‘Outsider’ House primary winner sets sights on flipping longtime GOP seat back from Dems: ‘Ready for a change’
Fresh off her Republican primary win, veteran meteorologist and Congressional candidate Terri DeBoer told Fox News Digital she is ready to flip the state’s Third Congressional District back over to the GOP. “The one thing that we’re really hearing over and over again is people are ready for a change,” DeBoer said of her bid to unseat incumbent Dem. Rep. Hillary Scholten. “They are ready to be represented by someone who shares the same common sense West Michigan values as they do, and I’m the best candidate to fill the bill.” DeBoer, a 61-year-old mother of three who worked for several television stations in western Michigan over a 30-year career, is looking to shake up a district that was held by Republicans for decades before Scholten seized it in 2022. DEMS RALLY BEHIND MICHIGAN PROSECUTOR TO CHAMPION PARTY IN CRUCIAL HOUSE RACE DeBoer said the Democratic Party has lost its way and is aligning with candidates who undermine what “makes America so great.” Looking beyond her own race, DeBoer pushed back when asked whether Abdul El-Sayed’s Senate primary victory signals growing support for a progressive agenda within the Democratic Party. “What I hear when I knock on doors, when I walk down the street, when I’m at the grocery store, people say, ‘Thank you. Thank you for being willing to step forward in a common sense way to represent our values, because quite simply, the other side is no longer representing the values of West Michigan,’” she said. El-Sayed, a far-left progressive, narrowly defeated Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., in one of the nation’s most closely watched Democratic primaries last week. “I believe that when people truly understand what is at stake here, the very future of America and the freedoms that we have enjoyed, that I think the choice is very clear,” she said.ROGERS OPENS DOOR TO DEMOCRATIC VOTERS AFTER EL-SAYED’S PRIMARY VICTORY: ‘THERE IS STILL HOPE’ DeBoer added there is a disconnect between Scholten’s “moderate” image on the campaign trail and her voting record in Congress. “I believe the biggest point of contrast, quite frankly, is that for the last few campaign cycles she has campaigned as though she’s a very moderate individual, and yet her voting record in Congress is in stark contrast to that,” she said. Scholten’s vote against the SAVE America Act and her support for “boys in girls’ locker rooms, boys in our girls’ sports” are examples of this contrast, according to DeBoer. Scholten voted against a bill that would ban transgender women and girls from competing on female school sports teams in January 2025, according to U.S. House voting records, But DeBoer, who previously told Fox News Digital she considers herself an outsider in this race, said her positions are more closely aligned with voters and that she would bring “common-sense values” to Washington if elected. Turning to the issues driving the race, DeBoer said affordability is the most pressing concern as the costs of groceries, energy, housing and healthcare rise. Her campaign website also lists securing the border, expanding healthcare choice, supporting reliable energy and reducing regulations on small businesses among her priorities. “People are working harder than ever before and feeling like they’re falling behind everything,” she said. STEVE MOORE: POLITICIANS ARE BLAMING THE WRONG VILLAIN FOR AMERICA’S RISING FOOD PRICES To address the higher costs, DeBoer called for cutting “reckless” federal spending and eliminating government waste, fraud and abuse “that robs all of us of the economic freedom that we have in America.” “We really need to make America affordable again,” she said. Fox News Digital reached out to Scholten’s campaign for comment.
Max Miller locked in as Republican nominee after Ohio ballot deadline passes without withdrawal
The deadline for Ohio Republicans to replace Rep. Max Miller on the November ballot has now passed, effectively locking in the embattled congressman as the GOP nominee in Ohio’s 7th Congressional District. Miller, who has resisted calls to end his re-election campaign, would have needed to withdraw by Saturday evening to give Republican officials enough time to select a replacement and complete the steps needed to meet Monday’s 4 p.m. certification deadline under Ohio election rules. Instead, Miller is staying in the race despite mounting pressure from fellow Republicans to step aside over domestic-abuse allegations made by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, the daughter of Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno. FOX NEWS POLL: DEMOCRATIC UNITY, REPUBLICAN CROSSOVERS SHAPE OHIO SENATE RACE As Fox News Digital previously reported, the controversy escalated last week when Sen. Moreno publicly called on his former son-in-law to resign from Congress, bringing a years-long family dispute and contentious divorce into the national political spotlight. Moreno had previously avoided publicly weighing in on the dispute, but broke his silence after Miller posted a livestream denying allegations of domestic and child abuse. Moreno accused Miller of increasingly “erratic and dangerous behavior” and said he should not serve in the House of Representatives. Miller has denied the allegations, saying no court or agency has substantiated claims that he committed abuse and that he has never been criminally charged in connection with the dispute. He has also sued his ex-wife for defamation. OHIO GOP FAMILY FEUD EXPLODES AS SEN BERNIE MORENO CALLS ON REP MAX MILLER TO RESIGN With the withdrawal window now closed, Republicans have no apparent path to replace Miller on the ballot through a voluntary withdrawal. The controversy comes as Republicans fight to protect their narrow House majority. Miller represents a district that has generally favored the GOP, with President Donald Trump carrying it by roughly 11 points in 2024. Miller is now poised to face Democrat Brian Poindexter, a union ironworker, in November, giving Democrats an opportunity to compete for a Republican-leaning seat that otherwise would have been expected to remain in GOP hands.
Vice President Vance says migrant communities show ‘clear pattern’ in federal fraud as investigations widen
Certain migrant communities are helping to drive widespread fraud that has cost taxpayers billions of dollars, Vice President JD Vance told Fox News Digital. In an interview in his office in the West Wing of the White House last week, Vance discussed his work leading the fraud task force under President Trump. Vance said his team has found a clear pattern of collaboration involving migrant communities. “You definitely see patterns where certain communities,” Vance said. “It’ll start as maybe one Somali person takes advantage of the system, or realizes you don’t even have to have children to get money from these programs. You could just claim that you have children, there’s no verification. Then, word spreads like wildfire, and that program gets tapped into by the same members of that community.” TRUMP TOLD DONORS ‘WE NEED TO ELECT JD,’ SOURCE CONFIRMS, AS HE WEIGHS VANCE OR RUBIO IN 2028 Vance, who is also leading ongoing negotiations with Iran and recently welcomed a new addition to his family, has a robust portfolio. He was tapped to tackle fraud after the issue exploded in Minneapolis earlier this year and is now working with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz and other agencies. In recent months, hundreds of hospice and home health agencies suspected of fraud in Minnesota and California have had federal payments suspended, and a number of other states are also under the watch of the task force. Vance said the fraud his team has uncovered has many victims. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S LANDLORD JOINS VANCE FRAUD CRACKDOWN AS WHITE HOUSE WIDENS HUNT: ‘CRITICAL FORCE’ “The first and the most obvious victim is the American taxpayer,” Vance said. “You give your money to the federal government, and you expect the federal government, even if you disagree with the policy behind it, you expect that money to go to the people that it’s supposed to go to.” “When a new mom goes to apply for help for herself and her baby, the money isn’t there anymore,” said Vance, whose office is adorned with artwork by his kids, a rosary, a photo of him and Usha kissing on Mount Rushmore and a glass replica of a diet Mountain Dew can. “Or, you have autistic kids who benefit from services that are meant to go to the families of children with autism, and you have fraudsters who get rich off these programs,” he added. “Sometimes they don’t even have children, much less autistic children enrolled.” FBI ADDS 2 FUGITIVES TO ‘MOST WANTED FRAUDSTERS’ LIST AMID HISTORIC $6.5B HEALTHCARE TAKEDOWN: PATEL Vance revealed that roughly $230 billion in fraud has been uncovered since Trump took office and that $55 billion in federal payments to suspected fraudsters has been halted. Last week, federal and state law enforcement charged 19 defendants accused of participating in schemes involving more than $4 million in claims submitted to Medicare and Medicaid, according to the Department of Justice. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday also announced a plea agreement involving the final defendant in a previously charged 21-defendant case tied to more than $1.7 million in claims in the Keystone State. Prosecuting fraudsters is one thing, but Vance said that recouping the money presents yet another challenge, since much of it has already been spent. “Getting money back is very hard,” Vance said. “Once it’s gone out the door, it’s very hard to get it back.” “What we’ve done most effectively is actually just stop the money from going out the door in the first place, because that’s the only real way to ensure the American people don’t lose it.” At the end of last year, reports and social media coverage from independent journalist Nick Shirley exposed a network of daycare centers, like the “Quality Learing (sic) Center,” that were allegedly fraudulent and operated mostly by Somali immigrants. OWNER OF DAYCARE IN VIRAL NICK SHIRLEY VIDEO CHARGED IN $4.6M DAYCARE FRAUD SCHEME, PROSECUTORS SAY The reports sparked swift action from the administration, and former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem deployed DHS and ICE agents to the streets of Minneapolis to catch and deport Somali immigrants in the country illegally. The deployment sparked a clash between local residents and federal agents that exploded into violent riots across the Twin Cities. While the duties of a vice president vary from one administration to another, Trump has leaned heavily on his No. 2. Vance has traveled abroad twice to meet directly with Iranian leaders and regularly provides updates on the negotiations to the press. That role came after Trump appointed Vance as the head of the White House’s anti-fraud task force in May, dubbing him the “Fraud Czar.” Despite his array of assignments, Vance, who recently turned 42, and his wife, first lady Usha Vance, had their fourth child last month, making him the first sitting vice president to have a child in more than 150 years. “Kids have a way of forcing you to focus on them, even when things are crazy at work,” Vance said. “[I was] with my six-year-old this morning, who was making like zoo animal noises, and I was like, ‘Buddy, what are you doing?’ And he said, ‘I just want you to get off the stupid phone.’ And I said, ‘Alright, this can wait.’” SECOND LADY USHA VANCE SHARES FAMILY PHOTOS FEATURING NEWBORN WHO IS LESS THAN 1 WEEK OLD Whether in his current role or possibly as Trump’s would-be successor, Vance believes his family values make him better at his job. “Kids are so, they’re so in their own little world that they sort of force you to go into their world, and that’s a very, very good thing,” he said. “It’s good for my psychology. I think it’s good for my soul, but it’s a very good thing. The job obviously has its demands and the schedule can get kind of crazy.” Vance, who at 44 would be just a year older in 2028 than John F. Kennedy was when he was
Biden-world veteran issues stark warning about Abdul El-Sayed as he crosses party lines
Former Jill Biden press secretary Michael LaRosa said he won’t support Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, citing the candidate’s refusal to distance himself from far-left streamer Hasan Piker over his past remarks about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. LaRosa, who served as press secretary to former first lady Jill Biden, made the unusually sharp break with his party in a post responding to reports that he was supporting Republican Mike Rogers over El-Sayed. At the center of LaRosa’s criticism is El-Sayed’s association with Piker, who drew widespread condemnation after saying during a 2019 livestream that “America deserved 9/11.“ EL-SAYED’S SOCIALIST ALLIES REJECT GOP CLAIMS ABOUT DEMS EMBRACING THE FAR LEFT El-Sayed has campaigned alongside Piker and, when pressed about the remark, has argued that appearing with the streamer does not mean he endorses everything Piker has said. For LaRosa, the controversy is deeply personal. He said the mother of his best friend died on Sept. 11 after jumping from the 95th floor of the World Trade Center rather than remain inside the burning building. “I won’t defend or support anyone who is too cowardly to stand up to extremists who think the mother of my best friend, who jumped from 95 stories because the alternative was worse, deserved what happened to her,” LaRosa wrote. “Her only crime was showing up to work that morning.” HASAN PIKER CALLS FOR DEMOCRATS WHO OPPOSE ABDUL EL-SAYED TO BE ‘PUNISHED’ LaRosa concluded by accusing El-Sayed of refusing to stand up to “the guy who says she ‘deserved’ what she got that morning she showed up for work.” LaRosa’s rebuke is about more than one Democrat refusing to back another. It highlights a growing fault line within the party over extremism and the boundaries of acceptable political rhetoric. Those divisions could ultimately push some longtime Democrats across the aisle in consequential races. That dynamic could prove particularly consequential in Michigan, where the Senate contest could help shape the balance of power in Washington and even a small erosion of Democratic support could matter.
Young conservatives reveal what’s top of mind as GOP, Democrats battle for ‘hopeless’ Gen Z voters
Both parties see Gen Z voters as a crucial bloc that could help tip the balance in November as Republicans and Democrats battle for control of Congress, with the GOP seeking to keep President Donald Trump’s agenda moving and Democrats pushing to retake Capitol Hill and steer the legislative agenda. And as the Democratic Party grapples with the growing appeal of democratic socialism among young voters, Republicans are seizing on the trend to rally their own young base. But conservative college students gathered at Young America’s Foundation’s Freedom at 250 conference in Washington, D.C., told Fox News Digital that economic pressures — from inflation to the housing crunch — are not only helping drive some of their peers toward democratic socialism but that they themselves share those same concerns. DEMOCRATS LURE ‘POLITICALLY HOMELESS’ GEN Z TOWARD SOCIALISM — A COUNTERATTACK IS TAKING SHAPE “I think a lot of young people are feeling a little bit hopeless right now, Courtney Graves, a rising senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told Fox News Digital. “They want to be able to have a home when they grow up. They want to be able to have a nice life and a good-paying job. And what we’ve been seeing is that when those things don’t come to fruition, people tend to go to the extremes.” Graves’ comments come as financial milestones such as buying a home, have been perceived as increasingly difficult for younger Americans. A Pew Research Center survey published in July found that 87% of Americans say buying a home is harder for young adults today than it was for their parents’ generation. A recent report from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies found that nearly half of renters spent more than 30% of their income on housing in 2024, and nearly half of Americans ages 18 to 29 received financial help to cover an expense over the past year, according to a Federal Reserve report released in May. But Graves, who is the granddaughter of immigrants who escaped Communist-controlled Latvia, argued that embracing free-market policies is the best way for people to achieve the American Dream and that the Republican Party needs to work on its messaging to make that case clearer to young Americans. THE AMERICAN DREAM NOW COMES WITH A ZIP CODE: HERE’S WHERE STARTER HOMES ARE STILL WITHIN REACH “I think free markets are the way to have a successful and prosperous life,” Graves said. “It’s what leads to job growth, it’s what leads to being able to buy a home at the end of the day, have a family and just overall live a great quality of life and have a strong country.” While affordability remains top of mind for Americans this midterm cycle, Brody Baker, a University of Iowa student, praised President Donald Trump for bringing more accountability to the White House compared to former President Joe Biden’s presidency. “I think we get more clarity of what’s happening with the United States as of today,” Baker said. “With the administration being able to say, ‘hey, we have some criticisms,’ Baker said, “there’s some issues with gas being so high, with how the economy, for some it’s hurting a lot, and for some, it’s hurting a little.” BESSENT CREDITS TRUMP IMMIGRATION POLICIES WITH HELPING RETURN JOBS TO AMERICANS AS WAGE GAINS RESUME For University of Minnesota senior Jackson Barrick, pocketbook concerns are just one slice of the pie. He pointed to the country’s immigration and border security policies and foreign policy as issues weighing most heavily on him. Barrick said Trump has done a “fantastic” job with his immigration enforcement agenda. “I think it’s a really good step in terms of making sure that we have a good future going forward in the United States and protecting the homeland,” Barrick said. But college students are also worried about a newer issue: artificial intelligence. Nick Kammerzell, a recent University of Georgia graduate, said AI is the issue that most concerns him about America’s future. AI CHATBOTS TAKE HEAT OVER LEFT-WING BIAS: ‘NO LONGER BE CONSIDERED NEUTRAL’ “I think that it’s very scary,” Kammerzell said. “I think one of the biggest things that I’m concerned about with the AI issue is censorship and bias within AI. I think a lot of young people are becoming very dependent on it as their source of truth.” “I think there’s a lot of opportunities for abuse and manipulation with that,” Kammerzell added, arguing the technology could potentially be used to warp people’s opinions. Young Americans are also more skeptical of AI than older generations. A Pew Research Center survey published in June found that 48% of adults ages 18 to 29 expect AI to have a negative impact on society over the next two decades, compared with 37% of those 50 and older. Younger adults were also more likely to worry that AI could negatively affect their own lives. Baker also expressed concerns over the algorithms created by social media companies. “You are given by Instagram — all these big platforms — your algorithm, your viewings, and you’re leaned towards, and you push towards a certain agenda, or you’re pushed towards a certain idea,” Baker said, arguing this is creating staunch political divides with Americans.
IN CHARTS: A visual breakdown of the Smithsonian’s billion-dollar taxpayer-funded budget
The Smithsonian has relied on more than $1 billion a year in taxpayer funding in recent years, even as its leadership and exhibits face mounting scrutiny over DEI priorities and ideological portrayals of American history. The sprawling institution oversees 21 museums, the National Zoo and nearly 157 million objects and specimens, making it the world’s largest museum, education and research complex. President Donald Trump’s proposed budget reductions have made its federal funding a central pressure point in the administration’s broader effort to reshape the taxpayer-supported institution. Since the White House released a July 2026 report accusing the Smithsonian Institution of advancing DEI and left-wing agendas, Fox News Digital has documented multiple examples. Most recently, the Smithsonian’s America 250 exhibit featured roughly three times as many items highlighting liberal figures and causes as conservative ones, prompting criticism that it presented an ideologically imbalanced account of American history. Other examples included the Smithsonian’s promotion of a museum training guide that linked concepts such as objectivity and merit to “white dominant culture,” a program the institution later apologized for after public backlash. Meanwhile, Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III has faced scrutiny after saying DEI “must be at the center” of museum institutions, while receiving more than $4.4 million in salary and benefits from 2020 through 2024. TRUMP ORDERS SIGNS OUTSIDE SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM AMID ROW OVER ITS DEPICTION OF AMERICAN HISTORY The White House’s proposed funding reduction follows a monthslong, Trump-directed review that culminated in a 162-page White House report recommending sweeping reforms and additional executive action. Although the Smithsonian also receives private donations, grants and other funding sources, the institution has relied on more than $1 billion annually in taxpayer funds in recent years. With taxpayer dollars at stake, the institution’s budget has become a central front in the Trump administration’s broader debate over how the Smithsonian presents American history. TRUMP TARGETS BIDEN-ERA BILLION-DOLLAR SMITHSONIAN BUDGETS AMID ANTI-‘WOKE’ PUSH The charts below break down how the Smithsonian’s federal funding has changed over time, where the money would go and which museums receive the largest share of taxpayer support. A Fox News Digital analysis of Smithsonian budget requests shows the institution sought increasingly larger federal appropriations during the Biden administration, with annual requests climbing from $960 million in fiscal 2019 to a record $1.24 billion in fiscal 2024. TRUMP V. SMITHSONIAN: A TIMELINE OF HOW THE WHITE HOUSE FIGHT OVER ‘WOKE’ HISTORY UNFOLDED After requesting more than $1 billion in fiscal year 2025, the Trump administration proposed budgets below that threshold for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, the first such requests since fiscal year 2020. While the overall budget has fluctuated over the years, the bulk of the Smithsonian’s federal funding is dedicated to keeping the institution operating day to day. The Smithsonian’s budget is less about new exhibits than keeping the institution running. Of the nearly $960 million federal budget request, a little more than $524 million funds the Smithsonian’s day-to-day operations, including staff, security, facilities and technology. Another $310 million finances museum activity and research, while the rest supports building improvements, planning and oversight. Not all Smithsonian museums receive the same level of taxpayer support. The National Museum of Natural History tops the 2026 funding requests at $51 million, followed by the National Museum of the American Indian at nearly $35 million. Meanwhile, the National Zoo receives about $34 million in funding, while the National Museum of American History accounts for $27 million. With nearly $1 billion in proposed federal funding at stake, the Smithsonian has become more than just a network of museums. It is now a focal point in the broader fight over how American history is told and whether taxpayer dollars should support those narratives. The Smithsonian Institution did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Socialists rising in Colorado? Send in the Marines, GOP nominee says
Republican Colorado gubernatorial nominee and Marine veteran Victor Marx is assembling an all-Marine ticket that he says can bring the “steely spines” needed to combat a democratic socialist movement gaining ground in races around the country. “There’s never been a successful socialism program, and I’ll say socialism, it’s just a transitionary word for communism. Let’s just say it for what it is,” said Marx in an interview with Fox News Digital. Marx won Colorado’s primary race in June, campaigning on public safety, social conservatism and cost of living. His victory came as the Democratic Party’s left flank scored a series of primary wins nationally, including in Colorado, where democratic socialist Melat Kiros upset longtime incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette. Colorado’s primary results were mixed overall, but Kiros’ victory extended a broader run of wins by progressive and democratic socialist candidates across the country. Marx’s answer to what he sees as socialism gaining ground nationally — and a leftward shift at home: Send in the Marines. He has tapped retired Marine Col. George Markert as his running mate, creating an all-Marine ticket that Marx says can bring military discipline and “steely spines” to Colorado government. EXPERT WHO FLED CUBA WARNS OF ‘VICIOUS CYCLE’ THAT WILL LEAD TO ‘COMMUNISTS IN DOUBLE DIGITS’ IN CONGRESS “People know what they’re going to get when they get Marines. We’ve got hard foreheads, steely spines. And high integrity,” said Marx. Markert has spent more than 30 years in the Corps, including senior leadership assignments at U.S. Central Command and the 2nd and 4th Marine Logistics Groups. Markert transitioned into the private sector, overseeing infrastructure-related field operations across North America. Marx, who is also the founder of All Things Possible Ministries, is pitching himself and his running mate as political outsiders, arguing that they have the discipline and accountability needed to take on a socialist movement. TOP WISCONSIN DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST CANDIDATE CONFRONTED ON PAST ‘DEFUND POLICE’ RHETORIC Marx contrasted that approach with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which he described as “organized, they’re well-funded, they are focused on reshaping Colorado from the top down.” The DSA, which endorsed Kiros, supports the eventual abolition of police — a position that puts public safety at the center of the political divide. That debate comes as Colorado continues to grapple with crime rates well above national levels. In 2024, Colorado recorded about 476 violent crimes and 2,593 property crimes per 100,000 residents — roughly 28% and 41% higher, respectively, than the national rates calculated by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics. DSA CO-CHAIR PUSHES BACK ON SOVIET UNION COMPARISONS, WANTS PRISONS TO BE ‘LESS NECESSARY’ “They’re more focused on policing speech than protecting families. While residents are worried about crime, gang activity, state leaders are advancing this ideology with policies that threaten our free speech and punish people for the beliefs,” said Marx. Marx took aim at his opponent, Colorado Democratic Attorney General Phil Weiser, arguing that increased government spending has not translated into better results for Coloradans. Weiser has repeatedly challenged the Trump administration in court as attorney general, including over Trump’s efforts to restrict birthright citizenship and immigration-related policies. “[H]e hasn’t made our state safer. It’s softer on crime, and we’ve experienced it,” Marx said. “So folks are ready for a change.” Marx said government officials in Colorado are not delivering as “hardworking taxpayers” are “paying more while the government delivers less.” “We’re one election away. It’s either me, or it’s a Democrat. And I lay the DSA at the Democrats’ feet. It didn’t come through the Republican Party or Independents. It came through the Democrats,” Marx said. Fox News Digital reached out to Weiser for comment.
EXCLUSIVE: Talarico caught on tape giggling about his church housing illegal immigrants set for deportation
EXCLUSIVE: Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico bragged in a resurfaced interview that his church had stirred controversy by housing a family of illegal immigrants who were set to be deported by ICE, laughing as he said that “Christianity is just another word for causing trouble.” Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian who serves as a Democratic state representative, is running against Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for a Senate seat that is critical to both parties. In a resurfaced clip of Talarico speaking on Texas Impact’s “Weekly Witness” show in June 2023, he credited his faith for “why I am in politics.” Asked how his faith influences his politics, Talarico pointed to examples of his church advancing progressive causes, saying, “Justice is just love out in public.” “Our church was really active in LGBTQ rights in the ’90s. We caught some attention by letting an atheist join our church in the 2000s, and then in the 2010s, again stirred some controversy by housing an undocumented family, a mother and son, who were close to being deported by ICE,” he said. “That was the tradition that I was brought up in. It’s what led me to teach public school students on the west side of San Antonio, led me to run an education nonprofit and then led me to run for office.” TEXAS DEM NOMINEE JAMES TALARICO INVOKES FAITH TO DEFEND ABORTION RIGHTS, ‘THE BIBLE IS SILENT ON ABORTION’ “And so, again,” he continued, “this idea that Christianity is just another word for causing trouble.” During the same interview, Talarico decried what he referred to as “Christo-fascism” and the religious right, which he accused of seeking to subvert democracy by forcing a “certain type of Christianity.” Asked for specific examples of Christo-fascism in Texas, he pointed to a law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments, another allowing schools to replace guidance counselors with chaplains, and the state’s school voucher program. He also pointed to laws banning sex-change surgeries and treatments for children and Texas’ abortion ban. “All these ideologies stem from this Christo-fascism movement, which, essentially, like I said, is just using faith to exercise raw political, social and economic power,” said Talarico. “I think it’s dangerous to all of us, but particularly to those who are marginalized and oppressed in our state.” SOCIALIST HOUSE NOMINEE’S RADICAL LAW-AND-ORDER VISION: ‘WHAT ARE ILLEGALS?’ The resurfaced clip has drawn criticism from Republicans. Republican National Committee spokesman Zach Kraft told Fox News Digital that “despite looking like a loser, Talarico is a dangerous man.” “He has dedicated his life to helping illegals by dismantling border security, defunding police, and abolishing prisons to turn Texas into a paradise for cartels and criminals,” said Kraft. JT Ennis, a spokesperson for Talarico’s campaign, responded by telling Fox News Digital that “James is a Christian seminarian who’s dedicated his life to the teachings of Jesus Christ — fighting religious and political corruption when he sees it because there’s nothing Christ-like about powerful people twisting the teachings of Jesus to justify hate, violence, and greed. While billionaire-bought politicians like Ken Paxton attack James for his faith — he will continue encouraging Texans across the political spectrum to come together by loving their neighbors as themselves.” Ennis said that the RNC’s “attacks are flat out lies.” “James opposes defunding the police and supports stronger border security and immigration enforcement — it’s why he’s voted to send billions of dollars to support law enforcement, called for more border patrol agents, and has said we should be arresting and deporting violent criminals and human traffickers — not moms and babies,” said Ennis. “On the other hand, Ken Paxton’s fellow Republicans have blasted his record of abusing his office to benefit his wealthy donors and the well-connected, allowing criminals back on the street even as it made Texans less safe.” The Democratic National Committee did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Despite Republican efforts to highlight his history of controversial statements, including saying that “God is nonbinary” and that there are six sexes, Talarico leads Paxton in a recent Fox News poll. Republicans, including Paxton, argue that Talarico’s progressive record will eventually hurt him politically. DEM’S STUNNING IDEAL STANDARD FOR IMMIGRATION DETENTION CONDITIONS RESURFACES AMID TEXAS SENATE BID Madison Cercy, a spokeswoman for Paxton’s campaign, commented on the resurfaced video, telling Fox News Digital that “In Talarico’s form of Christianity, you must be trans, you can’t support the oil and gas industry, you must support late-term abortions, and you have to let in every criminal illegal immigrant seeking asylum.” “James Talarico hates Christianity, and he’s said it,” added Cercy. “The only form of Christianity Talarico practices is one that sacrifices children at the altar of the radical trans movement and most Texans would agree.” SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Paxton told Fox News Digital after a rally in Houston earlier this week that Talarico’s lead is “not surprising” given “we were three months behind” after his primary runoff against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. “We’re still three months out,” Paxton continued. “And I know that when we put our resources together, when we get there, we will be able to highlight things and once the voters know the real James Talarico, not the fake one that’s running right now … people will get to decide for themselves.”
WATCH: Dems stand by Maine nominee hit with report he fathered children with his second cousin
Democratic senators are still backing Maine Senate nominee Troy Jackson, who replaced former candidate Graham Platner on the ballot, after the latest allegations threaten to yet again shake up the race for U.S. Senate in the Pine Tree State. Platner, following a series of scandals culminating in sexual misconduct claims, was forced to drop out ahead of the Democratic primary to take on Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, earlier this summer. But now, a bombshell report claims Platner’s replacement fathered two children with his second cousin. The recent report wasn’t enough to turn lawmakers against Jackson, with most stressing the necessity for Democrats to win swing state races in order to win back a majority in the upper chamber — not an easy feat in Maine, where Collins, a moderate, has represented the state in the Senate since 1997. Maine’s other senator, independent Angus King, said: “I have no idea what you’re talking about, and I’m not going to comment on it anyway.” Every senator who Fox News Digital spoke with on the issue this week denied having knowledge of the report. “I don’t know anything about that, but what I do know is that we have got to elect Democrats up and down the ballot,” Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., told Fox News Digital. “I haven’t heard of these reports,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., echoed. “Troy Jackson is somebody who’s obviously in this fight for working people.” Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., ignored the crux of the question. “I think it’s super important that we win that seat so that we can put an end to the wild cost increases and rampant corruption that the Senate right now is indulging,” he said. INTERNET ERUPTS OVER REPORT THAT PLATNER’S REPLACEMENT IN KEY SENATE RACE FATHERED CHILDREN WITH SECOND COUSIN The Maine Wire editor Steven Robinson first reported last week that Jackson shares two children with his second cousin, Lana Pelletier. In posting the genealogical findings, the independent journalist claimed Pelletier’s father is a cousin of Jackson’s mother. The report made waves after Jackson received 94% of the 601 delegate votes in the process this summer to replace Platner, who dropped out of the race after a rape allegation finally forced his Democrat allies to turn against him. Platner denied the claim, among others made against him, but ultimately it was the nail in the coffin that resulted in him ending his bid for U.S. Senate before the deadline for Democrats to get a new candidate on the Maine primary ballot. Without directly denying the report, Jackson’s campaign said in a previous statement to Fox News Digital that it was an attack campaign from the Collins camp. “Susan Collins will do anything to distract from the fact that she votes with Trump 96% of the time and has sold out working people in Maine. Personal attacks on Troy’s family are shameful and desperate,” the statement read. Jackson’s campaign did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for additional comment on the reporting. MAINE DEM IN HOT SEAT FOR CHAMPIONING POPULAR VOTE DESPITE CLINCHING SENATE BID WITHOUT IT “Haven’t seen it,” Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., said when asked on Capitol Hill about the reports. Ossoff initially avoided saying whether he’d back Jackson. Instead, he pointed to Michigan’s Democratic race, which the far-left progressive Abdul El-Sayed won on Wednesday, before addressing his support for Jackson. “I’m supporting our nominee in Michigan,” Ossoff replied when asked if he would be endorsing Jackson. “In Maine, we’ll see who wins.” Many senators credited their support for Jackson and other Democrat candidates running for office as a broader effort to target Republicans and their agendas — both within the Donald Trump administration and in Congress. “We have a president who today, again, has no strategic plan about getting us out of that war in Iran, where our children are dying on the battlefield while his are getting rich,” Alsobrooks said. A recent Fox News Poll found that 56% of voters oppose U.S. military action against Iran, with 40% strongly opposing the war, indicating the ongoing conflict might play a role in how voters show up in November. 2026 MIDTERMS STATE OF PLAY: KEY RACES UNFOLD AS STEVENS, EL-SAYED BATTLE IN MICHIGAN Alsobrooks said she is supporting the Democratic nominee “in every single state,” again indirectly backing Jackson, to ensure her party takes back the majority in Congress. “I’m supporting whoever the nominee, in every single state, the Democratic nominee,” Alsobrooks said. “We are going to have to take back the House and take back the Senate as well so that we can bring down the cost of living, get people healthcare again.” “That is what is important right now to the American people, and that’s what we’re looking for.”
Hawaii contractor nominated to construct GOP comeback after two-decade Democratic hold on governor’s mansion
Gary Cordery, who owns a contracting company, won the Republican nomination for Hawaii governor after defeating business owner Ken Fujiyama in Saturday’s primary. He is now set to face Democratic Gov. Josh Green in November in a race that heavily favors the incumbent. The Cook Political Report rates the contest as Solid Democratic, with a Partisan Voting Index of D+13. Cordery faces a steep challenge: Hawaii has not had a Republican governor since Linda Lingle left office in 2010. FORMER TOP OREGON GOP OFFICIAL SECURES NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR AS REPUBLICANS TARGET BLUE-STATE PICKUP In addition to facing an incumbent with a 56% approval rating and Hawaii’s long history of Democratic control, Cordery faces a significant financial disadvantage against Green. Green has raised approximately $3.5 million, far outpacing Cordery, who has raised about $313,000, according to Honolulu Civil Beat. Despite the uphill battle, Cordery is pitching voters on a platform centered on lowering Hawaii’s high cost of living, reforming education and cracking down on corruption. “As a husband, father and grandfather, businessman and community servant, I love Hawai’i,” Cordery said in an interview with Honolulu Civil Beat. “These islands of unique beauty have endured mismanagement for decades. Her people live under tremendous stress and anxiety. I am running to open opportunity, create abundance and ensure stewardship of her resources, bringing accountability and hope for the people.” THE AMERICAN DREAM NOW COMES WITH A ZIP CODE: HERE’S WHERE STARTER HOMES ARE STILL WITHIN REACH Part of Cordery’s plan to create abundance includes adding 15,000 homes across the islands for working families, with prices ranging from roughly $400,000 to $600,000. His proposal calls for using state-owned land for fee-simple housing while streamlining permitting and opening more land for residential development. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER He is also proposing eliminating the state’s General Excise Tax on food and medicine and freezing property taxes for homeowners at retirement. Cordery argues that the state is failing to properly manage taxpayers’ dollars and says he would order audits to root out waste. “Hawai’i’s 20.5 billion dollar budget for 1.4 mil[lion] people is a staggering number. New Hampshire has 1.4 million people but a $7.75 billion dollar budget,” Cordery said. “I believe our tax burden is out of control. The answer is management.”