Supreme Court declines to take up Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex trafficking appeal
The Supreme Court declined to take up Ghislaine Maxwell’s appeal in her sex trafficking case, quashing the last hope the former girlfriend and associate of Jeffrey Epstein had of fighting her 2021 conviction. The high court revealed in an order list on Monday that it would not hear her case this term, leaving in place a denial by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit. Maxwell, 63, was convicted by a jury in New York of five counts involving sex trafficking of a minor and conspiracy. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison. BONDI UNDER SIEGE AFTER DOJ REVEALS NO EPSTEIN CLIENT LIST In her appeal, Maxwell argued her conviction should be tossed out for several reasons, including that a plea deal Epstein reached with the federal government in 2007 immunized her and that statutes of limitations had run out. In the deal in question, Epstein pleaded guilty to charges in Florida of soliciting prostitution from a minor, and he registered as a sex offender as part of the agreement. Epstein later faced federal charges but died before he could stand trial. Authorities have said he died by suicide. The plea deal included a clause about co-conspirators, which Maxwell argued protected her from prosecution. The 2nd Circuit disagreed, and that finding will now remain in place. The Supreme Court’s denial comes as the Epstein case continues to roil the Trump administration. The DOJ has faced pressure from MAGA loyalists to publish new information about the matter after Trump and top officials at the DOJ, prior to them taking office, had promoted the idea that the government was hiding undisclosed information about sexual predators tied to Epstein. EPSTEIN DOCUMENTS RELEASED BY HOUSE DEMOCRATS NAME ELON MUSK, STEVE BANNON AND PETER THIEL The president has brushed off the Epstein case files as unimportant, angering a faction of his base, while the DOJ has made futile attempts to release more information on Epstein. Maxwell, for her part, has been serving out her sentence in a federal prison in Tallahassee, Florida, but was transferred to an all-women minimum-security facility in Bryan, Texas, days after meeting with DOJ Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Blanche had interviewed Maxwell as part of the department’s broader attempt to extract more information about Epstein from untapped sources. The DOJ has denied extending Maxwell any preferential treatment. Maxwell’s legal team has also expressed hope of receiving a presidential pardon. Over the summer, her attorney said she had not asked Trump for one but would welcome any relief. Asked in July about pardoning Maxwell, Trump said it was not on his radar. “I’m allowed to do it, but it’s something I have not thought about,” Trump said. In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, Maxwell’s attorney David Markus suggested his client still has other options to fight her conviction. “We’re, of course, deeply disappointed that the Supreme Court declined to hear Ghislaine Maxwell’s case,” Markus said. “But this fight isn’t over. Serious legal and factual issues remain, and we will continue to pursue every avenue available to ensure that justice is done.”
Self-described ‘unapologetic supporter of Israel’ John Fetterman weighs in as Trump seeks to broker peace deal
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a staunch and unflinching Israel supporter, wants Hamas to accept the peace deal President Donald Trump is aiming to help broker, and is calling out pro-Palestinian protesters for not demanding that Hamas agree to the peace deal. “Good morning to everyone except all the protesters who aren’t protesting for Hamas to accept the peace deal,” the senator declared in a Sunday post on X. In a post on Friday, Fetterman shared a screenshot of a Mediaite headline that read, “CNN’s Dana Bash Wonders Why Pro-Palestine Movement Isn’t Pressuring Hamas to Accept Trump Deal” — in his post, the senator commented, “For those protesters: Hamas > Peace,” adding, “No flotilla, blocking a highway or disrupting public events demanding Hamas to take the peace deal.” NEW POLL REVEALS HOW PENNSYLVANIA DEMS FEEL ABOUT FETTERMAN BUCKING HIS PARTY Israel went to war against Hamas in response to the heinous October 7, 2023, attack in which terrorists committed atrocities including mass murder, rape and kidnapping. But Trump posted a statement on Truth Social last week in which Hamas declared willingness to negotiate a deal including the release of all hostages, dead and alive. “Hamas must choose peace or its own destruction. Send the hostages home, now. As an unapologetic supporter of Israel, the Gaza War must end to have peace and security for Israel and Palestinians. Politics aside, credit to @POTUS’ peace plan to get to this encouraging point,” Fetterman noted in a Friday post on X, sharing a screenshot of a Reuters headline that said, “Hamas says it agrees to release all Israeli hostages under Trump Gaza plan.” Trump indicated in a Sunday evening Truth Social post, “There have been very positive discussions with Hamas, and Countries from all over the World (Arab, Muslim, and everyone else) this weekend, to release the Hostages, end the War in Gaza but, more importantly, finally have long sought PEACE in the Middle East.” FETTERMAN REJECTS ‘NAZI,’ ‘FASCIST’ LABELS FOR OPPONENTS WHILE AFFIRMING PARTY LOYALTY Later in the post, he warned, “TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OR, MASSIVE BLOODSHED WILL FOLLOW — SOMETHING THAT NOBODY WANTS TO SEE!” Fetterman accused the Democratic Party of an “ongoing and escalating betrayal of Israel,” in a post on X last month. Sharing a screenshot of a headline from The Hill that read, “Pair of Senate Democrats charge Israel with ‘ethnic cleansing’ of Palestinians,” Fetterman firmly pushed back. FETTERMAN DEFENDS TRUMP’S ‘TASTEFUL’ $200M WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM MAKEOVER AMID DEM CRITICISM CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “I reject this in the strongest terms. My party’s ongoing and escalating betrayal of Israel is gross and outrageous,” he asserted.
More lawmakers say they’re rejecting paychecks as government shutdown drags on
A growing number of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have declared they’re forgoing their paychecks as the government shutdown drags on. The federal government has been shut down for nearly a week after Senate Democrats rejected Republicans’ plan to fund agencies through Nov. 21 multiple times. Reps. Chip Roy, R-Texas, Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, Tom Barrett, R-Mich., Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, and Rob Bresnahan, R-Pa., are among the Republicans who wrote to the Chief Administrative Officer of the U.S. House of Representatives asking for their pay to be withheld during a shutdown. SHUTDOWN EXPLAINED: WHO WORKS, WHO DOESN’T AND HOW MUCH IT COSTS Democrats like Reps. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., and Lou Correa, D-Calif., have requested the same. But lawmakers requesting their pay be withheld cannot forgo it altogether, because federal law requires them to be paid. Article I of the Constitution states, “The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States.” Further, the 27th Amendment prevents any changes to congressional pay until after the next election. GOP ACCUSES DEMS OF RISKING SHUTDOWN TO RESTORE ‘ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT HEALTHCARE’ Most House and Senate lawmakers are paid $174,000 yearly — a figure that has not changed since 2009 — while members of congressional leadership can earn more. A source familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital that members of Congress can elect to have their pay withheld until a shutdown is over, but they must receive that as backpay when the government is funded again. Meanwhile, Rep. Joe Morelle, D-N.Y., the top Democrat on the Committee for House Administration, told Bloomberg Government last week that those checks can go into an account separate from lawmakers’ usual salaries. He told the outlet, “It’s an administrative way of withholding pay for people who choose to.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Congressional staffers, meanwhile, automatically miss paychecks if their pay period falls during a government shutdown — but that is also backpaid when the shutdown ends. Some lawmakers, like Sens. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., have announced they would donate their paychecks for the duration of the shutdown. “Each day the government remains closed, I will be donating my salary to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, which provides help to vulnerable populations who may be impacted by this reckless choice,” Moody said in a statement last week.
Pritzker sues Trump to block National Guard action in Illinois
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson filed a lawsuit Monday to block the Trump administration from deploying hundreds of National Guard troops from Illinois and Texas in Chicago and surrounding cities. The legal challenge is the latest clash between Democratic-led states and the Trump administration over President Donald Trump‘s so-called “federalization” of law enforcement, with governors in California, Oregon and others pursuing similar lawsuits. State and city leaders are seeking both an emergency restraining order to immediately head off Trump’s attempts to deploy the National Guard troops in the state, and longer-term injunctive relief. They claim President Donald Trump plans “to use American soldiers to punish his political enemies.” Illinois is looking for the courts to find the deployment of the National Guard “unconstitutional.” FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS TRUMP’S BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP BAN FOR ALL INFANTS, TESTING LOWER COURT POWERS On Sunday, Pritzker revealed that Trump would deploy 400 members of the Texas National Guard to Illinois, Oregon and other locations. He said in an X post that “no officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate.” “We must now start calling this what it is: Trump’s Invasion,” the Democratic governor wrote. Texas Gov. Greg Abbot (R) responded to Pritzker, announcing he had authorized the president to call up to 400 members of the Texas Naitonal Guard to “ensure safety for federal officials.” “You can either fully enforce protection for federal employees or get out of the way and let Texas Guard do it,” Abbot said. The lawsuit comes one week after Pritzker and other state and local leaders held a press conference to share news of Trump’s request to authorize the National Guard troops for the stated purpose of “protecting ICE personnel and facilities.” It’s unclear whether the guard troops in question will be Illinois National Guard troops, or National Guard members from nearby states. “What I have been warning of is now being realized,” Pritzker said Monday. “One thing is clear: none of what Trump is doing is making Illinois safer.” “This is not about fighting crime or about public safety. This is about sowing fear and intimidation and division among Americans,” he said, vowing to fight “with everything that we have.” The action from Illinois comes days after masked federal immigration officials were seen marching through Chicago’s downtown area in full tactical gear and masks. Pritzker, who blasted the effort as an act of “authoritarianism,” noted that the immigration officers seen over the weekend appeared to be “carrying large weapons” and were spotted along Chicago’s Michigan Avenue, along the Chicago River, and outside Millennium Park — all areas that are commonly frequented by tourists and residents alike. “This is not making anybody safer — it’s a show of intimidation, instilling fear in our communities and hurting our businesses,” Pritzker said on social media. “We cannot normalize militarizing American cities and suburbs,” he added. Both have traded barbs with Trump and other senior administration officials, including DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, in recent weeks as it looked to enact its hard-line immigration enforcement priorities. “No president can flout the Constitution,” Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul told reporters Monday. “The rule matters in the state of Illinois.” EXCLUSIVE: TRUMP-ALIGNED LEGAL GROUP FILES FOIA REQUEST FOR DC CRIME DATA, CITING ALLEGED MANIPULATION Trump, for his part, took to social media over the weekend to take aim at what appeared to be an interaction between federal agents and protesters in the city of Broadview, Illinois, just outside Chicago. “Border Patrol will take no nonsense!” Trump said. Trump for months has threatened to deploy National Guard troops to Illinois as part of that effort, prompting heated criticism from Democrats in the state, including Pritzker, and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who described the ICE agent presence in the city over the weekend as “another brazen provocation from the Trump administration” and one that “does nothing to make our city safer.” Both have sharply condemned Trump’s immigration crackdowns and attempts to deploy federal troops into Democrat-led cities and states. They reiterated that claim yesterday, describing the effort as merely a “pretext” for deploying federal agents into Chicago and the surrounding areas. TRUMP IS THREATENING TO ‘FEDERALIZE’ DC WITH NATIONAL GUARD AND MORE. HERE’S HOW THAT COULD PLAY OUT The lawsuit comes as leaders in other Democrat-led states have moved to sue the Trump administration over his federalization crackdown. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield on Saturday announced they are suing the Trump administration over its deployment of National Guard troops, echoing Pritzker and Johnson’s argument that Trump lacked the legal basis to do so. He argued on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that Trump has “exceeded his authority” in calling up the troops, since there is not an invasion or rebellion in the U.S. or Oregon — or the two conditions by which the president can call up the National Guard against state objections. “What’s going on in California, D.C., Memphis, potentially Illinois, and now Oregon — this normalization that you can use the U.S. military in our cities — that is un-American,” Rayfield said. “In every place that it happens, you will see Democrat attorneys general standing up, drawing a line in the sand and saying, no, we need to have this American conversation because it is an un-American action by our president,” he added. Fox News’ Kevin Gora and Fox News Digital’s Andrea Margolis contributed to this report.
Federal judge blocks Trump’s National Guard deployment to Portland amid constitutional challenge
A federal judge blocked President Donald Trump’s efforts to deploy National Guard troops into Portland in a late-night decision on Sunday. U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut ruled the action was unlawful and unconstitutional, issuing an emergency temporary restraining order to halt the deployment of California’s National Guard. The order also bars the use of troops from any other state or Washington, D.C. in Oregon. Immergut’s ruling says that the Trump administration’s action violates federal statute 10 U.S.C. §12406 and the Tenth Amendment. “It appears to violate both 10 U.S.C. §12406 and the Tenth Amendment,” Immergut said during the proceeding, according to reporting from Adam Klasfeld of AllRise News. NEWSOM SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT ORDER TO OREGON Immergut also pressed Justice Department attorney Eric Hamilton on why the DOJ continued to pursue troop movements. “How could bringing in federalized National Guard from California not be in direct contravention of the TRO that I issued yesterday?” she asked.“You’re an officer of the court. Aren’t defendants circumventing my order?” Hamilton went on to deny any wrongdoing but did offer a defense to which Immergut pushed back. “You have to have a colorable claim that Oregon conditions warrant deploying the National Guard — you don’t.” TRUMP’S ‘WAR-RAVAGED PORTLAND’ NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT HALTED BY FEDERAL JUDGE OVER AUTHORITY CONCERNS Oregon’s Scott Kennedy said it felt like “a game of rhetorical Whac-A-Mole” and referenced reports that Trump may be considering sending Texas National Guard troops to Chicago. DOJ representatives requested a stay, but Immergut denied both the stay and the administrative delay, saying it was an “emergency” and there were no new facts to justify the request to change her previous ruling. “I’m handling this on an emergency basis with limited briefing,” she said. “No new information has been provided about any new issues in Portland.” California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) immediately took to X to boast. “BREAKING: We just won in court — again. A federal judge BLOCKED Donald Trump’s unlawful attempt to DEPLOY 300 OF OUR NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO PORTLAND. The court granted our request for a Temporary Restraining Order — HALTING ANY FEDERALIZATION, RELOCATION, OR DEPLOYMENT of ANY GUARD MEMBERS TO OREGON FROM ANY STATE. Trump’s abuse of power won’t stand,” the post stated. The Justice Department has made indications that it will be appealing the ruling with arguments that the president retains authority under federal law to deploy National Guard forces in cases of “domestic unrest.”
Pritzker says Trump ordering 400 members of the Texas National Guard to Illinois, Oregon and other locations
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced on Sunday that President Donald Trump will deploy 400 members of the Texas National Guard to Illinois, Oregon and other locations. The deployment came as protests against federal law enforcement ramp up across the country, particularly in Portland and Chicago. In the Windy City, multiple people were arrested in recent days for reportedly ramming their vehicles into DHS and ICE agents’ cars. After announcing Trump’s deployment on X late Sunday, Pritzker wrote that “no officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate.” CHICAGO ANTI-ICE PROTESTERS BLOCK VEHICLES, GET HIT WITH TEAR GAS AND PEPPER BALLS “We must now start calling this what it is: Trump’s Invasion,” the Democratic governor wrote. “It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will now involve sending in another state’s military troops.” Pritzker also disclosed that he called Texas Governor Greg Abbot to “immediately withdraw any support for this decision and refuse to coordinate.” ANTI-ICE PORTLAND RIOTERS WITH GUILLOTINE CLASH WITH POLICE IN WAR-LIKE SCENES “There is no reason a President should send military troops into a sovereign state without their knowledge, consent, or cooperation,” the governor added. “The brave men and women who serve in our national guards must not be used as political props. This is a moment where every American must speak up and help stop this madness.” In response, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott defended his decision, writing on X that he had “fully authorized the President to call up 400 members of the Texas National Guard to ensure safety for federal officials.” He then added that federal and state leaders must “either fully enforce protection for federal employees or get out of the way and let the Texas Guard do it,” while praising the Guard’s “training, skill and expertise.” Abbott also noted that thousands of Texas National Guard troops have remained along the southern border to assist with security operations. In recent days, large numbers of protesters have rioted against immigration enforcement actions across the country. ICE shared a video of a Portland protester being wheeled into custody on Sunday. In Broadview, Illinois, on Friday, more than a dozen people were arrested by federal agents during protests at an ICE processing facility. Agents were seen firing pepper balls, tear gas and rubber bullets to clear crowds.
Trump tells troops ‘every last penny’ coming despite ongoing government shutdown affecting military pay
At a ceremony marking the U.S. Navy’s 250th anniversary, President Donald Trump sought to reassure service members affected by the ongoing government shutdown, pledging they would receive “every last penny” of their pay and promising an “across-the-board” raise once the impasse ends. “I want you to know that despite the current Democrat-induced shutdown, we will get our servicemembers every last penny,” Trump said. “Don’t worry about it, it’s all coming,” he added. TRUMP SAYS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN LAYOFFS ARE ‘UP TO’ DEMS AS STANDOFF CONTINUES While active-duty troops continue to report for duty, their paychecks are frozen until funding is restored. Non-essential civilian War Department employees, including thousands who support base operations and logistics, have been furloughed. Meanwhile, military support programs — including child care centers, on-base commissaries, and other family services — have been scaled back at several installations, forcing families to shoulder unexpected costs. During a Sept. 30 speech at Quantico, before the nation’s top generals, Trump said he was backing a 3.8% pay raise for every servicemember. “Something you weren’t getting from the past administration,” Trump added. SHUTDOWN EXPLAINED: WHO WORKS, WHO DOESN’T AND HOW MUCH IT COSTS The federal government shut down at 12:01 a.m. ET on Wednesday, halting pay for U.S. service members and hundreds of thousands of other federal employees. The shutdown, now stretching into its fifth full day, has left military families facing financial uncertainty, even as Trump assured troops that back pay and additional raises would be forthcoming once Congress approves a new spending bill. The Trump administration has placed the blame squarely on Democrats for the government shutdown, which is expected to trigger sweeping layoffs across the federal workforce. Before departing for Norfolk, Trump accused Democrats in a Truth Social post Friday evening of enabling the shutdown and attempting “to destroy this wonderful celebration of the U.S. Navy’s Birthday.” “I believe, ‘THE SHOW MUST GO ON!’” Trump wrote.
Trump warns of ‘massive bloodshed’ if Hamas fails to agree to peace deal: ‘MOVE FAST’
President Donald Trump made a social media post about Hamas on Sunday evening, minutes before the deadline for a peace proposal passed. The deadline was 6 p.m. ET Sunday. In a message on Truth Social, Trump wrote that there had been “very positive discussions with Hamas, and Countries from all over the World (Arab, Muslim, and everyone else) this weekend, to release the Hostages, end the War in Gaza but, more importantly, finally have long sought PEACE in the Middle East.” “These talks have been very successful, and proceeding rapidly,” Trump said. “The technical teams will again meet Monday, in Egypt, to work through and clarify the final details.” The president added that the first phase of the peace plan “should be completed this week.” TRUMP’S PEACE DEAL COULD END THE WAR IN GAZA OR NETANYAHU’S CAREER “I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST,” Trump emphasized. “I will continue to monitor this Centuries old ‘conflict.’“ Trump added, “TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OR, MASSIVE BLOODSHED WILL FOLLOW — SOMETHING THAT NOBODY WANTS TO SEE!” Trump previously announced the deadline in an Oct. 3 post on Truth Social, delivering an ominous warning to Hamas about accepting the deal. ISRAEL’S ARMY WILL ‘ADVANCE READINESS’ FOR FIRST PHASE OF TRUMP PLAN TO RELEASE HOSTAGES “If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas,” Trump wrote. “THERE WILL BE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” The peace proposal was unveiled by Trump in late September. The plan calls for an end to Israel’s military operations, the disarmament of Hamas and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip under a Palestinian governing body overseen by a U.S.-led international coalition. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reportedly agreed to the 20-point plan, per Reuters. Fox News Digital’s Caitlin McFall and Bonny Chu contributed to this report.
Winsome Earle-Sears releases ad linking Abigail Spanberger to Jay Jones after violent texts resurface
Virginia GOP gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears unveiled a new campaign ad Sunday linking her Democratic opponent, Abigail Spanberger, to attorney general hopeful Jay Jones, whose recently resurfaced text messages have drawn widespread backlash. The minute-long ad features clips from news reports detailing disturbing messages Jones sent in 2022 to a colleague. The spot also shows photos of Spanberger and Jones together and includes audio of Spanberger saying, “It’s been great to be out on the campaign trail with Jay Jones.” “Jay Jones dreamed of murdering two young kids and their dad over politics — and Abigail Spanberger wants him to be attorney general,” Earle-Sears wrote in an X post accompanying the video. The ad concludes with an on-screen message: “Reject the insanity. Vote Republican.” ‘CONSUMED WITH HATE’: WINSOME SEARS, JASON MIYARES UNLOAD ON DEMOCRAT JAY JONES OVER VIOLENT TEXTS Texts obtained by Fox News Digital on Friday showed an August 2022 conversation involving Jones — then a recently departed delegate from Norfolk — referencing former Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert, writing, “Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler and Pol Pot. Gilbert gets two bullets to the head.” In another message, Jones speculated whether Gilbert and his wife Jennifer were “breeding little fascists.” YOUNGKIN SAYS DEMOCRAT AG CANDIDATE JAY JONES MUST ‘STEP AWAY IN DISGRACE’ OVER TEXTS ABOUT FORMER GOP LEADER President Donald Trump weighed in on Sunday, calling Jones a “radical left lunatic” and urging him to drop out of the race. The president described Spanberger as “weak and ineffective” and praised Jones’ opponent, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares. “Abigail Spanberger, who is running for Governor, is weak and ineffective, and refuses to acknowledge what this Lunatic has done,” Trump posted to Truth Social. “Even Democrats are saying it is ‘RESIGNATION FROM CAMPAIGN’ TERRITORY. Democrat Jay Jones should drop out of the Race, IMMEDIATELY, and the People of Virginia must continue to have a GREAT Attorney General in Jason Miyares who, by the way, has my Complete and Total Endorsement — JASON WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” VIRGINIA AG CANDIDATE ONCE REFERENCED PUTTING ‘TWO BULLETS TO THE HEAD’ OF GOP LEADER, TEXTS SHOW Spanberger has condemned Jones’ messages but stopped short of calling on him to withdraw from the race. In a statement released to the media, Jones said, “I take full responsibility for my actions, and I want to issue my deepest apology to Speaker Gilbert and his family.” “Reading back those words made me sick to my stomach. I am embarrassed, ashamed, and sorry. I have reached out to Speaker Gilbert to apologize directly to him, his wife Jennifer, and their children. I cannot take back what I said; I can only take full accountability and offer my sincere apology. “Virginians deserve honest leaders who admit when they are wrong and own up to their mistakes. This was a grave mistake, and I will work every day to prove to the people of Virginia that I will fight for them as Attorney General,” he added. Earle-Sears, Spanberger and Jones did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Fox News Digital’s Charles Creitz contributed to this report.
Trump-backed map victory in Missouri could trigger redistricting battles in these states
It’s mission accomplished for Republicans in a second state they control in the high-stakes political battle over congressional redistricting, pitting President Donald Trump and the GOP against the Democrats. Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe last weekend signed into law a new congressional map that is likely to hand Republicans an additional seat in the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of next year’s midterms elections. Missouri, a one-time swing state that has dramatically shifted to the right over the past decade and a half, is the latest battleground in the congressional redistricting showdown after the passage of new maps in GOP-dominated Texas and a redistricting push by Democrats in heavily blue California. With Democrats currently needing just a three-seat pickup in next year’s midterms to win back the House majority, each seat could be critical. REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR SIGNS INTO LAW TRUMP-BACKED CONGRESSIONAL MAP “I was proud to officially sign the Missouri First Map into law today ahead of the 2026 midterm election,” Kehoe said in a statement. “We believe this map best represents Missourians, and I appreciate the support and efforts of state legislators, our congressional delegation, and President Trump in getting this map to my desk.” Trump, in a social media statement following passage in the GOP-dominated state legislature last month, called the new map “FANTASTIC” and said it “will help send an additional MAGA Republican to Congress in the 2026 Midterm Elections.” Republicans currently control six of Missouri’s eight congressional seats. Democrats are vowing to fight the new maps with legal challenges and other opponents are gathering petition signatures to force a statewide referendum on the redistricting law. ABBOTT CLEARS FINAL REDISTRICTING HURDLE AS TEXAS SENATE PASSES NEW TRUMP-APPROVED MAP Kehoe announced Missouri’s special legislative session to pass the new map as Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas signed into law a redistricting bill passed by the Republican supermajority in the state legislature that aims to create up to five right-leaning congressional districts at the expense of current Democrat-controlled seats in the reliably red state. The moves in Missouri and Texas are part of a broad effort by the GOP to pad its razor-thin House majority to keep control of the chamber in the 2026 midterms, when the party in power traditionally faces political headwinds and loses seats. Trump and his political team are aiming to prevent what happened during his first term in the White House, when Democrats reclaimed the House majority in the 2018 midterm elections. Democrats are fighting back against the rare, but not unheard-of mid-decade redistricting. California state lawmakers approved a special ballot proposition this November to obtain voter approval to temporarily sidetrack the state’s nonpartisan redistricting commission and return the power to draw the congressional maps to the Democrat-dominated legislature. The effort in California, which aims to create five more Democratic-leaning congressional districts and counter the shift in Texas, is being spearheaded by two-term Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is seen as a likely 2028 Democratic presidential contender. With the new maps in Texas and Missouri signed into law, and voters in California weighing in at the ballot box this fall, here’s a look at which states could be next in the redistricting battle. Ohio State lawmakers in the Buckeye State missed a deadline this past Tuesday to approve a new, bipartisan map. They’re under a court order to come up with a new map because the one used the past two election cycles didn’t receive enough bipartisan support. Since the GOP-controlled state legislature failed to come up with a new map, the task now falls to Ohio’s Republican-dominated redistricting commission, which has until the end of the month to get the job done. Ohio was once a top battleground state, but Republicans have dominated statewide contests over the past decade. Republicans currently hold ten of the state’s 15 U.S. House seats. Ohio, due to the mandated court order for a new map, was originally the only state expected to undergo congressional redistricting this year before Trump and his political team urged other Republican-controlled states to alter their maps. Indiana Lawmakers in the Hoosier State, another one-time battleground where Republicans are now firmly in the majority, could meet in a special legislative session later this year to push through redistricting. Vice President JD Vance paid a visit to the Indiana Statehouse in early August to huddle with Republican leaders about redistricting. And a couple of weeks later a group of Indiana GOP lawmakers traveled to the nation’s capital to meet with Vance and other Trump White House leaders. Republican Gov. Mike Braun, in recent interviews, said he wanted state lawmakers to take the lead on redistricting. “I want it to be where it wasn’t forced upon our legislature, have our leaders talk to their own caucus members,” the governor told WOWO radio. Florida Once the biggest battleground prize in presidential elections, Florida is now firmly red. And Republican leaders are mulling a new map, with GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis this summer calling mid-decade redistricting “appropriate.” A select panel in the Republican-dominated state legislature could meet next month to start discussion on congressional redistricting. Maryland Democrats in heavily blue Maryland are weighing a redistricting push. A bill that would allow Maryland to undergo mid-decade redistricting if another state first passed new maps was introduced this summer by Democrats. Democrats currently hold seven of the state’s 8 U.S. House seats. Other states considering altering their maps are Democrat-dominated Illinois and red states Kansas and Nebraska. Meanwhile, Democrats could pick up a seat in Republican-dominated Utah, where a judge recently ordered the GOP-controlled legislature to draw new maps after ruling that lawmakers four years ago ignored an independent commission approved by voters to prevent partisan gerrymandering.