Democratic Rep Jesús ‘Chuy’ García declines to seek re-election: reports
Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García, D-Ill., is reportedly not planning on seeking re-election. The lawmaker, who was first elected to Congress in 2018, represents parts of the southwest side of Chicago. García, a longtime progressive, will not seek re-election as of Tuesday, FOX 32 Chicago reported, citing a source familiar with the matter. Monday was the last day for candidates to file paperwork in Illinois to run in the 2026 midterm elections. The Chicago Sun Times also reported that García plans to withdraw from the race. García filed petitions with the Illinois State Board of Elections for his re-election on Oct. 27, but in a last-minute maneuver, García’s chief of staff, Patty Garcia, filed petitions to replace him just ahead of the 5 p.m. deadline on Monday, according to the newspaper. HOUSE REPUBLICAN PLANS TO LEAVE CONGRESS AFTER MORE THAN 2 DECADES IN OFFICE FOX 32 noted that Patty Garcia previously served as the congressman’s district director, and prior to that, she served with the Latino Center for Leadership Development. Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez, a former challenger to Rep. García, criticized the move, telling FOX 32 that “the machine’s gonna do what the machine’s gonna do.” “For the party of ‘No Kings,’ this is a bad look,” Lopez told FOX 32, referencing the widespread anti-President Donald Trump “No Kings” protests. The Urban Center, a centrist nonprofit organization in Chicago, also slammed the maneuver. In a statement, Juan Rangel, CEO of The Urban Center, classified the move as a “classic machine maneuver from a career politician who seeks to deny the voters a say on their representation,” according to FOX 32. Prior to his election to Congress, García served on the Cook County Board of Commissioners and even challenged then-incumbent Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel in 2015, forcing him into a runoff election. The Chicago Sun Times said that two sources confirmed the lawmaker’s plan to step down and added that he is expected to pull the petitions that were filed late last month. His decision to step down leaves the city with five open congressional seats and an open Senate race ahead of the March primary. DICK DURBIN, NO. 2 SENATE DEMOCRAT, WON’T SEEK RE-ELECTION In April, Sen. Dick Durbin, D- Ill., the Senate Democratic Whip and the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, shook up Illinois politics when he announced that he would not seek re-election in 2026 for what would have been his sixth term. When he made the announcement that he would be retiring, Durbin, 80, who was first elected to the Senate in 1996, said the decision was not an easy one. “I truly love the job of being a United States Senator. But in my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch,” Durbin said. In addition to the candidate shakeup, Illinois Democrats are considering a redistricting plan. While last week the lawmakers refused to vote on the plan during their veto session, they maintained that “all options” remained on the table, according to FOX 32. Fox News Digital reached out to Garcia’s office for comment.
Your guide to key ballot measures being voted on in California and New York City on Tuesday
Voters in California and New York City will be voting on key ballot measures on Tuesday, with some of them drawing national attention for their significance. Both measures could have ripple effects far beyond their borders — influencing control of Congress and reshaping how America’s biggest city conducts elections. Together, the proposals offer voters in the nation’s two largest blue strongholds a chance to reshape how political power and housing policy are decided. Read on to learn more about each of the top measures. LIVE UPDATES: ELECTION DAY 2025 The most notable ballot measure being voted on is Proposition 50 in California, where residents are deciding whether to pass a ballot proposition which would dramatically alter the state’s congressional districts. The measure puts the left-leaning state front and center in the high-stakes political fight over redistricting. 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 Democratic-dominated legislature. GOP HOPEFUL WARNS SOCIALIST MAYORAL CANDIDATE IN MINNEAPOLIS IS A ‘COPY-PASTE’ OF MAMDANI The effort, which could create five more Democratic-leaning congressional districts, aims to counter the passage in the red-state of Texas of a new map that aims to create up to five right-leaning House seats. Failure to approve the measure would be a stinging setback for Democrats. Proponents and opponents of Proposition 50 reported raising more than $215 million as of Oct. 2, 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 Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Democrats is labeling its effort “Stop Sacramento’s Power Grab.” Also getting into the fight is former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the last Republican governor of California. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ELECTION DAY 2025: CRITICAL ELECTIONS, BALLOT MEASURES AND MORE “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 says in an ad against Proposition 50. “Democracy — we’ve got to protect it, and we’ve got to go and fight for it.” When voters head to the polls, a “Yes” vote will approve the Newsom-backed plan to re-draw the maps starting in 2026 and a “No” vote would keep the existing maps. In addition to deciding who will be the city’s next mayor, 5.1 million registered New York City voters will also decide on a measure, known as Question 6, that would move election dates for city offices to the same year as federal presidential elections. According to the city’s official election website, “‘Yes’ moves City elections to the same year as Federal Presidential Elections, when permitted by state law. ‘No’ leaves laws unchanged.” Advocates of moving the election to coincide with federal elections argue it will increase turnout and thus provide results more representative of the electorate as a whole. Opponents argue that key local issues will get buried in national politics if the elections are moved. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Affordable housing is perhaps the most talked about campaign issue in New York City and voters will be asked two questions related to that issue when they walk into polling places on Tuesday. Proposal 2 is framed as a way to “fast track” affordable housing in the city. “This proposal would make two new processes to fast-track certain affordable housing projects,” New York City’s election website says. “The first process is for publicly financed affordable housing projects. The second process is for affordable housing projects in the 12 community districts with the lowest rates of affordable housing development.” Proposal 4 in New York City is described by the collection committee as a vote to, “Establish an Affordable Housing Appeals Board with Council, Borough, and Citywide Representation.” “This proposal would change the current land use review process when the City Council rejects or changes an affordable housing project,” the measure is framed. “The proposal would create an Affordable Housing Appeals Board, made up of the local Borough President, Speaker of the City Council, and Mayor. The proposal would allow the Appeals Board to reverse the City Council’s decision with a two-to-one vote.” Housing is also the focus of Proposal 3, “where a Yes” vote “simplifies review for limited land-use changes, including modest housing and minor infrastructure projects” and a “no” vote is described as a vote that “leaves these changes subject to longer review, with final decision by City Council.”
Government shutdown becoming longest in US history as Democrats dig in on Obamacare
The 2025 government shutdown is hours away from breaking a record to be the longest-ever in history. The prior record was held by the 2018-2019 government shutdown during President Donald Trump’s first term. Trump signed legislation ending that shutdown in the 9 p.m. hour on the 35th day. Tuesday marks the 35th day of the current fiscal standoff. And with no deal reached yet between Democrats and Republicans in Congress, it’s all but certain that the dispute will bleed into day 36. The previous shutdown occurred over a disagreement on funding Trump’s border wall. But this time, it’s Democrats’ priorities being caught in the middle. SENATE RETURNS TO WORK AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN NEARS LONGEST IN US HISTORY OVER OBAMACARE FIGHT Republicans have for weeks pushed a short-term extension of fiscal year (FY) 2025 federal funding levels called a continuing resolution (CR), aimed at giving lawmakers until Nov. 21 to strike a deal on FY2026 spending. The measure is largely free of unrelated policy riders, save for an added $88 million aimed at enhanced security funding for lawmakers, the White House and the Supreme Court. But Democrats have said they will reject any federal funding bill that does not also extend enhanced Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of 2025. The enhanced subsidies were a COVID-19 pandemic-era measure that a majority of Republicans have said is no longer needed. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., have said they are open to discussing a reformed version of those subsidies, but rejected pairing the two issues together. The House passed the CR on Sept. 19. Johnson has kept his chamber out of session since then in a bid to pressure Senate Democrats to agree to the GOP bill — though they have rejected it 13 times since then. Senate Republicans have looked for different markers throughout the shutdown as possible exit points for Senate Democrats, like the nationwide “No Kings” protests, federal workers missing paychecks, the opening of open enrollment across the country on Nov. 1 and now the upcoming record-setting shutdown later Tuesday night. Sen. Mike Rounds, R- S.D., noted that both the elections on Tuesday, and the record-breaking push “as a protest against the president,” could factor into how much longer Senate Democrats continue to drag the shutdown out. TRUMP’S ‘NUCLEAR’ DEMAND NOT LANDING FOR SENATE REPUBLICANS AMID SHUTDOWN “Here’s the reality, they’re at about 25% approval rating right now, and as one of their colleagues told me, the only way they can really go up is to show their base that they’re fighting with the president, and that’s what they’re doing right now,” Rounds said. “So once they get to the point where they think they made their point, then I think there’s a possibility of actually getting something done,” he continued. There has been more optimism in the upper chamber over the last several days than the entire shutdown so far, as more and more bipartisan conversations are cropping up. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., believed that lawmakers were close to an off-ramp, but there still hasn’t been a concrete move made toward ending the shutdown yet. Senate Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., still want a solid deal on expiring Obamacare subsidies, and want Trump to get more involved. That desire, despite the optimism, will likely see the House-passed CR fail for a 14th time Tuesday morning. When asked if breaking the record would add more weight to lawmakers’ ending the shutdown, Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., believed it would take an outside force. “I don’t see what it is,” he said. “It’ll take some type of an outside inflection point, or the best negotiator in the world to come in.” Meanwhile, funding for critical government programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC), as well as national flood insurance are running critically low on funds — potentially ensnaring millions of Americans.
Over one month into government shutdown and no end in sight – but predictions run rampant
It is said that everyone’s a critic. But when it comes to the government shutdown, everyone’s an oracle. Especially when trying to determine when it might end. “[Democrats] are waiting to elect [Zohran] Mamdani, the communist, soon-to-be mayor of New York. And then I believe things will go back into business as normal,” said Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., on FOX Business. “If we don’t reopen this week, then I believe it’ll happen at some time shortly before Thanksgiving.” GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN KNOWLEDGE: GAMING OUT ITS POTENTIAL END Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., also offered her own prediction. “I believe that this week could be the week,” said Capito on FOX Business. But Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, wasn’t so sure. “I don’t know what the predictions are based on,” said Cornyn on Fox. “We keep looking for some rational behavior on the part of the Democrats who shut down the government. But it was a dumb idea to start with. And it hasn’t gotten any better since.” Everyone is now searching for a flicker of hope. A glimmer of reason as to why the government shutdown won’t deepen. But all this week represents is another opportunity. There have been multiple inflection points along the way, but nothing has quite yielded the same opportunity to end the shutdown as this week. Yes, emergency food aid for the nation’s neediest expired on Saturday. Air traffic is growing worse by the hour. Healthcare premiums formally spiked on Saturday – which is why Democrats balked at funding the government in the first place. But none of those developments have truly forced the sides back to the negotiating table. That’s why some have settled on Tuesday’s elections as a potential turning point. SHUTDOWN SEEN FROM THE PULPIT: INCHING ALONG ON A WING AND A PRAYER Mamdani is the odds-on favorite to become the next mayor of New York City. Republicans are now projecting that the election is why the Democrats haven’t folded on government funding. They believe that certain election results – a win by the progressive Mamdani in New York coupled with what Republicans hope are losses by the moderate former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., running for Virginia governor and Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., running for New Jersey governor – will prod Democrats into action. Republicans believe such results will compel Democrats to see their party as out of touch. “I hope the election tomorrow is a change. A sea change in all this,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. “I hope that after everybody votes and they go in their room and they make the calculation that, well, ‘maybe, maybe we won’t have to hold that line anymore.’” Republicans know the shutdown will end eventually. But if it ends soon, they want to shape the narrative that “Democrats caved because of the election results.” Consider that Republicans have been forecasting the shutdown’s end for five weeks now. “The cracks started to appear in the Democrat base,” proclaimed Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., on October 1. Republicans believed Democrats would cave in a matter of days once the shutdown started. It never happened. SENATE REPUBLICANS PLOT LONGER-TERM FUNDING BILL AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CONTINUES The GOP then argued that Democrats were merely holding out until the “No Kings” rallies on October 19 concluded — that Democrats would have “shown they were fighting” by then. “They won’t be able to reopen the government until after that rally,” forecast Johnson on Fox on October 10. There was nothing of the sort. Then the GOP amended its argument that Democrats were on the verge of giving in because federal workers were missing paychecks. Especially air traffic controllers. “We’re getting to where the consequences of this are very real,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., on Fox on October 23. That theory also fizzled. Republicans then pinned their hopes on the next missed paycheck, coupled with flight delays, expiring SNAP benefits, and spiking health premiums on November 1. “The Democrats will collapse entirely,” predicted Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on Fox over the weekend. But nothing changed. “We will not support a partisan, Republican spending bill that continues to gut the healthcare of the American people,” proclaimed House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. “That’s been our position. Week after week after week – and it will continue to be our position.” Say what you will about the Democrats’ strategy. But they haven’t folded. TRUMP’S ‘NUCLEAR’ DEMAND NOT LANDING FOR SENATE REPUBLICANS AMID SHUTDOWN Keep in mind that Republicans have tried in vain to convince Senate Democrats since mid-September to accept a GOP spending plan which would only fund the government through November 21. “It is now becoming close to a moot issue,” said Cornyn. “What are they going to do after, I don’t know.” Thune proclaimed that the 21st is now a date which is “lost.” Yours truly asked House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., what was the “drop-dead date” for Republicans to make another play call. “With November 21st out there, it’s not a lot [of] time to resolve differences,” replied Scalise. There’s now chatter about Republicans crafting another short-term spending bill through January. “The longer sort of runway, the better,” said Thune. “I’m certainly listening to our colleagues and trying to figure out kind of where that landing spot would be.” But there’s no guarantee either chamber could pass such a measure — especially if Democrats’ core demands remain unaddressed. In his daily prayer to open the Senate session, Senate Chaplain Barry Black implied that the lawmakers needed help solving the crisis – simply because they were no closer to a resolution than they were in late September. “Inspire our lawmakers to unite in putting out the fire of this government shutdown that has already burned far more than anticipated,” prayed Black. It’s too unpredictable to make a sound prediction about when the shutdown will end. But if you predict enough things, you’ll eventually get something right. So how about this prediction: The shutdown will end. Eventually.
LISTEN: Unhinged voicemail exposes left-wing candidate’s death threats against GOP senator
Freshman Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., was targeted with death threats and other extreme insults by a left-wing city commissioner candidate from Montana’s capital city of Helena, who called his office several weeks ago to leave her thoughts about the Republican senator over a voicemail. The voicemail came in July, shortly after Sheehy voted with his Republican colleagues to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a sweeping tax and spending package from Republicans that angered many Democrats, including Helena city commissioner candidate Haley McKnight, following its passage. “Hi, this is Haley McKnight. I’m a constituent in Helena, Montana,” McKnight started off in her voicemail, a recording of which was obtained and verified by Fox News Digital. “I just wanted to let you know that you are the most insufferable kind of coward and thief. You just stripped away healthcare for 17 million Americans, and I hope you’re really proud of that. I hope that one day you get pancreatic cancer, and it spreads throughout your body so fast that they can’t even treat you for it.” But the anger didn’t stop there. During the roughly minute-long voicemail that phone logs reportedly show came in on the afternoon of July 1, McKnight launches into insults about Sheehy’s fertility and his children, before warning the senator not to “meet me on the streets.” LAWMAKER TARGETED WITH DEATH THREAT AFTER CONDEMNING RACIST SIGN AIMED AT WINSOME SEARS “I hope you die in the street like a dog,” McKnight continued. “One day, you’re going to live to regret this. I hope that your children never forgive you. I hope that you are infertile. I hope that you manage to never get a boner ever again. You are the worst piece of sh– I have ever, ever, ever had the misfortune of looking at … God forbid that you ever meet me on the streets because I will make you regret it. F— you. I hope you die.” McKnight added that Sheehy doesn’t “serve Montanans,” but rather just his “own private interests.” “All that you have done since you have gotten into power is do sh– for yourself.” SENATORS MAKE BIPARTISAN CALL TO ‘TURN DOWN THE HEAT’ ON POLITICAL VIOLENCE, RHETORIC McKnight, originally from North Carolina but now living and working in Montana, owns a small business called Sage & Oats Trading Post, which McKnight describes as “a successful Native American-owned gift store” on her campaign website. She also runs a consulting and design business called Morningstar Design Ltd Co, and is the president and a board member of the Helena Young Professionals group. She touts being the recipient of the Helena Chamber’s 20 under 40 award. “I am always ready to stand up for what I believe and challenge the status quo,” McKnight’s “About” web page on her campaign website reads, which lists priorities like housing for all, better governmental transparency, increased funding for public art and music, and more accessible streets and downtown living. In an interview with a local news outlet, McKnight touts her past volunteer work for the Obama campaign and more recently working on Democrat candidate Steve Held’s campaign for Congress. Held did not make it out of the primary. Meanwhile, public campaign donation records reportedly show McKnight has donated to multiple Democratic candidates, according to records reviewed by Fox News Digital. The Helena city commissioner race, which is traditionally nonpartisan, is her first time running for any sort of political office. McKnight was originally one of five declared nonpartisan candidates before she advanced to the November general election after finishing third in a nonpartisan primary in September. “I’m a constituent, and I was responding to some horrible policy with some justified rage,” McKnight told Fox News Digital about the voicemail when reached for comment. “I would hope that if Sheehy was so rattled by my voicemail, he would have contacted me instead of leaking my information to conservative news media the night before an election. It feels like a cheap shot. I’m one of his constituents, and you know, this message is nothing that I’d say to my grandmother or in front of any children, it was meant for Senator Sheehy alone.” McKnight said it was “laughable” that this is how Sheehy responds to constituent voicemails. ANTISEMITISM WATCHDOG ISSUES SCATHING ‘ALARM BELL’ REPORT ON MAMDANI AS NYC ELECTION NEARS “I also would have thought that somebody from the armed forces could have handled some tough language,” McKnight added. Sheehy is a former Navy SEAL who was shot while deployed in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, McKnight went on to say she was simply trying to “convey the gravity of the situation” with her voicemail. She added that she was not intending to threaten Sheehy with her voicemail. McKnight also reportedly told the National Review she “obviously” had no intent of hurting Sheehy, reportedly telling the outlet: “I couldn’t, I’m a woman.” “I wanted to drive home the struggles that people that I know are going through because of his policies. I think people were kind of shocked at my specificity, but these are things that are affecting people in my community,” McKnight told Fox News Digital, adding that Sheehy was spending too much time blocking the release of “the Epstein files” as opposed to understanding the struggles Montanans are going through. But, when pressed on whether McKnight stood by her rhetoric from the voicemail, particularly after public officials from both sides of the aisle have called for folks to turn down the heat in light of the spate of political violence that the United States has faced recently, she simply responded: “No comment on that.” “I have received numerous death and rape threats since this story has been published,” McKnight said when pressed even further. “My business is being threatened at the moment because of the actions of the senator,” she added, in reference to Sheehy publicly sharing her voicemail with the media. ACQUITTAL OF MAN WHO URGED VIOLENCE AGAINST TRUMP PUTS FIRST AMENDMENT IN SPOTLIGHT “It’s completely
ICE reveals stunning statistic after exposing Halloween weekend’s ‘worst of the worst’ arrests
FIRST ON FOX: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continued its crackdown on the “worst of the worst” dangerous illegal immigrants over Halloween weekend, arresting criminals convicted of intercourse with minor, sexual abuse, kidnapping, homicide and other serious crimes. The Department of Homeland Security highlighted that 70 percent 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. One criminal illegal, Sisawang Khambounheuang, from Laos, was arrested by ICE after being convicted of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor in San Diego. Just to the north, another criminal illegal alien, Milton Rene Mendez-Arevalo, from Guatemala, was arrested after a conviction for kidnapping in Los Angeles. In Houston, where ICE arrested over 120 illegal immigrants over the weekend, the agency nabbed Honduran criminal illegal Hector Eugenio Ramirez-Martinez, who was convicted for indecency with child sexual contact in Harris County. Another, Francisco Nava-Garcia, from Mexico, was arrested in Houston after being convicted of assault on a family/household member. CALIFORNIA ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WITH 49 PRIOR ARRESTS TOPS ICE’S LATEST ‘WORST-OF-THE-WORST’ LIST Elsewhere in Texas, ICE arrested Kunal Chhetri, an illegal alien from India, who was convicted for alien smuggling in the United States District Court, Western District of Texas. ICE also continued its crackdown in Florida, arresting Lazaro Mateo Ruiz, from Cuba, who was convicted for homicide, weapon offense and robbery in Miami-Dade County. Over in Florida’s gulf coast, ICE arrested Juan Gomez-Gutierrez, from Colombia, who was convicted for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms of cocaine while aboard a vessel in Tampa. Another drug distributor, Juan Brito-Rios, from Mexico, was arrested by ICE following his conviction for possession with the intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, five kilograms or more of cocaine and money laundering in the U.S. Middle District Court of Tennessee. CONVICTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHILD KILLER WHO MURDERED INFANT SON ARRESTED IN TWIN CITIES ICE SWEEP In Illinois, a sanctuary state that has been resisting the Trump administration’s crackdown, ICE arrested Brigidio Ovido Gomez Garcia, from Guatemala, who was convicted of aggravated domestic battery/strangle, domestic battery, and driving under the influence in Wheaton, a Chicago suburb. Commenting on the arrests, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin pointed out that amidst pushback from pro-sanctuary politicians, 70 percent of all ICE arrests are of illegal aliens charged or convicted of a crime in the U.S. “President Trump and Secretary Noem unleashed ICE to remove the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from American communities,” McLaughlin told Fox News Digital. TRUMP BACKS ICE RAID TACTICS, SAYS THEY ‘HAVEN’T GONE FAR ENOUGH’ “Despite the Democrats’ government shutdown, ICE is continuing to arrest criminal illegal aliens across the country,” she continued. “While Americans enjoyed their weekends, ICE was hard at work getting the worst of the worst off our streets—including pedophiles, murderers, and kidnappers.”
SBA chief Kelly Loeffler blames Senate Democrats for canceling veterans business week
The Small Business Administration (SBA) said Monday that it has canceled this year’s National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW) because of the ongoing federal government shutdown. The 12th annual NVSBW was scheduled to run from Monday through Friday and would have honored America’s 1.6 million veteran-owned small businesses. “By refusing to support a clean funding bill to reopen the government, Senate Democrats have frozen the majority of SBA’s services, including our small business lending programs and public events like National Veterans Small Business Week,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. Loeffler blamed Senate Democrats, who have repeatedly blocked bills to fund the government since the shutdown began on Oct. 1. SENATE RETURNS TO WORK AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN NEARS LONGEST IN US HISTORY OVER OBAMACARE FIGHT She said Democrats “continue to block pay for more than 1 million active-duty military members,” adding that the Trump administration is “pursuing every option” to support the military during the shutdown. The theme for this year’s NVSBW — “Veteran-Owned, American Made” — was intended to highlight how veteran-owned small businesses drive U.S. manufacturing, strengthen national security and contribute more than $1 trillion in annual sales to the economy. TRUMP’S ‘NUCLEAR’ DEMAND NOT LANDING FOR SENATE REPUBLICANS AMID SHUTDOWN In a statement, the SBA said that all related events — including in-person and virtual training sessions, capital access workshops, and government contracting resources — have been suspended. “The cancellation underscores how widely the shutdown has disrupted services and opportunities for those who have already sacrificed so much,” the agency said. Democratic leaders have urged Republicans to begin negotiating an extension of expiring health insurance subsidies as part of efforts to reopen the government. Senate Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have blocked the GOP’s plan to reopen the government at least 13 times since the shutdown began, according to the White House. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said Sunday he will only negotiate once the government is reopened.
Obama jumping into New Jersey gubernatorial race at 11th hour is ‘desperate,’ voters say
President Barack Obama‘s campaign efforts in New Jersey to support Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s race to serve as the Garden State’s governor was a “Hail Mary” pass from Democrats that generated “fake excitement,” conservative voters told Fox News Digital during a Turning Point Action rally in South Jersey Monday afternoon. “I’ll say this as an African-American, we’re done hearing Barack Obama try to tell us how we’re supposed to vote,” New Jersey voter Shawn Crump told Fox News Digital Monday afternoon. “Because, full disclosure, I was a Democrat. I worked on his campaign in 2008, and he just let us down. He let this country down, but he especially let down a lot of African-Americans. So we really don’t want to hear him tell us how we were supposed to go.” Crump was among a group of Republican voters who traveled to Medford, New Jersey, Monday afternoon for a Turning Point Action rally to mobilize further support for Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli in the final hours before Election Day. The rally was billed as a “Super Chase” event, where community members then head out to remind voters to submit their ballots. Ciattarelli did not attend this specific rally. Attendees heard from local conservative leaders before hitting the road to knock on doors and remind people to get out and vote in the final hours of the election. OBAMA’S PRESENCE AND TRUMP’S POLICIES CONSUME 11TH HOUR RALLY TO KEEP NJ BLUE Obama traveled to Newark, New Jersey, Saturday evening, where he held a rally with Democrat candidate Sherrill. New Jersey is a historically deep blue state that previously voted to elect a Republican governor in 2013, when former Gov. Chris Christie was elected, and previously voted to elect a Republican president in 1988, when George H.W. Bush defeated Michael Dukakis. “Let’s face it, our country and our politics are in a pretty dark place right now,” Obama told the audience Saturday, taking a shot at President Donald Trump and his administration. “It’s hard to know where to start, because every day this White House offers up a fresh batch of lawlessness and carelessness and mean-spiritedness. And just plain old craziness.” SHERRILL INSISTS NJ A DEM STRONGHOLD AHEAD OF OBAMA VISIT, REJECTING GOP MOMENTUM: ‘NOT A PURPLE STATE’ Republicans are on a mission to flip the state red and are motivated by Trump’s inroads with Jersey voters in 2024. Trump cut his 2020 loss from 16 points in the state down to six points in 2024, and flipped five counties to the GOP. Joe Sereday, chairman of the Burlington County Young Republicans, reported to Fox Digital that enthusiasm is high among voters casting ballots for Ciattarelli and added that Obama’s campaigning in the state signaled desperation for the party in a state that is historically blue. “I think it’s kind of old news now,” Sereday said, adding that Obama deserves respect as a former president, but that he sees issues with the campaigning efforts. “Usually when the Democrats roll in these big names — Obama, who else was here, Andy Kim, Cory Booker — usually that means they’re in trouble.” WITH LEGACY ON THE LINE, OBAMA HITTING CAMPAIGN TRAIL TO BOOST DEMOCRATS IN KEY GOVERNOR ELECTIONS He added: “Usually when they bring in Obama and the wash-ups, hate to say some of the wash-ups, usually that means they’re desperate.” Cliff Maloney, CEO of Citizens Alliance and the founder of campaign efforts PA Chase and NJ Chase, told Fox Digital that Obama’s presence in New Jersey was a “Hail Mary” pass from Democrats. “I just think it’s all AstroTurf. I think it is fake excitement,” Maloney, who attended the rally as a speaker to mobilize New Jersey voters. “They’re kind of just hyping things and trying to sensationalize it. Nobody’s excited about (Sherrill). And that’s something that you can’t fix that.” “You can bring an Obama. You can bring in whoever. At the end of the day, New Jersey has an 800,000 registration advantage to Democrats and we’re here in the state telling you it’s competitive,” Maloney added. “So win or lose, the fact that this is a place that Democrats have to spend resources, time, energy, and money, this is not even supposed to be a competitive race. We’re in a dead heat right now. We are in the game. This is a competitive grace. And if Jack pulls this off, it will be an earth-shattering moment in the political world.” New Jersey’s notoriously high taxes and spiraling energy costs are top concerns for voters, with locals telling Fox Digital that protecting Christianity and “truth” is also on the ballot in 2025. SHERRILL PULLS OUT ALL STOPS WITH OBAMA ENDORSEMENT, STAR-STUDDED NEW JERSEY CAMPAIGN PUSH AS RACE TIGHTENS “My concerns are actually Christianity, people not being told the truth, obviously abortion and our children in schools, they need to learn things that are really truthful,” local South Jersey voter Valerie told Fox News Digital. “I do feel like we are going to flip the state,” she added. “I’m hoping that a lot of Republican voters come out and they don’t stay home, because if they do come out, I think we’ll win.” Local voter and pastor Jeff Kliewer told Fox Digital that pro-life and homeschooling issues are also factoring into voting decisions. “The pro-life issue is still huge,” Kliewer said. “It’s one of the biggest. And for us, in New Jersey, a number of the pregnancy centers have been under attack by the Democratic machine under Phil Murphy, and it’s only gonna get worse if they hold power. So I know a lot of the leaders of those pregnancy centers are trying to help girls, but they’re constantly under pressure. So there’s that issue.” “Secondly, the homeschool families, there’s a lot red tape that’s being introduced against homeschooling. Although New Jersey has been one of the freest states for homeschooling, that might change if we don’t keep good people in office here,” he continued, adding taxes are at the top of
Former governor breaks years of political silence to make major announcement in pivotal race
Former New Jersey Gov. Thomas Kean, a Republican who has largely avoided politics for years, has endorsed Jack Ciattarelli for governor, saying New Jersey “needs a change” and describing the GOP nominee as a “compassionate” and “decent” leader he’s known for decades. Kean served as New Jersey’s 48th governor from 1982 to 1990 and came from a family that produced generations of American political leaders, including William Livingston, the state’s first constitutional governor, according to the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. Kean announced his endorsement Monday on social media, urging voters to back Ciattarelli in Tuesday’s election. “I haven’t been involved in partisan politics for a number of years, but this year is different,” Kean said in a video shared by Ciattarelli on X. “New Jersey needs a change and needs a change badly. Jack Ciattarelli is that change.” TRUMP-BACKED CIATTARELLI GETS MAJOR CAMPAIGN TRAIL SURPRISE ON ELECTION EVE In the video, Kean praised Ciattarelli’s character and work ethic. “We’ve got a lot to do in New Jersey,” he continued. “I’ve known Jack for 25 years. He’s compassionate, he’s decent, he works hard, and he’d be a great Governor for New Jersey.” The GOP nominee has narrowed the gap with Democratic rival Rep. Mikie Sherrill in a highly competitive race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. MAGA STAR JOINS CIATTARELLI ON CAMPAIGN TRAIL IN NEW JERSEY AS REPUBLICANS AIM TO FLIP GOVERNOR’S OFFICE In his post Monday, Ciattarelli said Kean set the standard for effective leadership. “Now it’s our turn to bring that kind of government back,” he said. “Let’s get out and vote for real change, real results, and a brighter future for New Jersey.” Before becoming governor, Kean served in the New Jersey Assembly, where he became the youngest speaker in state history. As governor, he pushed major education reforms, strengthened environmental protections, and promoted the slogan “New Jersey and You: Perfect Together.” TRUMP JUMPS INTO NEW JERSEY RACE AS GOP CHASES RARE FLIP OF GOVERNOR’S SEAT He won re-election in 1985 with nearly 70% of the vote, one of the largest margins in state history. After leaving office, he became president of Drew University, where he oversaw significant growth in funding and facilities. Later in his career, then-President George W. Bush appointed Kean in 2002 to chair the 9/11 Commission. His bipartisan leadership on the panel elevated him to national prominence and cemented his reputation as one of New Jersey’s most respected public figures. New Jersey and Virginia are the only states that hold gubernatorial elections the year after a presidential race, contests that often draw national attention as early tests of voter sentiment ahead of the midterms. Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
Trump backs Cuomo and threatens to cut federal funding if ‘Communist Mamdani’ wins NYC mayor race
President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Andrew Cuomo on Monday while threatening to withhold federal funding from New York City if Zohran Mamdani, who he labeled a “Communist”, wins the mayoral election. In a lengthy post on Truth Social, he also warned that the city would face “total economic and social disaster” under Mamdani’s leadership. “If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home, because of the fact that, as a Communist, this once great City has ZERO chance of success, or even survival!” he wrote in the post. “It can only get worse with a Communist at the helm, and I don’t want to send, as President, good money after bad. It is my obligation to run the Nation, and it is my strong conviction that New York City will be a Complete and Total Economic and Social Disaster should Mamdani win,” he added. CUOMO SAYS TRUMP WILL DEPLOY NATIONAL GUARD, SLASH NYC FUNDS IF MAMDANI WINS MAYOR’S RACE The president’s post also marked his latest attempt to guide New Yorkers at the polls. “A vote for Curtis Sliwa (who looks much better without the beret!) is a vote for Mamdani,” Trump added. ANDREW CUOMO WARNS TRUMP WILL ‘TAKE OVER’ NEW YORK CITY IF MAMDANI WINS “Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!” Speaking at a press event in New York on the eve of the election, Mamdani responded to the president’s Truth Social post. “The MAGA movement’s embrace of Andrew Cuomo is reflective of Donald Trump’s understanding that this would be the best mayor for him,” he said. “Not the best mayor for New York City, not the best mayor for New Yorkers, but the best mayor for Donald Trump and his administration.” ZOHRAN MAMDANI LAUNCHES ANTI-TRUMP TOUR ACROSS FIVE BOROUGHS IN NEW YORK CITY Mamdani also responded to Elon Musk supporting Cuomo on Monday, saying “the reason that the President of the United States of America, the reason that one of the wealthiest men in the world are both trying to get involved at the last minute, is that they know we will accomplish everything we have run on.” Mamdani also referred to Cuomo as “Trump’s puppet” and said Andrew Cuomo was previously “being funded by the same billionaire donors that gave us Donald Trump’s second term.” “I did not, however, anticipate Andrew Cuomo going from being Donald Trump’s puppet to being so nakedly his parrot,” he added. The socialist mayoral candidate went on to speak out about Trump’s threat to withhold federal funding from the city, and labeled it unlawful. “It is not the law,” Mamdani told reporters. “And too often we treat everything that comes out of Donald Trump’s mouth as if it is already legal, just by virtue of who is saying it.”