Red states have spent decades dominating a key corner of the economy — will the blue wave change that?
DALLAS — Red states have quietly outpaced their blue-state counterparts in commercial real estate investment returns for years, according to a new study highlighting stark differences in state economic policies. But sweeping Democratic gains in Tuesday’s midterm elections — even in traditionally deep-red strongholds — are raising questions about whether those states can maintain their economic advantages as the political landscape shifts in the new year. Mitch Flax, founder and chief investment officer of Net Equity Capital, told Fox News Digital his research was sparked by the observation that commercial real estate investors based in blue states were reluctant to invest in their own markets. The findings underscore a broader economic battle playing out across the country as businesses and wealthy Americans relocate across state lines, bringing jobs, investment dollars and tax revenue with them while potentially leaving financial holes in the states they abandon. CEO SAYS DOING BUSINESS IN STATE ‘SUCKS’ AS COMPANY HEADS TO TEXAS AMID CALIFORNIA EXODUS “I had a large family office based out of Chicago who lives in California who said, we don’t invest in real estate in blue states,” Flax recalled. Coming on the heels of the 2026 midterms, the study also raises questions about whether the state-level tax and business policies that have helped fuel growth in red states will remain intact as Democrats make political gains and begin to enact their agenda. The encounter prompted Flax to examine nearly 24,000 commercial real estate transactions to determine whether political differences between states were associated with investment performance. Researchers used a proxy to estimate returns and classified states as red or blue based on their votes in the 2024 presidential election. Flax attributed the performance gap identified in his analysis largely to differences in state-level business policies, arguing that those policies influence where companies relocate, jobs are created and, ultimately, where capital flows. AMERICA’S NEXT ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE MAY BE RISING IN RED-STATE TERRITORY The findings come as corporate migration toward lower-tax states rose in recent years, with Texas emerging as a major destination for companies relocating from costly coastal hubs. Flax says that Texas is on track to be the next Singapore-style “tax haven” for companies, due to its policies attracting business and industry. “We’ve all seen the movie ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ — get ready for Crazy Rich Texans, because that movie is coming,” he said. It’s unclear how Tuesday’s results will impact that prediction after Texas flipped a U.S. Senate seat blue with Senator-elect James Talarico beating Ken Paxton, who was backed by President Donald Trump, and Democrat Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa beating Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. As Fox News Digital previously reported, a CBRE analysis found that 725 companies relocated their headquarters between 2018 and 2025. Dallas-Fort Worth led the nation with 111 relocations, followed by Austin with 88 and Houston with 31. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Bay Area, a deep blue enclave, recorded a net loss of 163 corporate headquarters during the same period, as companies cited taxes, labor regulations and rising living costs among their reasons for leaving. THIS STATE ISN’T JUST GROWING — ITS ECONOMY IS GETTING RICHER PER RESIDENT Flax, however, also argued that population shifts and corporate relocations are symptoms of a deeper economic divide, with underlying business policies shaping investment decisions and determining where capital flows. “Most of the large asset managers out there are underwriting population in this migration flow. But the reality is that’s a symptom,” Flax told Fox News Digital. “When you look at exactly what’s causing it, it’s pure structural business policy,” he added. Flax said those policies can trigger a ripple effect across the commercial real estate market as businesses relocate, workers follow and demand grows for housing, retail and office space. “Migration is the symptom, but it’s a cascade, right? So policy draws people and companies and then every kind of commercial real estate follows,” Flax said. “Apartments follow migration, retail follows rooftops, office follows jobs, warehouse follows logistics.”
Progressive group’s 182-page blueprint maps out potential Dem investigations into Trump, corporate allies
A progressive policy organization led by former aides to President Joe Biden and former aides to progressive Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. assembled a detailed blueprint for potential Democratic congressional investigations to target President Donald Trump and his allies beyond the White House, which could foreshadow the goals of the 120th Congress. Groundwork Collaborative’s dossier, obtained and analyzed by Fox News Digital, maps Trump donors and corporate allies for potential Democratic congressional investigations. Leaders in big tech and CEOs of large corporations are likely to be among the targets of the anti-Trump crusade. A longtime Democratic Senate staffer familiar with the process told Fox News Digital that the Democratic majorities on these committees already plan to exclusively focus on targeting allies and donors of the president, going as far as targeting the ones who donated to the new White House ballroom, once they move into the majority. HOUSE GOP LAUNCHES DEFENSE PLAN TO SHIELD TRUMP FROM LOOMING DEMOCRAT INVESTIGATIONS However, the staffer did not see the document, which specifically says to target those who gave to the ballroom, library, Trump’s inauguration and campaign. Reports had said it was obtained by House committees as well, but a House Judiciary Committee aide for Democrats told Semafor it was “one of many” and dismissed it, saying, “We all get a lot of emails.” But nevertheless, it could still show signs of where people on the left want the new Democratic majorities to go. Other plans outlined in the document include targeting Trump-aligned corporations, such as Tesla, Apple, Amazon, Oracle, Trump Media and World Liberty Financial. The letter also mentions Palantir’s Alex Karp and Coinbase’s Brian Armstrong by name, with possible hearings involving executives from OpenAI, Meta, Google, Microsoft, Oracle and others. TAX BREAKS HELPING FUEL TRUMP’S LATEST TECH PUSH JUST LANDED IN DEMS’ CROSSHAIRS Other priorities include investigating Trump’s personal finances, proposing congressional scrutiny of Trump’s tax arrangements, cryptocurrency businesses and alleged preferential treatment of corporate donors. The document continues, urging the committees to expand federal oversight of artificial intelligence, outline investigations into AI companies and proposals to restrict algorithmic pricing, workplace surveillance and certain autonomous AI technologies. This includes investigating the Trump administration’s Medicare AI program, which uses the WISeR model, employing artificial intelligence systems to screen prior authorization requests in traditional Medicare to determine whether specific outpatient procedures are medically necessary. The document adds that committees should increase scrutiny of private businesses through hearings, document demands and potential legislation targeting major employers, landlords, insurers and technology companies. TRUMP CMS FACES BIPARTISAN PUSHBACK OVER MEDICARE PROPOSAL TIED TO BIDEN-ERA DRUG PRICING LAW “We just had a midterm election where Democratic candidates across the country made the point that corporations have been doing very well for the last several years, while the typical family has been getting squeezed with higher prices and worse service,” Bharat Ramamurti, a former deputy director of the National Economic Council who coordinated with Groundwork on the dossier, told Fox News Digital. “The oversight agenda is about trying to understand and figure out what exactly are these corporations doing, who’s responsible for these decisions, and then what, as policymakers, can folks in Congress do about it,” Ramamurti added. Pages later in the document also mention plans for restricting corporate ownership and pricing practices. It discusses measures aimed at institutional housing investors, algorithmic rent-setting and corporate pricing systems. The document proposes investigating a reported settlement involving Trump’s tax audits, including requesting information about the Chicago tower audit and questioning Treasury officials. Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
Former US senator and West Virginia governor Jay Rockefeller dies at 89
Former U.S. Senator and West Virginia governor John D. “Jay” Rockefeller IV has died at the age of 89. The Democratic political figure was from the prominent Rockefeller family of New York. He served in the Senate for just shy of 30 years. WHAT THE 2026 MIDTERM RESULTS MEAN FOR CAPITOL HILL West Virginia polititical figures spoke highly of Rockefeller in statements on Friday. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., said in a post on X, “Deeply saddened by the passing of former Senator and Governor Jay Rockefeller. Jay dedicated his life to serving West Virginia and our nation, leaving a lasting legacy. He was always a true gentleman who treated me with respect, kindness, and encouragement. “Over the years, we developed a wonderful friendship that transcended politics, and I will always be grateful for that. Above all, Jay loved his family. Charlie and I are keeping Sharon, their children and grandchildren, and the entire Rockefeller family in our prayers,” she added. FORMER GOP WHIP, ARIZONA SEN JON KYL DEAD AT 84 Former Sen. Joe Manchin, who is also a former West Virginia governor, described Rockefeller as a “mentor.” “I looked up to Jay as a mentor and as a friend. When I ran for my first full term in the U.S. Senate in 2012, Jay was on the front lines and helped me every step of the way. He showed me how to be an effective U.S. Senator and best represent our state. He couldn’t have been a better mentor or tutor,” Manchin wrote in part of a longer post on X. Manchin, a longtime Democrat, announced toward the end of his Senate tenure that he switched “to register as an independent with no party affiliation.” ROCKEFELLER HEIR VANISHED IN TRIBAL WATERS AFTER EERIE LAST WORDS Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.V., also commented on Rockefeller’s death, noting in a post on X, “Senator Jay Rockefeller’s passing is sad news to all of West Virginia. His years of dedicated service as Governor and Senator truly reflect the love he had for his great state. Senator Rockefeller worked hard for West Virginians and made a difference in countless lives. Cathy and I send our deepest love and prayers to Sharon, their children, and the entire Rockefeller family.” Justice, who is also a former governor, won one West Virginia gubernatorial race as a Democrat then later won another contest as a Republican. Current Gov. Patrick Morrisey, who is a Republican, said in part of a statement that Rockefeller’s “work helped shape our state and left a lasting mark on the lives of generations of West Virginians. His decades of service deserve our respect and gratitude, and his legacy will remain an important part of West Virginia’s history.”
‘We didn’t expect this’: Texas Democrats stunned as blue wave topples GOP stronghold
AUSTIN, Texas — As the Democrats’ blue wave began to slam into Texas, Richard Torres, a Texan who has voted blue his entire life, kept peering at the results pouring in on reporters’ screens all around him. And when it was announced Texas state Rep. James Talarico had toppled Ken Paxton, he sat down to take it in. Torres was the former chair of the Williamson County Democratic Party, where Talarico grew up and attended high school in Round Rock, Texas. He never thought that Texas Republicans would be swept away by the oncoming blue wave. TEXAS’ RED WALL FACING ITS BIGGEST THREAT IN DECADES AS REPUBLICANS SCRAMBLE TO DEFEND IT “We started seeing some changes, but not what we expected tonight,” Torres told Fox News Digital. “We didn’t expect this tonight.” When asked why a deep-red stronghold like the Lone Star State had become so rapidly blue, Torres said that it started at the top with President Donald Trump and should serve as a message to GOP candidates and officials across the state. “I think it sends a message that they’re on the wrong track, and they’ve been for a while, but they won’t accept the problems we have with the president,” Torres said. “They’re totally supporting him. I don’t know why.” “But they don’t see the problems that we’re having in this country with all the things that have happened with the war going on and things of this type,” he continued. “And they just seem to support him on it. This is a referendum against Trump.” STATE OF PLAY: BLUE WAVE SWEEPS DEMOCRATS INTO POWER, WITH KEY RACES STILL HANGING IN BALANCE Talarico and several other Democratic candidates, including Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa, shattered the GOP’s grip on Texas, serving Republicans in Congress a stiff blow as their majorities in both chambers rapidly evaporated Tuesday night. And the incoming lawmaker didn’t just squeak by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. He beat the Trump-backed candidate, who was not the first choice of Republicans in Washington, by over 12 percentage points, or well over 1 million votes, in a state that Trump won in 2024 by nearly 14 points. To secure that win, Talarico needed to capture Republicans and Democrats in Texas. One of those Republicans, James, told Fox News Digital that he had always voted for the GOP until this election. TEXAS SENATE VICTOR JAMES TALARICO LAYS OUT COMMON GROUND WITH TRUMP, VOWS TO ‘WORK TOGETHER’ “I’ve been a Republican my whole life, but I’m voting Democratic this year because I think we need to,” James said. “The Republicans have lost their way, I believe.” While the optimism at the watch party was palpable, be it through the pumping music or over half a dozen mobile bars with lines dozens of people deep, there was still a cautious anxiety among some voters. Particularly after Democrats had gotten so close to flipping the Senate seat before in 2018, when former Texas state Rep. Beto O’Rourke gave Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, a run for his money. O’Rourke would end up losing by roughly two points, but the exuberance that turned to heartbreak wasn’t soon forgotten by the Lone Star State’s Democratic voters. As results began to roll in and the crowd’s energy began to explode, Beverly, another longtime Texas resident and voter, said Tuesday night was bigger than Texas. “This feels like a now or never moment in the entire United States,” she said. “We either turn things around or we might as well kiss it all goodbye.”
Bitter Fetterman-El-Sayed feud threatens to complicate Schumer’s Senate unity push
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for Democratic Party unity Wednesday following the midterm elections, but a bitter feud between Sen. John Fetterman and Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed could complicate efforts to unite the caucus in the 120th Congress. The two Democrats traded personal insults throughout the 2026 election cycle, clashing over U.S. military assistance to Israel, Medicare for All and the ideological direction of the Democratic Party. “You put one ogre on a pike, and then everyone else gets the message,” El-Sayed, D-Mich., reportedly told progressive donors during a private Zoom call, arguing that challenging moderate Democrats in primary elections would send a message to the party’s establishment. CHUCK SCHUMER AFTER SWEEPING DEMOCRATIC MIDTERM VICTORIES: ‘I’LL BE RE-ELECTED AS MAJORITY LEADER’ Fetterman, D-Pa., has been an outspoken supporter of U.S. military assistance to Israel, including funding for its Iron Dome missile defense system, and he has backed military action against Hezbollah and Iran. El-Sayed, meanwhile, campaigned against the war in Iran and opposed taxpayer-funded military operations and U.S. aid to Israel. A longtime Democratic Senate staffer told Fox News Digital that they would “not be surprised” if tensions emerged between the two lawmakers but expressed confidence that their loyalty to the Democratic Party would outweigh their personal disagreements. FETTERMAN CLAIMS DEMOCRATIC ‘BIG TENT’ HAS MORE ROOM FOR ‘AMERICA DESERVED 9/11’ THAN ISRAEL SUPPORT The staffer added that Fetterman has faced criticism from other members of the Senate Democratic caucus, though those disagreements have not necessarily prevented lawmakers from working together. During a televised primary debate, El-Sayed confirmed that his “ogre on a pike” remark was directed at Fetterman, accusing the Pennsylvania senator of having “abandoned his elected values” through his support for U.S. military assistance to Israel. DEMS CLASH OVER AIPAC MONEY, ‘OGRE’ ATTACK AND ELECTABILITY DURING CRUCIAL SENATE DEBATE El-Sayed later doubled down on his criticism, arguing against funding foreign defense systems such as Israel’s Iron Dome while American schools struggle with limited resources. Fetterman fired back, referring to El-Sayed as the “Pontiac Platner” in an apparent jab at the Maine Democrat Graham Platner, who dropped out of his Senate race this election season under the weight of multiple scandals. FETTERMAN ‘DARES’ EL-SAYED TO STICK WITH PIKER, CLAIMS MICHIGAN NOMINEE HAS ‘LITTLE MAN SYNDROME ENERGY’ The Pennsylvania senator also accused El-Sayed of seeking to become the “head of our emerging pro-Hamas wing here in the party,” criticizing his positions on Israel. El-Sayed’s campaign appearances with left-wing streamer Hasan Piker, who previously said “America deserved 9/11,” further fueled the dispute, prompting Fetterman to publicly condemn Piker’s remarks. The tensions escalated after El-Sayed narrowly defeated Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., in the Democratic primary by less than one percentage point. Days before the general election, reports emerged that El-Sayed’s campaign had barred Stevens from attending its final campaign events, drawing another sharp rebuke from Fetterman. MICHIGAN DEMOCRAT HALEY STEVENS BACKS EL-SAYED AFTER NARROW PRIMARY DEFEAT, CALLS SOCIALISM ‘DANGEROUS’ “Rep. Haley Stevens simply held Abdul El-Sayed accountable for his views on Israel and fixation with Jewish money. El-Sayed is going after a woman and banning her from campaign events for having an opinion,” Fetterman told Jewish Insider. “He has the worst case of little man syndrome I’ve ever seen,” Fetterman added. DEM INSURGENT TURNS ON THE CHARM WITH PARTY ESTABLISHMENT AS SCHUMER LEAVES BITTER FEUD HANGING Despite the public hostility, the Democratic Senate staffer’s assessment suggests the two lawmakers could ultimately set aside their differences to advance their party’s legislative priorities. The feud could nevertheless present an early test for Schumer, D-N.Y., as he seeks to maintain unity among Senate Democrats, particularly on divisive issues such as U.S. foreign policy and the party’s progressive agenda. El-Sayed, Fetterman and Schumer did not respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
‘Squad’ member urges Dems to take advantage of midterm sweep by passing far-left policies
Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., is pressing her party to wield their power to push far-left policies such as passing Medicare for All and reparations, and abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). During remarks on Tuesday, Pressley declared, “Alright, now as I close I have a message for my colleagues in the House who are likely watching. Democrats, when we have the power, you have to use it. Democrats, can you hear me now? When we have the power we have to use it. “Now, please don’t tell me about a majority, show me a majority. Show me a people-powered majority with a mandate for justice, with a mandate for compassion, with a mandate for progress,” she declared. ‘SQUAD’ RAKES IN RECORD $2.35M WHILE SLAMMING THE DOOR ON COP DONATIONS “Democrats, don’t just talk about healthcare justice, pass Medicare for All. Democrats, don’t just talk about abortion justice, pass the EACH Act, and repeal the Hyde Amendment. Democrats, don’t just talk about black lives mattering, enact reparations now. Democrats, don’t just talk about ending ICE’s terror, take every last dollar from them and abolish ICE,” the congresswoman continued. Pressley, a member of the progressive cadre of House Democrats known as “The Squad,” has served in the chamber since early 2019. WHAT THE 2026 MIDTERM RESULTS MEAN FOR CAPITOL HILL Republicans suffered an electoral rout during the midterm elections, resulting in the loss of the House and Senate majorities, though President Donald Trump can veto any legislation the Democratic-controlled Congress sends to his desk during his final two years. “The fascist occupant of the White House tried his hardest to end DEI and has pushed Black women out of the workforce. Now, Black women are flexing their power and poised to lead at every level of government. And we’re bringing friends,” Pressley said Wednesday on X. SCANDAL-PLAGUED ‘SQUAD’ REP CRUISES TO DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION WITH NO GOP ROADBLOCKS IN VIEW In a statement provided to Fox News Digital on Friday, White House spokeswoman Allison Schuster said, “President Trump promised to end divisive, racist policies and restore merit and efficiency. DEI ran rampant during the Biden Administration, and Americans ultimately paid the price for these destructive policies with a restricted labor pool, higher operational costs, and workforce inefficiencies. The Trump Administration will always promote equal treatment under the law for every American, regardless of race or ethnicity.” The Republican National Committee did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on Friday.
Vance ‘privately’ blasts Netanyahu as Iran war divides Trump administration and 2028 ambitions loom
Vice President JD Vance privately accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being “wrong on everything” about the Iran war, according to reports, as disagreements over the conflict expose tensions within the Trump administration and raise questions about Vance’s potential 2028 presidential ambitions. The clash, reported by Axios Nov. 4., comes after Republicans lost control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections and Vance publicly blamed the war for the party’s defeat while urging President Donald Trump to pursue a negotiated settlement rather than renewed military strikes. “The reason we lost is the war,” Vance wrote later on Wednesday on X. VANCE’S SCATHING IRAN WAR POSTMORTEM PUTS POTENTIAL 2028 GOP SHOWDOWN IN FOCUS: ‘EVERYONE KNOWS WHY’ “Low-level hostility between Vance and Netanyahu is beneficial for Vance,” Natan Sachs, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, told Fox News Digital. “It allows him to give some distance from the Trump administration, which has just taken a huge electoral beating, but also to position himself … in a very different position than President Trump himself without attacking Trump.” Vance has also led a faction of senior administration officials urging Trump to negotiate an end to the conflict, warning that the unpopular war could cost Republicans control of Congress, according to reports. Netanyahu had urged Trump to resume strikes against Iran ahead of the midterms, but Trump held off after endorsing Netanyahu for re-election in Israel. Sachs said Vance’s main concern appeared to be the prospect of overthrowing Iran’s government after Netanyahu presented Trump with a plan for regime change. “Many opposition leaders in Israel, nonetheless, are very skeptical of the idea that you can bring about regime change through an air campaign,” Sachs said, adding that such a campaign could have the opposite effect. “You may strengthen the regime.” As previously reported by Fox News Digital, Vance had also declined to endorse Netanyahu’s re-election campaign and criticized Israeli government officials who opposed Trump’s efforts to end the Iran war. The Israeli election further complicated the relationship, Sachs said, leaving Netanyahu’s political future uncertain and raising the possibility that Vance could have to work with a different Israeli leader. NETANYAHU DEFIES EXIT POLLS AS VOTE SHIFTS IN HIS FAVOR, BUT MAJORITY REMAINS ELUSIVE “If Netanyahu is not the leader of Israel, Vance will find himself with another decision to make. Does he continue with a line that is confrontational with a new Israeli leadership, or does he say, ‘Well, it was all Netanyahu; now we can see a different path forward’?” Sachs said. “Netanyahu is a very easy target here, both because there are very real differences of opinion, and Netanyahu’s role was important, but also because this way he can criticize the war, criticize Netanyahu, and not say any bad word about Trump.” Roughly six in 10 voters said U.S. military action against Iran was the wrong decision, according to the AP Voter Poll. “I think what’s remarkable here is that it’s coming out now,” Sachs said. “And it’s part of the fact that about midnight Wednesday, the next presidential campaign in the United States began, and JD Vance is trying to position himself. “He is breaking with the policy of President Trump, although he’s doing so by criticizing Netanyahu, never Trump.” VANCE REVEALS THE TRUMP DILEMMA THAT COULD COMPLICATE HIS 2028 WHITE HOUSE AMBITIONS Nonetheless, Vance has played a leading role in efforts to end the conflict with Iran, including direct outreach to senior Iranian officials. Last month, he sent a letter through Qatari intermediaries to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, proposing renewed peace negotiations. According to Axios, the letter said any negotiations to prevent further U.S. military strikes must address Iran’s nuclear program. A U.S. official said Trump backed the outreach. Rezaei later confirmed receiving the letter but said he had not responded. “My suspicion is that JD Vance was operating on behalf of Trump on this,” Sachs claimed. “Trump, after the war sort of settled after the first few weeks, appointed Vice President Vance to try and negotiate the exit strategy, and Vance has been very keen on that.” Sachs also cited Vance’s involvement in an earlier memorandum of understanding with Iran as further evidence of his preference for diplomacy. “He agreed to the MOU, which has become quite notorious in the United States, giving quite a bit to the Iranians, much more than the administration is now considering reasonable. VANCE TAKES LEAD SELLING TRUMP’S IRAN GAMBLE AS RUBIO, HEGSETH AND RATCLIFFE CEDE SPOTLIGHT ON FRAGILE DEAL “Vance has certainly been on the side that has been trying to achieve a diplomatic breakthrough.” The White House is now weighing whether to resume major strikes against Iran, maintain economic and naval pressure or pursue a negotiated settlement. On Thursday, Reuters reported that Tehran submitted a formal nuclear proposal to the United States through Qatari intermediaries, making further negotiations contingent on Washington addressing its seven demands. “The real question is whether the Americans and the Iranians can approach some kind of agreement on the fundamentals, starting with freedom of navigation in the Straits of Hormuz and the cessation of hostilities,” Sachs said. For Vance, the dispute poses a political balancing act of distancing himself from a war he reportedly opposed while serving as vice president in the administration that launched it. “He was against the war, so it would seem, but of course, he’s vice president in the administration that went to war,” Sachs said, describing it as a “very difficult balancing act for him electorally.”
Child molester’s looming prison release reignites sanctuary showdown in wake of Dem election sweep
A convicted child molester and illegal alien from Venezuela could soon be back on the streets unless authorities in Seattle ditch their sanctuary city policies and cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has sent a detainer request to the liberal Pacific Northwest enclave for Leomar Alexander Lopez Zambrano, asking that he be turned over rather than be released back into the U.S. after his prison sentence concludes. The clash between DHS and Seattle exacerbates longstanding tensions between President Donald Trump’s immigration officials and leaders in so-called sanctuary cities, which have thrown up roadblocks to law enforcement cooperating with federal enforcement authorities. Going a step further, the outcome of Tuesday’s elections are putting even more of a microscope on the agency at the center of much controversy during Trump’s second term and is raising questions about which administration officials could face the wrath of a brand-new blue Congress. DEMOCRATS SEIZE HOUSE CONTROL IN STUNNING BLUE TSUNAMI, VOW RETRIBUTION AGAINST TRUMP ADMIN “Sanctuary politicians in Washington are refusing to honor the ICE detainer and hand this disgusting criminal over to us after he finishes his prison sentence,” Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement. “This illegal alien has been convicted on TWO counts of child molestation.” After the 2026 midterms, the matter in Seattle raises new questions of whether sanctuary cities will feel emboldened to double down on their efforts to block Trump’s agenda as Democrats prepare to retake a majority in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. To those like Hans von Spakovsky, an immigration expert with Advancing American Freedom (AAF), the political tide turning in Washington, D.C., might encourage Democrat-run cities to go even further in stonewalling immigration enforcement agencies and making it harder for officials to do their jobs. “I have no doubt that sanctuary jurisdictions will feel emboldened,” Spakovsky told Fox News Digital in the days after the Republican bloodbath. “I also would not put it past [Democrats] to try to impeach Tom Homan for imagined wrongs because he has been the most effective czar of immigration enforcement of any administration in the past 50 years,” he said. “I don’t think they would be successful, but, again, that will embolden defiance of federal immigration enforcement in sanctuary jurisdictions.” In many cases, sanctuary cities simply cut off communication with federal law enforcement, and DHS fears that will be the case with Zambrano, the convicted Venezuelan child molester. Zambrano is now approaching the end of a 15-month sentence, the point at which he would normally face deportation. But Mullin noted DHS would have no way of knowing when he was out of jail without Seattle’s cooperation. ICE ARRESTS ILLEGAL ALIEN ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING CHILDREN AFTER FAIRFAX COUNTY RELEASE: DHS “Sanctuary politicians care so much about illegal aliens that they’d rather release a convicted child molester than cooperate with federal law enforcement,” Mullin said. When asked about Seattle’s cooperation with DHS, the agency responded by similarly emphasizing local-federal partnership. “The safest way to arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens from our streets is by lodging arrest detainers. Because some sanctuary jurisdictions refuse to work with ICE law enforcement, criminal illegal aliens are released from jails into American communities to perpetuate more crimes. Seven of the top 10 safest cities in the United States cooperate with ICE,” the agency said in a statement. In the wake of the election, some Republican onlookers believe similar concerns could emerge in other states, even red states like Texas. Dan Bongino, a conservative commentator and podcast host, noted that the Lone Star State’s newly elected Democratic governor, Gina Hinojosa, voted against sanctuary city restrictions as a state legislator in 2017. GOP SENATORS RALLY AROUND NEW DHS PROPOSAL TARGETING SANCTUARY CITIES: ‘SHOULD PAY A PRICE’ “Folks, Texas shares a border with Mexico. Do we need to ChatGPT this for people?” Bongino said in a recent podcast. “The only message [voters] are sending is you want your state to become a sanctuary, sitting on the border with Mexico for illegals who come into the United States.” Spakovsky believes local resistance to immigration enforcement could coincide with congressional Democrats’ legislative efforts. He believes Democrats will attempt to target immigration enforcement resources through the congressional appropriations process, although he cast doubt on their effectiveness. “Democrats will, no doubt, try to stop DHS from immigration enforcement and DOJ from prosecutions in the immigration area by trying to use the appropriations process to defund such enforcement at both agencies,” Spakovsky said. “I am not sure they will be successful … especially if they tie such punitive measures with must-pass government funding that the president signs.” Asked about whether DHS was concerned about an emboldened stance from sanctuary cities as Democrats retake control in the nation’s capital, DHS passed a statement along from Mullin. “Deportations will continue,” the DHS chief said. Officials from Seattle did not respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital about Zambrano’s status.
Trump signs proclamation to prevent changes to Oval Office, other White House rooms
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation Thursday designating the Oval Office, the Outer Oval Office and the Cabinet Room as a national monument and federal landmark, a move intended to preserve the spaces and prevent future administrations from altering them. “It won’t be able to be taken down, destroyed, touched or anything else,” Trump told reporters from the Oval Office. “It’s actually called a national monument. It’s a federal landmark. When completed … it’ll make it impossible for anybody ever to destroy this incredible space. “ Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House. DEMOCRATS SEIZE HOUSE CONTROL IN STUNNING BLUE TSUNAMI, VOW RETRIBUTION AGAINST TRUMP ADMIN The announcement came two days after the midterm elections in which Democrats won enough seats to gain control of Congress. The proclamation is part of a broader series of post-election public appearances highlighting White House construction initiatives. TRUMP’S WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM CONSTRUCTION GETS ANOTHER LIFELINE FROM SCOTUS AMID HEATED LEGAL FIGHT On Monday, Trump detailed planned updates during remarks in front of the Reflecting Pool. On Wednesday, he held a press briefing at the construction site of a new White House ballroom. Since returning to office in 2025, Trump has prioritized several high-profile architectural and cultural projects, including a proposed 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery and proposals to rename and restructure the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Ex-Biden official projected to win bid to unseat Mike Lawler in high-stakes House race
A former Biden administration aide is projected to defeat Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., in one of the most closely watched races of the 2026 election cycle. Cait Conley, a military veteran who served on the White House National Security Council, will likely be coming to Congress next year after beating the two-term incumbent for the job, The Associated Press projected late Thursday. Multiple forecasts suggested the seat would be a likely pickup for Democrats. THUNE WEIGHS NIGHTMARE SCENARIO FOR GOP AS DEMOCRATS THREATEN TO FLIP HOUSE Both parties poured enormous resources into the race for New York’s 17th Congressional District in the months before Election Day. It was widely seen as key to both parties’ quests to win the House majority. The district, which sits just north of New York City, was won by Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024. TENSION ERUPTS DURING HOUSE MIDTERM DEBATE AS LAWLER FACT-CHECKS NEW YORK DEMOCRAT OPPONENT ON IMMIGRATION Lawler spent much of the race walking a political tightrope between supporting President Donald Trump and positioning himself as an independent voice. And the race itself was marked by bitter divisions on issues like immigration enforcement and taxes. DHS BOSS REVEALS OVAL OFFICE PLAN TO ‘WITHHOLD FUNDING’ FROM SANCTUARY CITIES AFTER AGGRESSIVE NEW YORK BUST Among Lawler’s backers were the parents of Sheridan Gorman, a college student from his district who was killed in Chicago while she was out with friends. Gorman’s accused killer is an illegal immigrant who was previously arrested for shoplifting, but was released without a federal immigration detainer because of Chicago’s sanctuary city laws. Lawler and Gorman’s parents have pointed to her killing as proof that Democrat-backed sanctuary laws — which are active in New York as well — are deadly for Americans. He argued that Conley would do nothing to mitigate the effects of illegal immigration. ARMY COMBAT VETERAN CHALLENGING MIKE LAWLER CALLS HEGSETH NATIONAL SECURITY ‘HAZARD,’ BACKS IMPEACHMENT Conley, for her part, condemned Gorman’s killing and has said she is against illegal immigration, but she has not spoken out against sanctuary laws specifically. Conley served as counterterrorism director on the White House National Security Council from 2021 to 2023 and spent the remainder of former President Joe Biden’s term as a senior advisor on election security at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Fox News Power Rankings rated the district as “lean Democrat,” while the Cook Political Report ranked it a toss-up.