Michigan Dem claims Stevens shot down Rogers endorsement rumor hours before turning on El-Sayed
The decision by Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., to endorse Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers was apparently a sudden change of heart, and tied to the Abdul El-Sayed campaign’s stay-away order this weekend. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., said Stevens told her Saturday night that reports of an impending Rogers endorsement were not accurate. “It’s very hard,” Dingell told local FOX 2 on Sunday night. “Haley Stevens told me at midnight last night this was all a rumor and was not true.” DEMOCRAT HALEY STEVENS ENDORSES GOP SENATE NOMINEE MIKE ROGERS AT DETROIT CHURCH Five hours later, Stevens was standing shoulder to shoulder with Rogers at a Detroit church service. “She texted me at 7:45, watching you on MS NOW, heart, heart,” Dingell continued. “And by the way, I talked to her. Look, I’m just upset. I’m very concerned. It’s sad, but I don’t want to be distracted anymore.” The Detroit church event was intended to bring unity for El-Sayed’s campaign, because Stevens had won the Black vote, but instead, after being told by the Democratic nominee to stay away, she unified with Rogers. FORMER RIVAL DODGES FULL-THROATED EL-SAYED ENDORSEMENT AFTER BITTER SENATE PRIMARY “We got a phone call this morning and, you know, there’s been a lot of unfortunate activity, I think,” Rogers told FOX 2 Detroit. “Abdul discarded Haley Stevens, was rude to Haley Stevens, has been rude, I think, to many in the African-American community. At least that’s what they’re telling me. And I think this just boiled over when he dis-invited her to the campaign event that was supposed to happen today. And basically said don’t need you and don’t need your supporters.” Rogers welcomed the early November surprise with just two days to go before Tuesday’s Election Day in a race that could flip the Democratic Senate seat red and help President Donald Trump’s party keep control of the upper chamber. HALEY STEVENS RIPPED BY FELLOW DEMS FOR REFUSING TO EXPLICITLY BACK EL-SAYED: ‘STAY THE F— OFF TELEVISION’ “I think she picked up the phone today after having lots of, apparently, conversations with a lot of people and picked up a phone and said, ‘Hey, I heard you’re going to church, you want some company?’” Rogers added. “And so that was, I mean, we were very welcome for her, I’m very welcome to have her support.” The unity event became divisive for the former Democratic Senate primary combatants after Stevens called on El-Sayed to condemn an outside group’s ad that she said blamed Israel for high grocery prices. Stevens’ fiancé Jason Turkish, a Democratic donor and Jewish lawyer, said earlier in the week that he was going to vote for Rogers, raising concern from El-Sayed’s campaign and other Democrats. ROGERS OPENS DOOR TO DEMOCRATIC VOTERS AFTER EL-SAYED’S PRIMARY VICTORY: ‘THERE IS STILL HOPE’ El-Sayed’s campaign then asked Stevens to skip his events through Election Day to avoid distracting from the race, sources said. In a social media video, Stevens said, “I don’t belong in Abdul’s campaign.” Rogers said Democrats were “veering off into the virulent hate” directed at a group of people, while Stevens’ mother, Maria Marcotte, told Reuters her daughter was concerned about rhetoric she believed frightened constituents. BLACK VOTERS, JEWISH DEMOCRATS IN MICHIGAN WARY OF VOTING FOR EL-SAYED, SAY ‘HE’S TAKING ADVANTAGE’ Despite the rift, El-Sayed’s campaign said it raised $1.2 million in the four hours after Stevens’ endorsement, its second-best fundraising day since the August primary. Fox News Power Rankings’ latest projection rates the race as a Toss Up. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 Senate majority. While midterm election history tends to deliver power back to the party in the minority, Trump and Republicans have put added emphasis on retaining Senate control to hold back what is expected to become a Democrat-controlled House. Reuters contributed to this report.
The GOP reveals a fresh $100B talking point as the battle for Congress looms
EXCLUSIVE: With both parties vying to convince voters they have the better answer on the economy, Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler is pointing to $100 billion in support for local employers as proof that Trump’s policies are working. “We just recorded our second consecutive year of getting $100 billion to Main Street businesses,” Loeffler told Fox News Digital, crediting Trump’s tax cuts, deregulation and trade policies. SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS BUILT THE AMERICAN DREAM. DEMOCRATS WANT TO TAKE IT FROM YOU The economic debate could help determine which party controls Congress, as both parties try to persuade voters their policies will improve household finances and business prospects. Loeffler said the business owners she meets want to expand but need confidence that Washington will support long-term investment. They most often tell her they need more skilled workers, she said. DSA-BACKED CANDIDATES ARE WINNING PRIMARIES AND THEIR VISION FOR AMERICA IS VERY DIFFERENT “What they can’t tolerate is having Washington say that they’re gonna massively regulate them, massively tax them,” she said. The Small Business Administration said it guaranteed 62,205 loans worth $39.5 billion through its 7(a) and 504 programs in fiscal 2026, its third-highest loan volume on record. The agency’s $100 billion total also includes private investment, disaster aid and business support. The SBA said the 43-day government shutdown halted lending through its main loan programs for nearly two months, preventing an estimated $5 billion in financing over the fiscal year.
How to watch critical 2026 midterm election races in TX, OH, MI, WI, GA, IA, NV, ME and FL
Control of Congress is on the line Tuesday as voters decide pivotal Senate and House races across the country, while closely watched contests for governor will shape the political landscape in key states during President Donald Trump’s second term. Republicans are fighting to defend their congressional majorities as Democrats seek gains in battlegrounds from Texas and Georgia to Michigan and Maine. Open seats, vulnerable incumbents and competitive statewide races have put nine states at the center of the fight for power in Washington and state capitals. With races stretching across multiple time zones, here are the key contests to watch, when polls close and how to follow live results as Election Night unfolds. SENATE CONTROL IS A COIN FLIP — AND DEMOCRATS’ PATH RUNS THROUGH TRUMP COUNTRY Texas voters face two major statewide showdowns, with Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton battling Democratic state Rep. James Talarico for the Senate seat held by outgoing Republican John Cornyn, while GOP Gov. Greg Abbott seeks a historic fourth term against Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa. TRUMP WON THIS RELIABLY RED STATE BY DOUBLE DIGITS. NOW A DEADLOCKED RACE IS BRINGING HIM BACK The Senate contest has emerged as an unusually competitive race in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since Lloyd Bentsen in 1988, pitting Paxton’s conservative appeal and history of legal controversies against Talarico’s campaign focused on political change. Meanwhile, Abbott’s reelection bid offers another test of Republican dominance, with border security, education and the economy shaping the fight over the state’s future. Ohio features a Senate rematch of sorts, with former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown seeking a return to Washington against Republican Sen. Jon Husted, who was appointed to fill Vice President JD Vance’s former seat. Brown is attempting a political comeback in a state that has shifted toward Republicans, while Husted seeks his first electoral victory for the Senate. Husted’s campaign also enlisted Ohio native and former NFL coach Jon “Chucky” Gruden for campaign appearances. Voters will decide who succeeds term-limited Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, with Republican Vivek Ramaswamy facing Democrat Amy Acton. Ramaswamy’s campaign recently pulled a controversial ad featuring Acton’s estranged mother after criticism from fellow Republicans, including DeWine. Michigan’s open Senate seat could prove pivotal to the balance of power in Washington, with former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers facing Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in the contest to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters. ABDUL EL-SAYED’S ALLEGED FAMILY TIES TO MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD SURFACE AFTER DENYING ANY LINK DURING NBC INTERVIEW The Senate race has grown increasingly contentious as Rogers and Republican allies have raised allegations about El-Sayed’s family’s purported ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, citing old social media posts by his half-sister. El-Sayed has denied any connection to the organization and publicly disavowed it, while independent fact-checkers have found no evidence establishing his personal affiliation. The state also features a gubernatorial showdown between Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Republican Rep. John James, testing whether Michigan voters will maintain Democratic control of the governor’s office or turn to Republicans. Wisconsin’s open governor’s race pits Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany against Democratic Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley as voters choose a successor to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. The contest centers on the state’s political direction, including taxes, public spending and education, after Crowley defeated progressive state Rep. Francesca Hong in a crowded Democratic primary. Georgia offers two major statewide contests, with Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff defending his seat against Republican Rep. Mike Collins in a state Trump narrowly carried in 2024. Ossoff’s race will test whether Democrats can hold a Senate seat in a state that has delivered closely contested presidential and Senate elections, while the open governor’s race between Republican businessman Rick Jackson and former Democratic Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms will determine who succeeds term-limited Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. Iowa voters will decide whether Republicans can retain two major offices in a state Trump carried comfortably in 2024. Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson faces Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek for the Senate seat being vacated by Republican Joni Ernst, while Democratic state Auditor Rob Sand faces Republican Zach Lahn in the open governor’s race to succeed retiring longtime GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds. Although the Hawkeye State has shifted toward Republicans in recent election cycles, Democrats previously enjoyed sustained statewide success through figures including former Sen. Tom Harkin and former Gov. Tom Vilsack. The contests will test whether Democrats can regain ground, with affordability, agriculture and state economic policy among the central issues. Nevada’s marquee contest features Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo seeking another term against Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford. The race will test whether Republicans can retain the governor’s office in a state where Democrats have remained competitive in statewide elections, with housing affordability, education and public safety among the issues facing voters. Lombardo, the former Clark County sheriff, defeated incumbent Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak in 2022, with Ford now hoping to hit the jackpot in Carson City. Maine’s Senate race pits longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins against former Democratic state Senate President Troy Jackson in one of the country’s most closely watched contests. Collins is seeking another term in a blue-leaning state that supported Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Meanwhile, Jackson is attempting to turn Maine’s Democratic presidential voting pattern into a Senate pickup after replacing Graham Platner, who withdrew as the Democratic nominee following a sexual assault allegation that he denied. The contest will test Collins’ longstanding crossover appeal and could have major consequences for the Senate’s balance of power, as she remains New England’s only Republican member of Congress. Florida voters will choose a successor to term-limited Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, with Republican Rep. Byron Donalds facing former Republican congressman-turned-Democrat David Jolly. The race presents a contest over the future of Florida’s government, including affordability, immigration and the direction of state policy. Republican Sen. Ashley Moody, appointed to the seat vacated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also faces DSA-affiliated Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon in a
Collins accuses Schumer of pushing attack ads filled with ‘outright lies’ in tight Maine race
Sen. Susan Collins on Sunday blasted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Democratic Party over what she described as a wave of false attack ads targeting her and other Republican candidates, saying she has never seen a campaign with “so many outright lies.” She made the remarks during an interview with Fox News on Sunday, just two days before Election Day in Maine, where she is seeking reelection in a closely watched race against Democratic rival Troy Jackson. According to the latest Fox News poll, the two candidates are tied at 49%. Collins accused Democrats of following “Chuck Schumer’s playbook,” pointing to attack ads she said were nearly identical to those targeting other Republican lawmakers. MANCHIN CALLS SCHUMER ‘CRAZY’ FOR TRYING TO OUST GOP SENATOR IN CRUCIAL SENATE SHOWDOWN “One of the outrageous, completely false ads against me had to do with Jeffrey Epstein. And it turns out, in talking to two of my colleagues who are in tough races, that they had virtually identical ads run against them. So this is part of Chuck Schumer’s playbook,” she said. “There are a lot of differences between my opponent and me, but I’ve never seen a campaign with so many outright lies. It’s very frustrating,” she added. Collins further accused Democrats of trying to shift the focus away from local issues and toward divisive national political battles. “It’s certainly an attempt by my opponent and Chuck Schumer and their allies to nationalize this race,” she said. SENATE CONTROL IS A COIN FLIP — AND DEMOCRATS’ PATH RUNS THROUGH TRUMP COUNTRY Turning to her own campaign, Collins portrayed herself as a bipartisan lawmaker willing to work across party lines, arguing that the Senate needs more centrists as moderates increasingly leave Washington. “Unfortunately, a lot of them have given up and retired or decided they just didn’t want to run again. And that’s one reason I am running again,” she said. “We need more people who are willing to work across party lines. That is really important,” she said. FOX NEWS POLL: NAIL-BITER IN MAINE SENATE RACE She also described herself as the “most independent senator on either side of the aisle,” pointing to her voting record and saying her decisions are based on what she believes is right, rather than who occupies the White House or what President Donald Trump supports. “There’s this phony figure out there that I voted with President Trump 95% of the time. That’s based on a sample of only 30% of the votes. If you look at a broader sample of 90% of the vote, that drops significantly to like 72%. And I voted against the president’s policies 138 times,” she said. While Jackson previously told Fox News that he believes he has a “good shot” at defeating Collins, the longtime Republican senator touted strong voter support and said she is more optimistic than ever about her reelection chances. “I’m feeling very optimistic based on the great response I get in visiting communities all over the state,” she said.
DOJ set to appeal ruling in Alaska Senate race dispute over ‘Decoy Dan’
A federal judge on Sunday dismissed the Justice Department’s lawsuit seeking to delay certification of Alaska’s Senate election amid the “Decoy Dan” controversy, rejecting the Trump administration’s bid two days before the midterm elections. The DOJ said it would appeal. The lawsuit centered on two candidates with similar names: Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan and challenger Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. The DOJ lawsuit sought to delay or block certification while investigating whether voter confusion may have affected the outcome. DEM BUCKS PARTY OVER ALLEGED ALASKA VOTE-SIPHONING EFFORT: ‘NEITHER PARTY SHOULD BE DOING IT’ U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason said the government had not shown how the requested investigation could identify voters’ intent while protecting ballot secrecy. She also said the relief sought would intrude on Alaska’s responsibility to run its elections. The DOJ said it would appeal, arguing the judge dismissed the case on procedural grounds without addressing its claim that Sullivan Jr. entered the race to confuse voters. The case now heads to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The dispute has roiled the campaign in recent days. The New York Times reported that people connected to Democratic nominee Mary Peltola’s campaign helped recruit Sullivan Jr. to run as a spoiler. Peltola has denied involvement, and Sullivan Jr. has denied coordinating with her campaign. Sen. Sullivan said Sunday he would accept the results of Tuesday’s election, even as the Trump administration pursues a criminal investigation into Sullivan Jr.’s candidacy. Sullivan accused the challenger of trying to confuse voters. GOVERNOR PROBING ‘DECOY DAN’ SULLIVAN ELECTION SCANDAL WARNS SYSTEM FLAW HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, has suggested he may not certify a Peltola victory. Sullivan declined to say whether he would support efforts to refuse certification. The Senate race could help determine which party controls the chamber. Alaska uses ranked-choice voting, under which lower-performing candidates are eliminated in rounds if no one wins a majority in the first count. The closely watched race could help determine which party controls the Senate. Alaska uses ranked-choice voting, so if no candidate wins a majority in the first round, the last-place candidate is eliminated and voters’ next choices are counted.
Connecticut Dem Sen Chris Murphy hospitalized Saturday for stroke
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., was hospitalized after experiencing a stroke, his chief of staff Allison Herwitt said in a statement released Sunday. Murphy, who is not running in the midterms but has been stumping for Democrats, began feeling numbness in his arm Saturday afternoon while at his son’s hockey game and was taken to a local hospital before being transferred to Johns Hopkins for further monitoring, according to Allison Herwitt. WHAT TO DO IF SOMEONE IS HAVING A STROKE, AFTER JILL BIDEN REVEALED DEBATE-NIGHT FEARS “He was taken to a local hospital, where it was discovered he had experienced a stroke. He was transferred to Johns Hopkins for further monitoring and is responding well to treatment,” she said in a statement. “The doctors are encouraged by his progress, he is awake and alert, and we are optimistic he will make a full recovery.” Murphy was first elected to the Senate in 2013 and has been viewed as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential primary candidate. He has spent the past several weeks on the campaign trail with Democrats as he stumped to help retake control of the Senate majority in the midterm elections. He had been scheduled to campaign for Democrats in New Hampshire on Sunday. Murphy is 53 years old, born August 3, 1973.
‘Squad’ rakes in record $2.35M while slamming the door on cop donations
Hey cops, your money’s no good here. A joint fundraising committee for four progressive House Democrats has raised a record $2.35 million so far this election cycle, while barring donations from the Fraternal Order of Police, according to federal filings and the committee’s disclosure. The Squad Victory Fund is authorized by Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.; Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.; Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass.; and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich. The fundraising gives the four lawmakers and their allied political groups a shared vehicle to collect and distribute campaign contributions. ILHAN OMAR’S WEALTH SCANDAL TAKES A TURN JUST ONE DAY AFTER RAID OF HER DC HOME The fund’s donor rules also make clear which groups it says it will not accept money from, and one is the Fraternal Order of Police, the nation’s largest police organization. It also bars donations from corporations, federal lobbyists and fossil fuel interests. The disclosure does not explain the FOP exclusion. SOCIALIST PRIMARY SWEEP SPARKS LAUNCH OF NEW RESOURCE LAYING OUT WHAT’S AT STAKE IN 2026 The fund’s other participants include four allied PACs. Contributions are generally divided equally among the eight participants, with each slated to receive 12.5%, though donors may designate their contributions for a specific participant. The fund has raised $2,351,388.02 in the 2025–2026 election cycle, its highest total to date, according to its FEC summary. Through March 31, 2026, it had spent about $1.6 million and reported roughly $68,000 in cash on hand. The committee remains active, so those figures may change. Contributions are not tax-deductible, the disclosure notes.
Democrat Haley Stevens endorses GOP Senate nominee Mike Rogers at Detroit church
Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers on Sunday amid Democratic infighting that has roiled the Michigan Senate race. The endorsement came on the heels of Stevens’ appearance alongside Rogers at Detroit’s Perfecting Church, where Fox News confirmed she attended a service. Stevens lost in the primary to fellow Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, and has been critical of his unwillingness to condemn the overt antisemitism of some of his supporters. “Hey Michigan, as you may have seen, our Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, Abdul [El-Sayed] said that I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I should stay away and he’s right. And that’s why I’m endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today,” Stevens said in a video posted on X. Stevens said she remains “a very proud Democrat” who loves Michigan but could not support El-Sayed, citing his backing from political streamer Hasan Piker. “I’m honored to have Haley Stevens support today. I’m honored to have earned that vote,” Rogers told reporters gathered outside the church. “This is more a statement about standing together against hate and the future of this state and this country than it is anything else,” he added. The appearance came after Stevens was disinvited from a planned church event with El-Sayed, the man who narrowly defeated her in Michigan’s August Democratic primary. The reversal left Stevens at the same church as Rogers, El-Sayed’s Republican opponent. HALEY STEVENS RIPPED BY FELLOW DEMS FOR REFUSING TO EXPLICITLY BACK EL-SAYED: ‘STAY THE F— OFF TELEVISION’ Stevens has pressed El-Sayed to condemn an outside group’s ad linking U.S. support for Israel to higher grocery prices, which she called antisemitic. El-Sayed said the ad was not produced by his campaign and that he disagreed with its contents. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., who helped organize the planned appearance, said Stevens was asked to skip it after the dispute became a distraction and upset the church’s bishop. FORMER RIVAL DODGES FULL-THROATED EL-SAYED ENDORSEMENT AFTER BITTER SENATE PRIMARY El-Sayed’s campaign also asked Stevens to stay away from its remaining events. Stevens fiancé, Jason Turkish, has previously endorsed Rogers and appeared at a Rogers campaign event, saying he could not support El-Sayed because of his positions on Israel. The dispute has put a spotlight on Democratic divisions in a close Senate race that could help determine control of the chamber.
Inside top Trump bulldog’s plan to save House GOP majority and defy history
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, was jumping into the car with his wife on the way to the airport when he took a call from a Fox News Digital reporter on Thursday morning. It’s a microcosm of what the House Judiciary Committee chairman’s recent weeks and months have been: a seemingly endless series of planes, trains and automobiles across the U.S. campaigning for fellow Republican lawmakers. House Republicans’ senior leadership is crisscrossing the country raising money and support for their members to win Tuesday’s midterm elections. Jordan, though he’s not part of the trio, has much the same schedule. “Sometimes they’re fundraisers, sometimes they’re rallies, sometimes they’re both,” Jordan said. “We’re doing everything we can just to help our team win, because… if these Democrats get in there, my real concern, I gotta be honest, is what they’re gonna try to do to the structure of our government.” MAPPED: TRUMP’S NONSTOP CAMPAIGN BLITZ SWEEPS KEY STATES A source familiar with Jordan’s travel schedule said he’ll have gone to 115 districts across 34 states during this election cycle. That includes 19 consecutive days on the road in the lead-up to Nov. 3 in states such as Washington, Oregon, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois and South Carolina. And despite the diverse areas, Jordan said his message is mostly the same: Republicans cut taxes, secured the border and Democrats will make it all worse. “We understand things cost a little too much, and we’re working on that. But remember, most of that’s because of the Biden administration and their record inflation. We’re bringing that inflation rate down, but you know, we still understand things, things cost too much, and we’re gonna keep working on that,” Jordan said. TRUMP VOTERS REVEAL THEIR BIGGEST FEAR HEADING INTO MIDTERMS — AND IT’S NOT RISING PRICES “But the big issue we talk about is, if these radicals that now control the Democrat Party, if they get control of the government, the crazy things they’re gonna do are just frightening.” And because he’s not a member of leadership, he’s not afforded the same charter flights and police motorcades that come with that job. While he’s had some private flights, most of Jordan’s travel has been comprised of commercial airlines and long drives between destinations — including sitting in traffic. He said his favorite travel tunes include the greatest hits of late country star Glen Campbell. But Jordan said he also uses much of that time texting or calling colleagues, asking how their races are going, and talking to staff about what issues to raise at his next event. He’s also raised a significant amount of cash for their campaigns, donating $1.97 million to Republicans across the country and $2.65 million to the House GOP campaign arm. 10 DEMOCRAT-HELD HOUSE SEATS REPUBLICANS COULD FLIP TO SAVE THEIR MAJORITY It comes as House Republicans fight an uphill battle to retain their majority, as multiple political forecasts show Democrats poised to take over the chamber. Jordan’s volume of travel is notable for someone who is not in senior House leadership, but it’s not a surprise, given his years-long high profile. “His celebrity status is very helpful,” one House Republican previously told Fox News Digital. “When Jim Jordan comes to town for you, you put 300 butts in seats.” Another lawmaker shared a similar figure. Rep. Tim Moore, R-N.C., told Fox News Digital that Jordan reached out to him about doing an event in his district that wound up a success. DEMOCRATS SEE NEW CHANCES TO FLIP RED STATES — BUT A $400M GOP SPENDING ADVANTAGE COULD DERAIL THEIR PLANS “We had a fundraiser in Gastonia and it was very well attended. A huge crowd, nearly 300 people there — raised a lot of money, a lot of excitement, a lot of enthusiasm, and so I appreciated him coming down to do that,” Moore said. His district also saw a visit from House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., which Moore said also raised a significant sum. Jordan has appeared alongside conservatives in deep red districts and moderates in battlegrounds — walking out to Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” for many of those appearances — painting a picture of party unity that’s a far cry from his roots as an anti-establishment rebel leading the House Freedom Caucus. “It’s kind of a Jordan 2.0,” the first House Republican said. “He’s just a great citizen of the conference.” A second House Republican told Fox News Digital that a wide range of members see Jordan as a “mentor.” They said Jordan’s travels are a mix of Republicans asking him to come out and him extending those offers himself. “Jim doesn’t care if you’re moderate or even if you have to lean left to keep your seat, you have to represent your people,” the second House Republican said. Asked whether he’s changed or the party has, Jordan said it was “the overall picture.” “Any differences that exist in the Republican Party are pretty small compared to the differences between Republicans and the left, the hard left, the radical left, which now controls the Democrat Party,” Jordan said. It has also inspired questions about what he wants out of it. House Republicans and members of the media are widely expecting that Jordan is eyeing a bid for senior leadership after failing to clinch a position in the past. If Republicans lose the majority, he’s expected to run for minority leader, where he’d be Trump’s top defender in Congress. But Jordan himself has publicly dismissed those notions. “I’m focused on… Tuesday,” he told Fox News Digital. “The way you stop the radicals from making these structural changes to our constitutional form of government, these radical policy positions that they have, the way you stop them is at the ballot box, and that happens on Tuesday.” And then the conversation ended, because Jordan had to catch a flight to campaign with Republican candidates in Florida that night.
Trump’s DOJ makeover hasn’t changed where the political cash is flowing — and the gap is growing
The Trump administration has sought to eliminate what it alleges is partisan bias within the Justice Department, but the vast majority of political donations from individuals identifying themselves as DOJ employees are still going to Democratic-aligned committees, according to a Fox News Digital analysis of federal campaign finance records. Between January 2025 and August of this year, just over 75% of campaign contributions from individuals identifying themselves as Department of Justice employees went to Democratic committees, the analysis of federal campaign finance records found. Fox News Digital analyzed roughly $300,000 in political contributions recorded by the Federal Election Commission between January 2025 and August 2026 from donors who listed their employer as “Department of Justice,” “DOJ” or a variation of those names. Contributions were categorized by the political affiliation of the recipient candidate or committee, while independent-expenditure committees were classified according to the candidates or parties they supported. When exporting data from the Federal Election Commission’s dashboard, an option to include donations from “unique individuals only” was selected to filter out duplicative records. As the Trump administration has progressed, the partisan slant of DOJ donations has become more pronounced. Through 2025, about 70% of donations from those identifying themselves as DOJ staff went to Democratic committees, a figure that rose to just under 90% in 2026, according to Fox News Digital’s findings. TODD BLANCHE EXPOSES HOW AGGRESSIVE BIDEN DOJ TARGETED LOW-LEVEL MAR-A-LAGO EMPLOYEES Attorney General Todd Blanche and his predecessor, Pam Bondi, both claimed that the Trump administration inherited a deeply corrupt DOJ, pointing to allegations that the agency was inundated with political bias under President Joe Biden’s tenure. “There are a lot of people in the FBI and also in the Department of Justice who despise Donald Trump, despise us,” Bondi said in early 2025. “Right now, we’re going to root them out; we will find them, and they will no longer be employed.” Critics have pushed back against claims of political weaponization during the Biden administration, arguing that high-profile investigations into President Donald Trump and other conservatives originated from legitimate legal concerns. DOJ DANGLES MASSIVE SIGNING BONUSES FOR LAWYERS READY TO FIGHT ‘LAWLESS’ CITIES FAR BEYOND DC Both of Trump’s attorneys general under his second administration have made strides to recruit a greater number of ideologically aligned lawyers while attempting to push those out who may not be willing to advance the administration’s interests. In early February 2026, DOJ chief of staff Chad Mizelle publicly encouraged lawyers who “support President Trump” to contact him about becoming federal prosecutors. Stephen Miller amplified the appeal on social media with the caption “patriots needed,” and sitting U.S. Attorney Jason Quiñones reposted the appeal alongside the phrase “we are hiring!” Mizelle later defended the approach as ensuring that executive-branch lawyers were in line with the elected president’s agenda. LEGAL WAR ON TRUMP’S AGENDA GAINS FIREPOWER AS FEDERAL LAWYERS DEFECT TO DEMOCRATS The administration’s personnel overhaul has coincided with a substantial exodus of attorneys from federal service. Over 10,000 attorneys have left federal service since Trump took office for a second term. Fox News Digital reported in July that well over 100 federal attorneys had left the Trump administration for roles in Democratic-run state attorneys general offices. Many of these lawyers took decades of experience with them, prompting concerns that the Trump administration could be depriving itself of the ability to handle highly technical legal matters. Some of these seasoned former federal lawyers have since joined legal action against the Trump administration. While a significant number of government lawyers have left federal service under Trump, and some prominent conservatives have joined the administration, campaign finance records show that Democratic committees continue to receive the overwhelming majority of political contributions from donors identifying themselves as Justice Department employees. Among the most common recipients of donations from those identifying themselves as DOJ employees were Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia, and Emily’s List, a pro-abortion group associated with the Democratic Party. Some conservative committees, such as those in Trump’s network of PACs, were also common targets for Justice Department donors. DEMOCRAT POLITICOS RERUN UNDERHANDED LEFTIST PLAYBOOK IN EFFORT TO TORPEDO TRUMP’S AG NOMINEE Much of the DOJ’s work concerns investigations and prosecutions unrelated to partisan politics, and the campaign finance records do not establish whether employees’ political preferences have influenced the department’s day-to-day operations. Progressive critics, to the contrary, have alleged that the Trump administration is using the Justice Department to target its political enemies. “Those who were fired from the Department were fired for a reason. Those who resigned or took the fork in the road option likely aligned more with the priorities of President Biden and would naturally leave, which is common during transitions,” a DOJ spokeswoman previously told Fox News Digital. “The Administration gave career employees the fork in the road option to intentionally reduce the size of the government and eliminate unnecessary layers of staff who don’t effectively contribute to the mission of aggressively tackling crime.” The DOJ did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Monday.