Trump ally jumps into crowded GOP primary in race to flip swing state House seat
FIRST ON FOX: A Republican activist who was a top supporter last year of President Donald Trump’s bid to win back the White House is hoping to break the GOP’s losing streak in a key congressional swing seat. Elizabeth Girard, who served as co-chair of Trump’s 2024 campaign in New Hampshire, on Monday formally launched her campaign for the swing state’s open 1st Congressional District, which Republicans haven’t captured in over a decade. “I’ll work with President Trump and my colleagues to deliver tangible results and ensure our state’s future stays bright for generations to come,” Girard said in a statement and an accompanying video that was shared nationally first with Fox News Digital. KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE 2025 ELECTIONS The district, which stretches from Manchester east to Portsmouth and north to the White Mountains, is one of the GOP’s top targets as Republicans aim to not only protect but expand their razor-thin House majority in next year’s midterm elections. SCOOP: HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN ARM ANCHORS MAMDANI TO VULNERABLE DEMOCRATS The 1st District was once one of the leading congressional swing seats in the country, but Democrats have won five straight elections in the district, including the last four by Rep. Chris Pappas. But with the seat opening up as Pappas runs for the Senate in the race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Republicans see an opportunity to flip the House seat. In her announcement, Girard pledged to bring “results-drive, commonsense leadership to Washington — and to amplify New Hampshire’s voice.” She said her priorities, if elected, would include lowering the cost of living and healthcare in New Hampshire, empowering small businesses and innovators to thrive, and “providing care for veterans and seniors who build and defended this nation.” Girard joins a crowded Republican primary field that also includes auto dealer and real estate developer Anthony DiLorenzo, Hollie Noveletsky — a former New Hampshire GOP vice chair who came in second in the 2024 Republican congressional primary in the district — state Rep. Brian Cole, and Bedford Republican Committee Vice Chair Melissa Bailey. Seven Democrats are running for their party’s nomination, including former Portsmouth city councilor Stefany Shaheen, who is the daughter of Sen. Shaheen, and Maura Sullivan, a New Hampshire Democratic Party vice chair, runner-up to Pappas in the 2018 congressional primary, and a U.S. Marine veteran who served in the Defense Department during former President Barack Obama’s administration. Girard, a 2016 graduate of the University of New Hampshire, served as president of the New Hampshire Federation of Republican Women (NHFRW). She also ran unsuccessfully for the state’s open Republican National Committeewoman seat. Girard was still NHFRW chair when she endorsed Trump at a campaign rally in December 2023, which broke the organization’s longstanding rule of not taking sides in a GOP primary. She promptly resigned from her leadership role with the group to become a Trump co-chair in New Hampshire.
Fox News Politics Newsletter: Mike Johnson eyes Wednesday vote, shutdown end near
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… -Top Dem Gov accuses JD Vance of “betraying” his home Appalachia with SNAP fight -Dem senator reveals deal that secured shutdown’s fate — says it was ‘worth it’ to stop federal layoffs -New Hampshire governor recruits NYC business owners fleeing Mamdani ‘regime’ Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is anticipating the House could vote to end the government shutdown as early as Wednesday, Fox News Digital is told. The House GOP leader held a lawmaker-only call late on Monday morning where he urged Republicans to return to Washington as soon as possible for what is expected to be just a single day of voting before a full session week begins on Nov. 17. “We’re going to plan on voting, on being here, at least by Wednesday,” Johnson said, Fox News Digital was told. “It is possible that things could shift a little bit later in the week, but right now we think we’re on track for a vote on Wednesday. So we need you here.”…READ MORE. ‘FEAR MACHINE’: FDA moves to lift ‘black box’ warnings from hormone therapies for menopause symptoms TESTING TUG-OF-WAR: Democrats fight to block Trump’s ‘reckless and unnecessary’ call to restart nuclear testing ‘LIPSTICK ON A PIG’: WATCHDOG: How universities are rebranding DEI to skirt Trump’s crackdown CROSSED THE LINE: Chinese diplomat threatens to cut off new Japanese PM’s head over Taiwan comments MOSCOW’S GAME: Russia’s Lavrov says he is ready to meet Rubio but won’t budge on Ukraine terms CHECK-IN CHAOS: Shutdown may be ending but flight disruptions are far from over, here’s what the numbers show GAVELED DOWN: Democrats attempt last-ditch effort to save Obamacare subsidies as shutdown end draws near CHANGING OF GUARD: Another House Dem drops out of 2026 rat race as party faces generational reckoning SHUTDOWN SHOWDOWN: Senate hopes to blow through procedural hurdles in bid to reopen government ON THE HOUSE: House conservative leader gives blessing to Senate shutdown deal, with ‘one caveat’ GROUNDED NATION: Johnson orders lawmakers back to DC ‘right now’ as shutdown sparks travel chaos DEMS IN CHAOS: Senate vote to end government shutdown ignites Democrat civil war NO REVERSAL: Supreme Court rejects appeal from county clerk who sought to overturn same-sex marriage decision FEDS VS SANCTUARY: Portland-area county declares state of emergency over ICE activity, as police probed for helping DHS DRAWN CONNECTIONS: Mamdani’s wife’s ‘student sketchbook’ art is Hunter Biden effect all over again, says US artist ELECTION UPHEAVEL: Every county in blue state shifted farther to the left in latest high-stakes election: data BOUNDARY BRAWL: Judge set to choose new congressional map in fight that could reshape House control Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Mike Johnson eyes Wednesday vote with end of government shutdown in sight
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is anticipating the House could vote to end the government shutdown as early as Wednesday, Fox News Digital is told. The House GOP leader held a lawmaker-only call late on Monday morning where he urged Republicans to return to Washington as soon as possible for what is expected to be just a single day of voting before a full session week begins on Nov. 17. “We’re going to plan on voting, on being here, at least by Wednesday,” Johnson said, Fox News Digital was told. “It is possible that things could shift a little bit later in the week, but right now we think we’re on track for a vote on Wednesday. So we need you here.” He told House GOP lawmakers that the earliest possible vote he could anticipate would be on Wednesday morning, but he later shifted that estimate to the afternoon or evening that day given some Republicans’ schedules this week. SENATE DEMOCRATS CAVE, OPEN PATH TO REOPENING GOVERNMENT At least several House lawmakers would have to shift district events marking Veterans Day on Tuesday to return by Johnson’s deadline. One Republican on the call said they would fly to D.C. early on Wednesday morning due to a large-scale event with military veterans the day prior, Fox News Digital was told. Johnson signaled the House would not move to fast-track the legislation via suspension of the rules, which would bypass procedural hurdles in exchange for raising the passage threshold to two-thirds of the chamber. SENATE DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS REACH DEAL TO REOPEN GOVERNMENT Fox News Digital was told the House Rules Committee, the final barrier before a chamber-wide vote, could consider the legislation as early as Tuesday. It’s not a surprising move, given House Democratic leaders’ opposition to the bill. Several House Democrats have also declared they will vote against the measure because it does not include any guarantees on extending COVID-19 pandemic-era enhanced Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of this year. The House could send President Donald Trump a bill to end the government shutdown as early as Wednesday evening if their current estimates hold. But their movements will largely depend on what happens in the Senate, where eight Democrats joined Republicans Sunday night to break a filibuster on the shutdown’s 40th day. But there are several votes left and procedural roadblocks that could be weaponized that could grind the Senate’s march to advance its package to the House to a halt. If all 100 senators agree to fast-track the process, the package could move as quickly as Monday night. But if not, the bipartisan plan could stagnate in the upper chamber for several days. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., was optimistic that the Senate could finish its work Monday night but said that would be up to Senate Democrats. “Obviously, there are objections from the left, but as long as the votes are there to proceed, we will move forward, and hopefully without a lot of disruption or delay or fanfare right now,” Thune said. “The point is, we are on a path to get the government reopened, and we should try to get it done as soon as possible.” Schumer didn’t say whether Democrats would block any attempt to move the process along but did blame President Donald Trump and Republicans for the shutdown, which stretched into its 41st day on Monday. Whether Senate Democrats are in line with a cohesive strategy to block the package remains to be seen. But Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., told Fox News Digital that he “didn’t hear anything” about objections or blocks during the Democratic caucus’ closed-door meeting Sunday night.
Mamdani’s wife’s ‘student sketchbook’ art is Hunter Biden effect all over again, says US artist
Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, is reminiscent of Hunter Biden, according to a leading U.S. artist, because of her rising profile, connections and politically charged “sketches.” “She will be vastly promoted by the art establishment because of who she is and what she is communicating,” conservative political artist Jon McNaughton told Fox News Digital. His comments came after Duwaji had been sharing her mostly black-and-white drawings online for months. “In the art world, who you are can have a huge effect on marketability. Just look at Hunter Biden,” he added. “Hunter gained notoriety for his art through his political connections.” MAMDANI’S GOD SQUAD: THE CLERICS, ACTIVISTS AND POLITICAL OPERATIVES WHO HAVE HIS BACK As democratic socialist Mamdani, 34, was about to be elected as New York City mayor, Duwaji shared a post on Instagram about art. “Things I saw in October that made me want to make art,” she wrote, before listing 14 artistic items she enjoyed. “I don’t recall seeing an elected official’s spouse do this,” said McNaughton. “They seem like a couple that share the same values and politics. Her art is likely to resonate with those who elected him,” he added. “It feels like a student sketchbook of ideas.” The former president’s son, meanwhile, launched his own art career in 2021, exhibiting abstract works. His paintings reportedly sold for as much as $500,000, per The Washington Post. In an interview with The New York Times, Hunter said painting “put my energy towards something positive.” “It keeps me away from people and places where I shouldn’t be,” he added. MEET MAMDANI’S RADICAL ADVISORY CIRCLE THAT INCLUDES COMMUNIST ACTIVIST, ANTI-ISRAEL ADVOCATES Despite maintaining a low profile during her husband’s campaign, Duwaji stirred some controversy when she shared an Instagram post in October of a Palestinian influencer known for celebrating Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks, according to media reports. Per the New York Post, the Brooklyn-based animator and illustrator posted an image honoring Saleh al-Jafarawi. She reportedly captioned her post, “Beloved Jafarawi,” followed by four broken-heart emojis. “As she explained in her posts, her art reflects her personal beliefs and serves as a way to communicate her heart and mind to others,” added McNaughton. “For those who resonate with her message, it will make perfect sense — though it’s unlikely to change anyone’s mind. Ultimately, it stands as a reflection of herself,” he added. DNC EMBRACES SOCIALIST MAMDANI AS RESURFACED ANTI-ISRAEL REMARKS RAISE ALARM: ‘BIG TENT PARTY’ In March, Duwaji also shared a post depicting Mahmoud Khalil, the Palestinian-Algerian activist detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “On Saturday night, Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian-Algerian activist, was snatched by ICE from his Columbia-owned apartment in NYC without notice,” Duwaji wrote on Instagram, next to an animated sketch of Khalil. “This is an attack on freedom of speech, and sets a scary f—ing precedent for anyone who speaks up for what’s right. Resist,” she wrote. The artist, a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Communication Arts and Design program, also shared a post in October with an animated sketch of a boat with the title, “Eyes On The Global Sumud Flotilla.” INSIDE THE MAMDANI MACHINE: SOROS CASH, SOCIALISTS AND RADICAL IMAMS ENGINEERED ZOHRAN MAMDANI’S PATH TO POWER “Her art has a modern illustrative quality, woodcut aesthetic, and a mix of Gothic and Art Nouveau,” explained McNaughton. “Every good idea begins with a sketch. We work out the concept using simple forms and later develop it into something more. I’ve seen many sketchbooks of students similar to these. That’s not an insult, just an observation,” he said. “Her animation of ‘Eyes on Jenin’ reminded me of George Floyd with the knee on the neck. She uses the same visualization that led to the BLM riots,” he added. “The painting uses the metaphor of a knee on the neck like the George Floyd death.” MAMDANI’S GOD SQUAD: THE CLERICS, ACTIVISTS AND POLITICAL OPERATIVES WHO HAVE HIS BACK Duwaji met Mamdani on the dating app Hinge in 2022. They became engaged in October 2024, celebrating their engagement in Dubai. The couple later married in a civil ceremony in New York City in early 2025 and held a three-day Indian wedding in Uganda in August. “Art has a powerful capacity to bring focus to a movement. While some people perceive political art as propaganda, artists throughout history have used their creations to speak for or against the political tide,” said McNaughton. “Most galleries and museums look for a great story, and being on the correct side of politics opens doors and boosts sales,” he added. “It’s only considered propaganda if it’s commissioned by the state, or if you happen to be conservative. Pun intended,” McNaughton concluded. Fox News Digital reached out to Zohran Mamdani’s office for comment.
Dem senator reveals deal that secured shutdown’s fate — says it was ‘worth it’ to stop federal layoffs
Democrats didn’t get what they were looking for after pushing the nation into its longest shutdown on record, but to Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., that doesn’t necessarily mean they came away empty-handed. Kaine said that although Democrats failed to achieve concessions on the emergency Obamacare COVID-era subsidies at the center of the 41-day standoff, it was the resolution’s language on federal employees that ultimately drew his support. Kaine, who brokered the bill’s prohibition against reductions in force (RIFs), joined seven other Democrats to advance the legislation. MIKE JOHNSON SPEAKS OUT AFTER SENATE BREAKTHROUGH ON GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN “We reached a meeting of the minds at about 5:45 this afternoon. I walked into the caucus meeting with just a kind of deadpan face, and they were like, ‘What’s going on?’ I said, ‘We’ve got the language we need.’” “Why did they finally give me the moratorium on mischief on RIFs? They needed my vote,” Kaine said. Kaine said Republicans may have been more inclined to meet his demands on federal employees following Democratic victories on election night last week in Virginia, New Jersey, New York and California. The bill that cleared the Senate’s filibuster hurdle on Sunday would fund the government through Jan. 30. It also includes three of the government’s 12 year-long spending bills; language on the legislative branch, agriculture, and Veterans Affairs and military construction. It did not include any language on extending the expiring Obamacare tax credits that Democrats had demanded. Democrats, led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wanted at least a one-year extension of those subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the year. GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN BECOMING LONGEST IN US HISTORY AS DEMOCRATS DIG IN ON OBAMACARE Instead, Kaine secured a guarantee that the Trump administration would not conduct any more mass federal worker layoffs — at least until Jan. 30. The bill also requires the government to reinstate the employees it let go during the shutdown, with back pay included. Ahead of the agreement he reached on Sunday, Kaine had told his party’s leadership he might break with the majority of Democrats if it meant protecting federal employees from further layoffs. “He disagreed,” Kaine said of his conversation with the minority leader. “I went to Sen. Schumer at the start of this and told him, ‘Here’s where I am, and here’s where I’m likely to be. I’m with you for a long time, but if there’s a path forward that can help this federal workforce, which is so huge in Virginia, you [have to] know I’m going to be real sensitive to that.’” Virginia has the third-largest federal workforce presence of any state, according to research by the Library of Congress. SENATE RETURNS TO WORK AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN NEARS LONGEST IN US HISTORY OVER OBAMACARE FIGHT The restrictions against RIFs could extend beyond the January lifetime of the spending bill. “The CR has a provision that automatically comes into the next CR,” Kaine said, referring to the short-term spending package commonly referred to as a continuing resolution or CR. “It’s kind of wonky. There’s a separate provision that says once it’s in, it stays in unless it’s affirmatively repealed.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP When asked if the government shutdown was worth it, Kaine said he thought so. “To federal employees who are not going to be traumatized by RIFs going forward? Yeah,” he said.
Reporter’s Notebook: Paul stands firm against spending bill as shutdown clock ticks
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., was the only Republican who broke with his party and voted no on the test vote to break a filibuster on the deal to reopen the government. Paul voted nay because he wanted a guarantee of a change in the bill regarding hemp. The measure prevents “unregulated sales” of “intoxicating hemp-based” products at gas stations and small retailers. It preserves the sale of non-intoxicating CBD in other hemp-related products. So if the Senate got 60 votes last night to break the filibuster and only needs 51 to pass the bill, why is the Senate stymied by Paul? GOVERNMENT LIMPS DEEPER INTO SHUTDOWN CRISIS WITH NO DEAL IN SIGHT It’s about speed. Buckle up for this next part. It gets complicated. The vote last night was on breaking a filibuster to proceed to the original House-passed spending measure from September. That needed 60 yeas. HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO WHAT TO EXPECT TONIGHT ON THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN Therefore, the Senate has just broken a filibuster to begin work on the bill. By rule, the Senate can run out 30 hours of debate after breaking the filibuster, unless Paul relents. That would get us to a minor procedural vote to actually get on the bill by dawn Tuesday morning. That is, unless there’s an agreement with Paul — or, for that matter, other Democratic senators to expedite things. But wait. There’s more. The intention of Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. — and this was done with a wink and a nod to secure an agreement last night — is for him to file what’s called a “substitute” amendment. A substitute simply removes the House’s old bill text and replaces it with the new spending package. But because this is a substitute amendment, Thune must then file cloture to break a filibuster on that. By rule, Thune could not do that until Tuesday. Cloture petitions require an intervening day before ripening. So that means the Senate could not vote to break a filibuster on the substitute (e.g. the new bill) until Thursday. Again, that needs 60 yeas. And if there’s no deal, the Senate could bleed out another clock before voting yes or no on the substitute. Presumably that would be Friday. GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN RISK GROWS AFTER DEMS BLOCK TRUMP-BACKED EXTENSION FOR A 2ND TIME But we’re not done yet. If the Senate adopts the new text on Friday, then Thune must file cloture again on the underlying bill on Friday, wait a day (Saturday) and then have a vote to break a filibuster on that (again needing 60 votes) Sunday. This scenario means that the Senate would finally pass the newly revamped spending bill next Monday. And it would mean that the House doesn’t tackle the bill until Tuesday or Wednesday next week. So it really stretches out the government shutdown. But it’s also why it’s in the interest of Thune to get a deal with Paul to accelerate things. Otherwise, Paul or the Democrats who oppose the bill can really slow things down and extend the shutdown.
Democrats attempt last-ditch effort to save Obamacare subsidies as shutdown end draws near
House Democrats attempted a last-ditch maneuver to secure an extension of COVID-19-era emergency Obamacare subsidies on Monday. Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Md., took to the floor in a pro forma session asking the mostly empty chamber to unanimously approve its passage. “I ask unanimous consent to extend the ACA tax credits,” Ivey said, referring to Obamacare. HOUSE REPUBLICANS DIVIDED OVER OBAMACARE AS GOP EYES FIX AFTER SHUTDOWN If successful, Ivey’s motion would have allowed the bill to clear the chamber without a single vote. His attempt failed, however, as the chair, Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., drowned out Ivey by gaveling over his motion. Ivey’s unorthodox maneuver highlights divisions among Democrats as the government looks toward a resolution on the shutdown, and it comes after the Senate advanced a bill on Sunday evening that would reopen the government through Jan. 30. ‘THE PANDEMIC’S OVER’: GOP, DEM SENATORS SPAR ON CAMERA OVER COSTLY OBAMACARE SUBSIDIES Since the beginning of the shutdown, Democrats led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., have demanded that lawmakers extend expiring emergency subsidies passed in 2021 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that the supplemental funding will phase out at the end of the year, Democrats have raised alarm that a sudden stop to federal assistance will leave many policyholders facing higher premiums overnight. But the resolve to continue holding out over the credits cratered among Democrats on Sunday when eight of them voted with Republicans to put the government on track to end the 40-day government shutdown that began on Oct. 1. OBAMACARE SUBSIDIES AT CENTER OF DEM SHUTDOWN FIGHT ‘FUEL’ HEALTHCARE COST INFLATION, CONSERVATIVES SAY Democrats in the House of Representatives have largely called the vote a capitulation to Republican demands, noting that Democrats have not secured any substantive agreements on the subsidies themselves. Having cleared the threat of a filibuster on Sunday evening, the Senate will likely advance the short-term spending bill within the next two days. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has said the House will consider it as soon as possible once it passes the Senate.
New Hampshire governor recruits NYC business owners fleeing Mamdani ‘regime’
A large van covered in rotating digital posters circled Midtown Manhattan last week after democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani won a dramatic New York City mayoral election. New Hampshire Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s re-election campaign sent a van covered with ads reading: “NYC business owners: Mamdani got you down? Come on up to New Hampshire for no Communism, less red tape, and less taxes,” and various phrases encouraging New Yorkers to head north. “New Hampshire has a lot to offer anyone who is looking to leave NYC ahead of the Mamdani regime,” Ayotte told Fox News Digital. “We are the safest state in the nation, the best for economic opportunity, and we have some of the lowest taxes anywhere. Whether you own a business or just want to keep more of your hard-earned money — come on up to the Granite State. We’d love to have you!” Mamdani, who has pledged to raise taxes in order to fund his vision of free buses and free child care, was elected mayor of New York City Tuesday. ‘DEMOCRATS ARE NERVOUS’ ABOUT POTENTIAL ZOHRAN MAMDANI VICTORY, NEW REPORT WARNS “Come to New Hampshire,” one slide on the side of the truck read. “We’ll help your business make the switch, and you can keep more of your hard-earned money!” The mayor-elect has not shied away from his commitment to implementing socialist policies in the Big Apple. His tax hike proposals have reportedly discouraged individuals from moving to the city and are pushing some New Yorkers to flee the five boroughs altogether. Fox News Digital’s Kristen Altus spoke with developer Isaac Toledano, the CEO of Miami-based BH Group, who said his company has closed more than $100 million in signed contracts, which is twice as much as the previous year, from New York buyers in just the past few months. ZOHRAN MAMDANI LAUNCHES ANTI-TRUMP TOUR ACROSS FIVE BOROUGHS IN NEW YORK CITY “During COVID the first exodus was less about taxes, and more about access to schools and a more ‘normal’ way of life. Don’t get me wrong, taxes were a motivation, but not the sole motivation,” Mitch Roschelle, real estate expert and managing director at Madison Ventures, told Fox News Digital. “Fast forward to the Mamdami era. The next exodus from NYC will be led by residents who are already paying their fair share and do not want to fund the bevy of social welfare programs that lay ahead,” Roschelle added. According to a report from the Office of the New York State Comptroller, the population of NYC fell 5.3% from April 2020 to July 2022. For comparison, the number of New Yorkers that left the city during that time is more than the entire population of Long Beach, California. “The exodus may not be immediate, and I suspect it will be tied to the school year for families,” Roschelle continued. “The spring will be the big test of the prevailing group—think about migration.” “That said, any change in public safety, or a major tax increase on the ‘rich’ will dramatically accelerate exits from NYC,” Roschelle added. Mamdani will be officially sworn into office on Jan. 1, 2026.
Another House Dem drops out of 2026 rat race as party faces generational reckoning
Continuing a trend of retiring figures in the 119th Congress, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J., announced that she will not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives next year. “I made a commitment years ago to always lead the charge on behalf of those I represent, and I believe I have fulfilled that commitment to the very best of my abilities. I have always stood on the front lines in the fight for principled progressive policies,” Coleman said in a post on X. HOUSE DEM DEFLECTS ON WHETHER ELECTION IS A WARNING TO DEMOCRATS, DEMANDS PARTY ‘STAND STRONG’ “While I am not seeking re-election, there is still more to be done in my last year in public office. I absolutely intend to continue serving my constituents in the 12th District straight through to the last day of my term.” Coleman has represented New Jersey since 2015 and before that served the Garden State as a state legislator from 1998 until her arrival in Congress. She last won re-election in 2024 in a 61.2%-36.4% victory over Republican challenger Darius Mayfield. Even without the advantage of incumbency, Republicans are unlikely to capture New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District. Coleman, 80, is just the most recent lawmaker to announce retirements among Democrats, marking a changing tide in the composition of the party’s more senior membership. Her announcement follows that of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who, at age 85, similarly announced last week she would not pursue re-election in 2026. NANCY PELOSI WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION, ENDING DECADES-LONG HOUSE CAREER Other notable Democrats leaving Congress next year include Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. — ages 80 and 78 respectively. Questions about age have persisted on Capitol Hill as — across both parties — figures like Pelosi and Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., pose questions about how far legislators should push their public service. McConnell, who led Republicans as Senate Majority Leader, will also not pursue reelection. REPUBLICAN SEN. JONI ERNST OF IOWA MAKES IT OFFICIAL: SHE’S NOT SEEKING RE-ELECTION NEXT YEAR Coleman said she believed she needed to step down to make way for new figures in the party. “I believe now is the time to pass the torch to the next leader who will continue leading this charge,” Coleman said.
Democrats fight to block Trump’s ‘reckless and unnecessary’ call to restart nuclear testing
Senate Democrats want to curb President Donald Trump’s ability to unilaterally resume nuclear testing, as the president suggested the U.S. would do on an “equal basis” with Russia and China moving forward. While Trump did not elaborate and clarify what reinstating nuclear testing would involve, Senate Democrats are seeking to put some limitations in place for the executive branch amid concerns that launching the first nuclear test in more than 30 years would prompt near-peer adversaries like China to follow. As a result, Sens. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., introduced the No Nuclear Testing Without Approval Act Friday. The measure prohibits the U.S. from conducting a nuclear test unless a foreign state first conducts a nuclear test, and would require Congress to sign off on such nuclear tests. “Restarting nuclear testing would be reckless and unnecessary,” Kelly said in a Friday statement. “We’ve already conducted more than a thousand tests and know our warheads work. This would just risk triggering a dangerous chain reaction, potentially encouraging countries like China to do the same and advance their own technology.” ENERGY SECRETARY REVEALS HOW US NUCLEAR TESTS WILL WORK Trump’s call to reinstate nuclear testing struck a chord with those in Nevada, where the bulk of U.S. nuclear testing from 1951 to 1992 was conducted at the Nevada Test Site. The area is now known as the Nevada National Security Site, which aims to safeguard the U.S.’ nuclear weapons stockpile. But the site is the only location currently in the U.S. where a nuclear test could be administered, according to the lawmakers. “Nevadans were blindsided when President Trump said he could revive the outdated, misguided practice of detonating nuclear weapons just 60 miles from my hometown of Las Vegas,” Cortez Masto said in a Friday statement. “No administration should have the authority to set off nuclear bombs on American soil without any oversight or outreach to the states that would bear the burden of these dangerous tests.” Likewise, Rosen emphasized the gravity of resuming nuclear testing, and said that “a decision of this magnitude should not be made lightly or on a whim by an erratic President.” Reps. Steven Horsford and Susie Lee, both Democrats from Nevada, are expected to introduce companion legislation in the House. RUSSIA DRAWING UP PLANS TO CONDUCT NUCLEAR TESTS AFTER TRUMP ANNOUNCEMENT Trump announced in October just ahead of a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping that the U.S. would revive nuclear weapons testing — even though the U.S. has not done so since 1992. “They seem to all be nuclear testing,” Trump later told reporters on Air Force One. “We don’t do testing — we halted it years ago. But with others doing testing, it’s appropriate that we do also.” It wasn’t immediately clear what Trump meant in terms of reviving nuclear testing, since no country has launched a known nuclear test since North Korea in 2017. China and Russia last conducted known tests in the 1990s, when Russia was still the Soviet Union. The White House told Fox News Digital Monday that Trump had made his stance clear and that testing would occur on a reciprocal basis. “Democrats should spend less time trying to usurp the president’s executive authority and more time working with the administration to advance peace through strength,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said. TRUMP BREAKS 33-YEAR NUCLEAR TESTING SILENCE AS WORLD BRACES FOR DANGEROUS NEW ARMS RACE Even so, experts said that Trump may have been referring to beefing up testing of nuclear-powered weapons, or moving ahead with secretive, low-yield nuclear weapons testing. Furthermore, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said that testing will involve “the other parts of a nuclear weapon” and that nuclear explosions wouldn’t occur. “I think the tests we’re talking about right now are systems tests,” Wright said in an interview with Fox News November 3. “These are not nuclear explosions. These are what we call noncritical explosions.” Trump’s statement came days after Russia announced it had successfully tested its new, nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, which NATO has dubbed “Skyfall.” As a result, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, said it’s critical the president responds to those like Russian President Vladimir Putin, who have nuclear weapons. “When you have a madman that has nuclear weapons like Putin does and he starts rattling his saber, it’s important for the president to respond,” Risch told reporters on Oct. 30. “And he responded in a way that is reasonable.” Fox News’ Chad Pergram contributed to this report.