like Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Massachusetts uniquely are — named a “commonwealth” for a reason. She said Virginians have united for a “common good.” “We are still a commonwealth in every sense of the word,” she said. The governor-elect also paid homage to prior famous Virginians in office, including presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. “This is where American democracy was born and where we are still trying to perfect it today.” Spanberger also appeared to obliquely attack President Donald Trump, without mentioning him. She claimed the federal workforce is “under attack” and that actions from “across the Potomac” are “killing Virginia jobs and creating uncertainty.” “Virginia’s economy doesn’t work when Washington treats Virginia workers as expendable,” she said, adding that the federal government has bred “chaos.”
The 2025 election that may determine if Republicans hold House in 2026 midterms
It’s Election Day in California, where a ballot initiative will make a huge impact on next year’s battle for the U.S. House majority whether it passes or fails. California voters are deciding whether to pass a ballot proposition which would dramatically alter the state’s congressional districts, putting the left-leaning state front-and-center in the high-stakes political fight over redistricting that pits President Donald Trump and the GOP against the Democrats. California state lawmakers this summer approved a special proposition on the November ballot to obtain voter approval to temporarily sidetrack the state’s nonpartisan redistricting commission and return the power to draw the congressional maps to the Democrat-dominated legislature. Early voting by mail in the contest has been underway for a month. The effort in California, which could create five more Democratic-leaning congressional districts, aims to counter the passage in the reliable red state of Texas of a new map that aims to create up to five right-leaning House seats. Failure to approve what’s known as Proposition 50 would be a stinging setback for Democrats. OBAMA ENDORSES NEWSOM CALIFORNIA REDISTRICTING PROP 50 Two-term Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is seen as a likely 2028 Democratic presidential contender, is spearheading the push to pass the proposition. “If we lose here, we are going to have total Republican control in the House, the Senate and the White House for at least two more years,” Newsom emphasized in a recent fundraising appeal to supporters. “If we win here, we can put a check on Trump for his final two years.” HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING, ANALYSIS, ON 2025 ELECTIONS The push by Trump and Republicans for a rare mid-decade redistricting is part of a broad effort by the GOP to pad its razor-thin House majority to keep control of the chamber in the 2026 midterms, when the party in power traditionally faces political headwinds and loses seats. Trump and his political team are aiming to prevent what happened during his first term in the White House, when Democrats reclaimed the House majority in the 2018 midterm elections. Missouri last month joined Texas as the second GOP-controlled state to pass congressional redistricting ahead of next year’s elections. The new map in Missouri is likely to give the GOP another right-leaning seat. And North Carolina’s Republican-controlled legislature also passed a new map, which is likely to score another congressional seat for the GOP. Republican-controlled Indiana is on deck, with a special legislative session getting underway this week. But unlike those states, California voters need to weigh in before giving redistricting power back to the legislature in Sacramento. “Heaven help us if we lose,” Newsom said in a fundraising pitch. “This is an all-hands-on-deck moment for Democrats.” FIVE KEY 2025 RACES TO WATCH Proponents and opponents of Proposition 50 raised hundreds of millions of dollars in fundraising, with much of the money being dished out to pay for a deluge of ads on both sides. One of the two main groups countering Newsom and the Democrats labeled their effort “Stop Sacramento’s Power Grab.” Getting into the fight was former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was the last Republican governor of California. During his tenure as governor, Schwarzenegger had a starring role in the passage of constitutional amendments in California in 2008 and 2010 that took the power to draw state legislative and congressional districts away from politicians and placed it in the hands of an independent commission. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA VOTERS WEIGH IN ON PROP 50 REDISTRICTING FIGHT “That’s what they want to do is take us backwards — this is why it is important for you to vote no on Prop 50,” Schwarzenegger said in an ad against Proposition 50. “Democracy — we’ve got to protect it, and we’ve got to go and fight for it.” But as Election Day neared in California, the Yes forces had dramatically outraised the No forces, and public opinion polling indicated majority support for the proposition. Even before Trump initiated his redistricting push, Ohio was under court order to redraw its maps. That could boost Republicans in a one-time battleground state that now leans right. Republicans in GOP-dominated Florida are also mulling congressional redistricting. And Democrats in heavily blue Maryland are weighing a redistricting push, while the Democrat-controlled legislature in Virginia is already pushing redistricting. Other states considering altering their maps are Democrat-dominated Illinois and red states Kansas and Nebraska. Meanwhile, Democrats could possibly pick up a seat in Republican-dominated Utah, due to a new, more competitive map, mandated by a judge.
Kennedy pushes plan to halt Congress pay during government shutdown
FIRST ON FOX: A Republican senator wants to stop members of Congress from receiving paychecks as federal workers go without pay during the ongoing government shutdown. As the shutdown enters its 35th day, federal employees, air traffic controllers and other employees have either missed paychecks or received only partial pay. Members of Congress, however, are constitutionally required to get a paycheck, even if the government is closed. Some lawmakers have said that they would forego a paycheck, while others have introduced legislation to prevent their colleagues from getting paid. SENATE REPUBLICANS PLOT LONGER-TERM FUNDING BILL AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CONTINUES Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., jumped into that arena and has two bills that would both halt lawmakers from getting paid as the shutdown continues and deal with the constitutional issue. “I don’t see missing paychecks or empty dinner plates as leverage or bargaining chips,” Kennedy said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “My bills ensure Congress feels the same pain as the folks we’re failing to pay — our troops, air traffic controllers, and federal workers. If we can’t do our jobs and fund the government, we don’t deserve a paycheck — plain and simple.” One of the bills, the “No Shutdown Paychecks to Politicians Act,” would see lawmakers go without pay for every day that a shutdown is underway. Members of Congress on average make $174,000 a year. That number can fluctuate depending on whether a lawmaker is in a leadership position. GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN SPARKS GOP PLAN TO PENALIZE LAWMAKERS WITH NEW SALARY TAX Kennedy’s desire to see that lawmakers don’t get paid runs into the Constitution, however. Article I, Section 6 of the Constitution requires that “Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States.” Then there is the 27th Amendment, ratified in 1992, which prevents Congress from passing a law affecting its pay during the current congressional term. That’s where his other bill, “Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act,” comes into play. That legislation would sidestep the 27th Amendment by not cutting pay to lawmakers, but instead withholding it in escrow until after the November 2026 elections. MORE LAWMAKERS SAY THEY’RE REJECTING PAYCHECKS AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN DRAGS ON That bill is also being carried in the House by Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wis., who said in a statement to Fox News Digital, “If service members, men and women of federal law enforcement, and other essential employees are working without pay during the Schumer shutdown, members of Congress should not be paid either.” Kennedy’s effort is not the only legislative attempt to stop lawmakers from getting paychecks during the shutdown. Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, introduced legislation that would impose a tax, similar to Kennedy’s bill, that would increase each day that the Senate is in session. Then there’s a constitutional amendment proposed by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., last week that would require lawmakers forfeit their paychecks. That money would then be sent to the U.S. Treasury Department to help pay down the national debt. Passing a constitutional amendment requires that two-thirds of the House and Senate advance the proposal and then be ratified by three-fourths of the states.
The true cost of the 2025 Elections
The year after a presidential election is typically the low point when it comes to campaign trail action, but 2025 is not your typical off-year election. Between competitive races for governor in New Jersey and Virginia, a high-profile showdown for New York City mayor that’s grabbed plenty of national attention, and the Proposition 50 ballot initiative in California in the bitter battle between President Donald Trump and Republicans versus Democrats over congressional redistricting, 2025 has been a beehive of campaign activity. And that means plenty of money has been inserted into this year’s campaigns. HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING ON THE 2025 ELECTIONS As of early October, New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial nominee Rep. Mikie Sherrill had raised roughly $17.5 million dollars, with GOP rival Jack Cittarelli at $16.5 million. Sherrill, as of a month ago, had spent around $11 million on her campaign, with Ciattarelli dishing out nearly $13 million. FIVE KEY 2025 RACES TO WATCH In Virginia, the Democratic nominee for governor, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, hauled in nearly $12 million in fundraising in October alone, with Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears raking in $9.5 million last month. In New York City, where there are fundraising and spending caps, Democratic Party nominee Zohran Mamdani hauled in nearly $17 million in public and private contributions, with Independent candidate former Gov. Andrew Cuomo at $12.5 million and GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa raising nearly $6 million. And none of these figures include the tens of millions of dollars dished out in all three races by outside groups, such as super PACs. Meanwhile, the Prop 50 battle in California, the nation’s most populous state, saw a surge in spending. A whopping $140 million was dished out as of last month in the battle between Democrats and Republicans in left-leaning California to return control of congressional redistricting from the current non-partisan commission back to the Democrat-dominated legislature. The Yes on Prop 50 forces pulled in nearly $100 million, vastly outraising and spending the No forces.
Sexual predators, drug traffickers among ICE’s ‘worst of the worst’ roundup in Virginia
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests in Virginia have nearly tripled under President Donald Trump’s leadership compared to the previous administration, prompting Homeland Security to call out some of the state’s “worst of the worst” dangerous and violent offenders captured just last week in the state. The undocumented immigrant offenders highlighted by DHS came from Central America and the Caribbean, including El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. Meanwhile, their crimes ranged from drug smuggling to domestic violence, rape, “carnal abuse,” making terroristic threats, extortion and more. “This past week, ICE took down sexual predators, drug traffickers, rapists, abusers and other violent thugs across the Commonwealth,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “These arrests underscore the reality of open border and sanctuary policies that allowed criminals around the world to come to America and roam free across our country. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, the U.S. is closed to lawbreakers. We will continue to use every available tool to make America safe again.” MAJOR BLUE COUNTY IN HOT SEAT AFTER VIOLENT ILLEGAL ALIEN ARRESTED 10 TIMES FINALLY NABBED BY ICE One of the offenders from Guatemala, Westher Antonio Jacobo Morales, was previously deported in 2016, but committed a felony when he chose to come back and re-enter illegally once again, according to DHS. Arrested last week by ICE officers in Richmond, Morales has a rap sheet that includes rape, extortion and violating a court order. A second offender from Guatemala, Daniel Soc-Patzan, entered the country illegally in 2013 and was issued a final order of removal that same year. He was arrested last week by ICE officials in Richmond as well. According to DHS, Soc-Patzan has a rap sheet including multiple infractions for assault and aggravated domestic violence. Meanwhile, another illegal immigrant criminal highlighted by DHS had a criminal history involving “carnal abuse” and sexual assault. That individual, Harvin Francisco Rivera-Diaz, was arrested last week in Richmond after illegally crossing the southern border from Nicaragua in 2022 under the former Biden administration. Adolfo Flores Ramirez, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, was arrested the same day, in Northern Virginia’s Loudoun County. His criminal history included charges of driving under the influence, domestic violence and assault. In addition to undocumented immigrants from Central America, ICE officials in Virginia picked up criminal illegal aliens from the Caribbean as well. BIDEN-ERA ‘UNVETTED’ IMMIGRANTS NABBED AFTER VIRGINIA HIGHWAY GUNFIRE AS BORDER DEBATE HITS GOVERNOR’S RACE One from Jamaica, Shannovan Emeil Facey, was issued a final order of removal in 2013 but has managed to stay in the United States until now after his arrest in Richmond. His criminal history includes drug smuggling, drug possession and weapons charges, according to DHS. A second criminal illegal alien from the Caribbean included a man from the Dominican Republic who was arrested last week by ICE agents in Norfolk. The man, Elvin Tiburcio Mirambeaux, has a criminal history including making terroristic threats and drug possession. Past “worst of the worst” roundups include arrests made in Los Angeles of illegal immigrant gang members, murderers and child predators. For example, Mexican national Juan Carlos Marin-Hipolito was convicted of murder and sentenced to 50 years to life in prison, DHS said. Diego Fernandez-Martinez, also from Mexico, had convictions for carjacking, vehicle theft, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance for sales, robbery and prisoner in possession of a weapon, according to DHS, which noted he was also a member of the Surenos gang. Meanwhile, a “worst of the worst” Halloween weekend roundup included arrests of criminal illegal aliens convicted of intercourse with a minor, sexual abuse, kidnapping, homicide and other serious crimes. DHS highlighted that 70% of ICE arrests are of criminal illegal aliens charged or convicted of a crime in the U.S., according to a statement to Fox News Digital. With multiple important statewide elections in Virginia looming, Fox News Digital reached out to Virginia candidates for governor and attorney general, including Democrat gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger, Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears, Democrat Attorney General candidate Jay Jones and Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares, for comment on these recent arrests. “Disobedience of the law has no place in Virginia. Attorney General Miyares has proven time and again that violent offenders, including those in our country illegally, will face swift and uncompromising justice when they harm innocent Virginians,” representatives for Miyares said. “Jay Jones, on the other hand, would take our Commonwealth in the opposite direction. He intends to turn Virginia into a sanctuary state, tying the hands of law enforcement and endangering every law-abiding Virginian.” Jones, Spanberger and Sears didn’t respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.