Republican AGs stand ready as ‘last line of defense’ against leftist policies after dismal midterms for party
Republican attorney general candidates outperformed other midterm GOP hopefuls in several key races, according to a post-election analysis from the Republican Attorneys General Association, which urged colleagues to view their role as the “front line” against leftist policies following results that were likened to a “category-five political hurricane.” “America needs Republican Attorneys General now more than ever,” RAGA Executive Director Adam Piper wrote in a late-night memo to colleagues shared with Fox News Digital. “With an emboldened Democrat Congress, Republican AGs are both America’s front line and is the last line of defense when it comes to their left-wing wish list – such as court packing, the Green New Deal, Medicare for All, Second Amendment restrictions, and abolishing ICE.” Piper, who has worked in Virginia and on the staff of South Carolina Gov.-elect Alan Wilson, noted midterm election results showed Republican attorneys general candidates holding up slightly better on ballots despite a difficult Tuesday night for the party. AMERICA SAW THE BLUE WAVE COMING — BUT DRASTICALLY UNDERESTIMATED THE EXTENT OF THE DEM TSUNAMI “Last night was the worst election night for the Republican Party in 50 years,” Piper’s memo began, acknowledging a difficult midterm “environment” that was ultimately made worse. “Last night, voters, regardless of party, preferred Democrat candidates by a mean of D +13.8 compared to D +7.9 in 2006 and D +8.4 in 2018. “Today, we are dealing with the aftermath of a category-five political hurricane. It will take years to fully rebuild.” As Republicans are picking up the pieces and evaluating the map overcome with blue, even along wide swaths of Texas’ southern border, the party is looking to the slight holds in Florida and any other silver linings. Attorneys general might have something in the way of a pep talk for the party from Piper’s memo. GOP AG candidates ran an average of 4.62 percentage points ahead of GOP Senate candidates in comparable states and 2.12 points ahead of Republican gubernatorial candidates, according to the returns as of the late Wednesday night memo. Republican AG candidates posted better margins than GOP Senate candidates in nine of 10 comparable states and outperformed Republican gubernatorial candidates in nine of 13 states, Piper wrote. STATE OF PLAY: BLUE WAVE SWEEPS DEMOCRATS INTO POWER, WITH KEY RACES STILL HANGING IN BALANCE Still, Piper made clear that “there are no moral victories.” Republicans did lose five AG seats to Democrats in these midterms, compared to a projected net loss of 51 in the House and a potential net loss of nine Senate seats. Iowa, Ohio and Colorado were among the widest outperformers. The Republican attorney general candidates in those states ran 9.3, 7.3 and 10.3 points ahead of their party’s gubernatorial candidates, respectively. In Colorado, the GOP attorney general candidate also outpaced the Republican Senate candidate by 7.7 points. FLORIDA’S DESANTIS DESCRIBES GOP MIDTERMS WIPEOUT AS ‘CLOSE TO AN EXTINCTION-LEVEL EVENT’ FOR REPUBLICANS In Florida, now the largest red state with the handing over of Texas to the Democratic Party, Republican Attorney General James Uthmeier won by 1.8 percentage points, outperforming Gov.-elect Byron Donalds, who won by 1.3 points. Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers won re-election by 12.6 points, compared with a 6.7-point win for Republican Senate candidate Pete Ricketts and an 8.4-point victory for Republican Gov. Jim Pillen. RAGA spent more than $40 million on these midterms, nearly twice its spending in 2022, and was on track to raise more than $50 million, according to Piper. “No amount of outperformance can make up for the historical Republican losses,” his memo concluded. “RAGA will start to candidate recruit for 2027 and 2028 now and has set the expectation that we will continue to overperform, no matter the environment.”
Hegseth’s leadership questioned by GOP military veteran as Democrats talk impeachment
FIRST ON FOX: Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., told Fox News Digital that the Department of War should not be led by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, criticizing his leadership and questioning his judgment. Bacon, who questioned Hegseth’s “moral compass,” made his remarks after Democrats reclaimed control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections, raising the possibility of impeachment proceedings against members of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet in the 120th Congress. “I don’t think he was a good choice to begin with,” Bacon told Fox News Digital. “I wouldn’t have voted to confirm him.” Bacon, a 30-year Air Force veteran, argued that Hegseth’s personal conduct would have resulted in disciplinary action for other members of the military. GOP SEN THOM TILLIS URGES TRUMP TO REPLACE PETE HEGSETH, BLASTS PENTAGON LEADERSHIP “Anybody that got caught having affairs would’ve gotten fired,” Bacon said before pointing to the controversy surrounding the administration’s use of the Signal messaging app to discuss sensitive military operations. HEGSETH FIRES TOP PENTAGON STRATEGIST ACCUSED OF LEAKING CLASSIFIED IRAN, UKRAINE WAR INFORMATION “He didn’t take any responsibility for it, though it was his fault. And things like that bother folks who’ve served a lifetime in the military, have a moral compass and take responsibility,” Bacon continued. GOP REP THOMAS MASSIE INTRODUCES 8 ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST WAR SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH Bacon also suggested that Hegseth lacks substantial support among lawmakers on Capitol Hill, where a Democratic-controlled House could pursue impeachment proceedings against the war secretary. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell responded to Bacon’s remarks in a statement to Fox News Digital, saying Hegseth “will not back down” or “be deterred by politicians seeking to score partisan points or launch phony investigations where no wrongdoing exists.” Without mentioning Bacon by name, Parnell added that Hegseth “will continue to stand and fight every single day to support and defend the Constitution, lead our troops, and protect America” on behalf of President Donald Trump, “despite threats of sham witch hunts from Democrats — and Secretary Hegseth is 100% committed to leading the Department until the end of President Trump’s term in office.” Toward the end of the 119th Congress, a group of Democrats backed legislation introduced by Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich., seeking to impeach Hegseth. ‘LAWYER UP’: DEMS IMMEDIATELY PUT TRUMP ON NOTICE AMID REPUBLICANS’ MIDTERM BLOODBATH “Hegseth doesn’t have a lot of friends on the Hill,” Bacon said while discussing whether Trump should replace the war secretary before possible impeachment proceedings. “I do think we could have more qualified leaders.” Trump told reporters Wednesday that he intends to keep Hegseth in his Cabinet, despite speculation about the war secretary’s future. DEMOCRAT SEIZE HOUSE CONTROL IN STUNNING BLUE TSUNAMI, VOW RETRIBUTION AGAINST TRUMP ADMIN The president’s comments came after other Cabinet departures during his second term, including former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi, who were asked to resign. During his interview with Fox News Digital, Bacon addressed the future of the Republican Party following its midterm defeat, arguing that the GOP must distance itself from Trump to regain congressional majorities, win governorships and remain competitive in the 2028 presidential election. Bacon did not dismiss the idea of running for president himself when asked by Fox News Digital, and has previously said in podcast interviews that he would “love” to. MIKE JOHNSON’S NO 2 LAUNCHES GOP TAKEOVER BID AS HOUSE FALLS TO DEMOCRATS “I do think we should have a big debate in our party,” Bacon said, leaving open the possibility of playing a role in the party’s future leadership. “I’d like to fight for the soul of our party. And I want to be a part of that discussion, that debate.” “If somebody steps up and wants to take on the little more of the Reagan mantle and the sort of things I think need to get done to the country,” the retired one-star Air Force general continued. “I’m glad to support them. But somebody’s got to be speaking out against illegal immigration, cost of healthcare, and national security policy, and they got to be able, we’ll work across the aisle to get things done. You can’t solve this from all your Democrats only.” Bacon argued that Republicans should return to the principles championed by former President Ronald Reagan, including “the basic principles of economic freedom, free markets and free trade, peace through strength, stand up to the bully, which in this case, is Russia.” He also emphasized the importance of “federalism and the pro-life movement” as priorities for the party moving forward. The Nebraska Republican criticized Trump’s approach to traditional U.S. allies, arguing that the administration has been “very bad towards our allies,” including Canada and Greenland, amid disputes over tariffs and the president’s threats involving Greenland. Bacon suggested that Trump’s foreign policy decisions and military involvement overseas contributed to Republican losses in down-ballot races across the country. “They only got beat because they had an R next to their name,” Bacon said, accusing congressional Republicans of having “rubber-stamped” the president’s agenda since he returned to the White House for a second term.
Inside Trump’s fight against cartels: White House official details Homeland Security Task Force crackdowns
EXCLUSIVE: President Donald Trump may be briefed on sprawling cartel networks and massive drug seizures, but sometimes it’s the story of a single American crime victim that captures his attention, a White House official told Fox News Digital. The official described how Trump can shift from discussions about major criminal organizations to an individual harmed by crime, pressing officials about what more the federal government can do to protect everyday Americans. “I could be talking about very grand cartel stuff, which he’s very interested in,” the official said, explaining that the president may instead focus on one person hurt by criminal activity. WHITE HOUSE HIGHLIGHTS ‘STEEPEST’ EVER DECLINE IN US CASUALTIES FROM CARTELS AMID BOAT STRIKES The official said Trump receives regular briefings that include photographs of narcotics seized by federal agents. While the president takes pride in successful enforcement operations, the official described his reaction as quickly turning to the amount of work still ahead. The president’s response to the photographs, according to the official, is to ask what more can be done to stop the flow of drugs into American communities. Trump also pressed for federal agencies to work together as the administration seeks to dismantle entire criminal organizations rather than simply arrest their leaders as agencies have done in the past. That approach is at the center of a campaign that has brought together more than 20 federal agencies under the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative. According to figures provided by the White House, the task forces made nearly 12,000 arrests during fiscal year 2026, seized approximately 161 metric tons of drugs, $482 million in criminal assets and nearly 13,000 weapons. ICE ARRESTS MORE THAN 100 ALLEGED GANG MEMBERS IN SINGLE WEEK, INCLUDING VIOLENT MS-13, TDA SUSPECTS: DHS The administration also reported 676 criminal organizations disrupted in figures provided to Fox News Digital. The task forces have 6,585 active investigations, including more than 1,000 targeting major drug kingpins and 814 targeting designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations. The task force operates nationwide, bringing together federal law enforcement agencies with hundreds of state, local and international partners. Its public website, HSTF.gov, outlines the initiative’s mission, participating agencies and enforcement efforts targeting cartels, transnational gangs and other criminal organizations. Behind those numbers, the official described an effort to break down longstanding divisions among federal law enforcement agencies that previously pursued overlapping investigations with varying degrees of cooperation. DOJ TOUTS HUNDREDS OF GUN, DRUG ARRESTS AS ST LOUIS SURGE OPERATION ENDS: ‘VIOLENCE IS NOT INEVITABLE’ The official said more than 1,800 cartel-related narcotics task forces previously operated across the country, with varying degrees of coordination. Agencies including the FBI, DEA and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) could pursue overlapping targets, occasionally competing to bring indictments first. Interagency disagreements sometimes left investigations stalled for years, the official said. Under the new approach, the National Coordination Center brings together the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, with support from military and intelligence partners, to resolve conflicts and coordinate investigations across jurisdictions. DRUG CARTEL KINGPIN AMONG TARGETS IN SWEEPING TRUMP CRACKDOWN ON ALLEGED MEXICAN CORRUPTION NETWORK “Now we’re all indicting together,” the official said. Rather than focusing exclusively on high-value targets, investigators are pursuing the transportation networks, distributors, collectors and money launderers that keep criminal enterprises operating. The official explained that taking down a cartel leader does not necessarily dismantle the organization because others can quickly assume leadership. “There’s five more people ready to step up as soon as we take out one,” the official said. A sweeping federal investigation into the Trinitarios gang in Massachusetts illustrates the kind of coordinated law enforcement effort the administration is pursuing. In June, federal prosecutors announced racketeering conspiracy charges against 26 alleged gang leaders, members and associates in connection with five murders and 19 attempted murders. The announcement brought the total number of Trinitarios members charged in related investigations over two years to 56. Prosecutors alleged the gang’s involvement in 11 murders and 30 attempted murders since 2017. Court documents describe chapters operating in the Boston area whose members allegedly engaged in drug trafficking, kidnappings and witness intimidation. Investigators also alleged the gang recruited minors attending local schools, sometimes using younger members to conceal weapons or serve as lookouts. The investigation involved HSI, the FBI, DEA, ATF and state and local law enforcement partners. The investigation began before the HSTF initiative, and the charges remain allegations against defendants who have not been convicted. The task force’s reach also extends to drug trafficking operations moving narcotics across state lines. In Louisiana, federal prosecutors announced five cases involving more than a dozen defendants and hundreds of kilograms of narcotics. Near Breaux Bridge, investigators discovered approximately 147 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed inside modified ice cream freezers. In another case near Lafayette, authorities found approximately 100 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside an 18-wheeler’s cab. The White House official also pointed to Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan criminal organization that drew national attention during the 2024 presidential campaign, as an example of the administration’s broader strategy. Fox News Digital extensively covered allegations of Tren de Aragua activity at apartment complexes in Aurora, Colorado, including accounts from local officials and residents who described violence and intimidation. Trump subsequently made Aurora a recurring focus of his criticism of the Biden administration’s border policies. The official recalled Fox News Digital’s reporting on the controversy and argued that the administration’s coordinated enforcement campaign has weakened the gang’s ability to operate openly in the United States. “I’m not saying they’re completely gone here, but they are so on their heels because we have this concerted effort taken,” the official said. “You don’t see them bragging in the social media anymore,” the official added. In May, the Justice Department announced charges against more than 25 defendants in a nationwide Tren de Aragua crackdown spanning six federal judicial districts. Authorities reported seizing more than 80 firearms, approximately 18 kilograms of narcotics and more than $100,000. The official described the crackdown as an example of the administration’s effort to pursue
Republicans turn on Trump after devastating midterm losses hand Democrats control of Congress
Seismic political change is coming to Washington, D.C., and as Republicans sift through the wreckage that was Election Night, fingers are pointing in several directions over who’s to blame. The blue tsunami Tuesday tore the GOP’s coalition asunder, flipping the balance of power in both chambers heading into the final two years of the Trump administration. And as Republicans search for where things went awry, GOP operatives and insiders told Fox News Digital that it starts at the top with President Donald Trump. “Look, first and foremost, this is a Trump loss,” Dan Eberhart, an oil drilling chief executive officer and prominent Republican donor, told Fox News Digital. “He wanted to be — he wanted people to consider him on the ballot. And unfortunately, as a Republican, that’s what we got.” LIZ PEEK: THERE MAY BE A SILVER LINING IN TRUMP’S BRUTAL MIDTERM DEFEAT In the Senate, Democrats scored seven pickups on Election Night, with outstanding races in Alaska and Mississippi still waiting to be called. And in the House, Democrats roared back into power with 27 pickups, and with several races still outstanding. The Iran war, ignoring the economic hurt squeezing voters, attacking sitting Republicans and more are on the list of grievances from Republicans reeling in the days after. The Senate map, in particular, was at one point favorable for Republicans and viewed as an uphill battle for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Democrats to put a dent in the GOP’s thin, 53-seat majority. But Trump’s decision to go on a “primary revenge tour and antagonizing senators,” a GOP aide told Fox News Digital, among several other issues, opened up the field for Democrats to pounce. Indeed, Trump’s handpicked candidates were pummeled in races that were once safe bets for Republicans. DEM FLIPS KEY SENATE SEAT IN BATTLEGROUND NORTH CAROLINA AS COOPER DEFEATS TRUMP ALLY His backing of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., and fight with Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., last year that ultimately led to his retirement and created an opening for Democrats in the Tar Heel State, proved fatal for the GOP, coupled with stunning losses in Maine, Kansas, Ohio and Iowa, kneecapped any chances Republicans had of keeping power in the upper chamber. “Trump ignored affordability completely,” another Republican aide told Fox News Digital. “Ousted good members a la Cornyn, Tillis who knew how to win tough races, and poisoned the base’s opinion of our majority with his SAVE Act/filibuster bull—-.” “We had a great map, and he hijacked [it],” they continued. In the House, where Democrats are on pace to potentially win upward of 250 seats, Fox News Power Rankings projected that Trump’s tariffs and the war in Iran were significant drivers for voting blocs leaving the GOP. TRUMP’S GAMBLE ON KEN PAXTON BACKFIRES AS DEMOCRAT PULLS OFF HISTORIC TEXAS SENATE UPSET One House Republican complained that GOP leaders were too focused on “bluster” rather than “doing the job,” though they did not mention Trump by name. “All the name changes were so unnecessary — Gulf of America, Lake of America, Department of War,” the GOP lawmaker said. A second House Republican rattled off a lengthy list of shortcomings, including the quality and character of “certain candidates,” Trump’s immigration enforcement, tariffs, general affordability issues, historic midterm headwinds, and “departure from traditional conservatism in favor of populism.” Meanwhile, people in Trump’s orbit blamed the candidates themselves. Trump outside advisor Alex Bruesewitz posted on X that “most Republican candidates this cycle were uninspiring, lazy, and thoroughly ineffective communicators.” “I’m not all that surprised by some of these outcomes,” he said. Meanwhile, some are expecting a massive shift in Trump’s base of support in Congress as he heads toward a lame duck likely punctuated by investigations and stalled agendas. “I think Trump being a lame duck starts today,” Eberhart said. “You know, if I’m up in the [2028] cycle, I’m waking up today, I’m against the arch. I’m against the ballroom. I want space from Trump.”
Ted Cruz says ‘blue tsunami’ took over Texas after Democrats swept statewide races
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, delivered a scathing assessment on Wednesday of Republicans’ sweeping midterm election losses, describing the results as a “blue tsunami” and warning that his party had lost touch with voters, particularly in the Lone Star State. In a lengthy post on X, Cruz acknowledged that Republicans had suffered historic defeats, losing control of both chambers of Congress while Democrats swept statewide races in Texas. “2026 was not simply a blue wave; it was a blue tsunami. It was an ass kicking,” Cruz wrote. “It was not simply a bad 2006 midterm election. It was a Watergate-level repudiation.” His blunt assessment came after a landmark Democratic breakthrough in traditionally Republican strongholds across the country, including in his home state, where Democrats won every statewide race, ending decades of Republican dominance. FLORIDA’S DESANTIS DESCRIBES GOP MIDTERMS WIPEOUT AS ‘CLOSE TO AN EXTINCTION-LEVEL EVENT’ FOR REPUBLICANS “Nowhere are the consequences of this election greater than Texas,” Cruz wrote. “In the Lone Star State, we lost every single statewide election.” “Texas is blue. That is a hard sentence to utter. But Texas, today at least, is blue,” he continued. Democrats scored two major victories in Texas, with James Talarico defeating Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in the U.S. Senate race — marking the first Democratic Senate victory in the Lone Star State in nearly four decades — and state Rep. Gina Hinojosa unseating longtime Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, according to the Fox News Decision Desk. TRUMP’S GAMBLE ON KEN PAXTON BACKFIRES AS DEMOCRAT PULLS OFF HISTORIC TEXAS SENATE UPSET Cruz argued that Republicans’ political defeat stemmed from their failure to address growing frustration over the cost of living, as voters continued struggling with everyday expenses. “Food is too high, gas is too high, diesel is too high, insurance is too high, life is too high,” he wrote. “Understandably, people were pissed off, and elected Republicans didn’t do enough to address their very real pain,” Cruz said. He also criticized tariffs and the prolonged war with Iran, arguing that both had contributed to voter frustration. CONSERVATIVES STUNNED BY ‘CATASTROPHIC’ MIDTERM BLUE TSUNAMI, BLAME TRUMP’S IRAN WAR, HIGH GAS PRICES He said Republicans had lost support among blue-collar workers, young voters, farmers, ranchers and Hispanic voters, while evangelical Christians failed to turn out with the same enthusiasm as in previous elections, concluding that his party had “alienated rural America.” Cruz said he called Talarico after the election to congratulate him on his victory. “Last night, I called James Talarico. I congratulated him on his very impressive victory,” Cruz wrote, adding that the two had a “pleasant conversation” and that he was willing to work with the Democrat on issues benefiting Texas. Despite the sweeping losses, which also included Democratic wins in the state’s lieutenant governor and attorney general races, Cruz expressed optimism that Republicans could regain ground in Texas. DEMS SEIZE THE SENATE AS BLUE TIDAL WAVE CRASHES DEEP INTO TRUMP COUNTRY, TOPPLES GOP STRONGHOLDS “But hear me now: we will bring Texas back,” he wrote. “Texas will be red again.” Throughout the campaign, Talarico cast himself as a moderate dedicated to representing Texans rather than Democratic interests in Washington. Paxton, along with President Donald Trump and other national Republicans, labeled Talarico a “communist” and a vegan in barbecue-loving Texas, pointing to his support for the transgender community while in the Texas Legislature and a floor speech in which he said God was “nonbinary.” “We have not suddenly become a bunch of tofu-eating, gun-banning, tutu-wearing pinko commie liberals,” Cruz wrote. “That ain’t us. Texas is still Texas.” “We will rebuild as a true blue-collar party, not by embracing socialism, but by being real free-market conservatives,” he continued, predicting a political comeback for Republicans. “It is dark right now, but it is always darkest before the dawn, and morning is coming,” he said. Fox News Digital’s Alex Miller, Elizabeth Elkind and Amanda Macias contributed to this report.
Erika Kirk channels Charlie with blunt message to conservatives after GOP midterm losses
Erika Kirk had a message for conservatives reeling from Republican election setbacks, and she turned to her late husband Charlie’s words to deliver it. “I miss Charlie so much every single day, but especially on a day like today,” she wrote. “He always said that when things are going well, we need to stay humble. And when things aren’t going the way we want, we need to stay positive, keep our faith, and get back to work.” ERIKA KIRK URGES CONSERVATIVE STUDENTS NOT TO BACK DOWN IN FIRST SCHOOL YEAR SINCE CHARLIE’S ASSASSINATION The widow of Turning Point USA CEO and founder Charlie Kirk said her husband had built a political operation meant to endure both victories and defeats. “Charlie’s vision for Turning Point Action was always bigger than one election,” she wrote. “He wanted a permanent, year-round operation with the people, relationships, and resources to compete in every cycle. INSIDE CHARLIE KIRK’S EFFORT TO DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSERVATIVE VOICES “He knew there would be victories and setbacks because he had experienced both and that’s why he built for both.” Kirk also thanked the staff, students, volunteers and ballot chasers who worked during the election cycle. ERIKA KIRK SAYS PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY-STYLE TRIBUTE TO CHARLIE KIRK IS ‘IN THE WORKS’ AS TPUSA EXPANDS “I know Charlie would be unbelievably proud of each and every one of you, and I am, too,” she wrote. In a lengthy post on X, Erika Kirk said Republicans saw once comfortable races tighten or flip as candidates she described as democratic socialists campaigned on the cost of gas, groceries and housing. FLORIDA CONGRESSMAN DIAGNOSES GOP’S BLUE TSUNAMI LOSSES: ‘WE FAILED TO MAKE THEM THINK WE CARED ABOUT THEM’ “A rising stock market doesn’t mean much when nearly half of Americans don’t have a 401K and just want to put gas in their trucks, put food on the table, and provide a good life for their families,” she wrote. Erika Kirk paired her warning with a defense of free enterprise, arguing conservatives must understand why voters looked elsewhere without embracing the policies their opponents offered. CALLING DEMOCRATS ‘COMMUNISTS’ WON’T WIN GEN Z — REPUBLICANS NEED A BETTER OFFER “We can disagree with the solutions voters were offered while still recognizing why they were looking elsewhere for answers,” she wrote. Erika Kirk warned conservatives against turning on one another as she urged them to take voters’ frustrations seriously. JASON CHAFFETZ: FIVE TIMELESS POLITICAL LESSONS THAT GOT LOST IN 2026 “The biggest mistake conservatives can make right now would be to allow this moment to become another exercise in finger-pointing, in-fighting, or trying to secure their own political preservation,” she wrote. “That does not solve the problems the American people are demanding be solved.” Erika Kirk said exit polls showed voters were concerned about the economy and the war in Iran. FOX NEWS VOTER POLL: 2026 MIDTERM ELECTIONS USHER IN A BLUE WAVE AS DEMOCRATS WIN CONTROL OF CONGRESS She said those concerns echoed what Turning Point had been hearing from students around the country for months. “This isn’t a surprise to us because we’ve heard the same concerns from our students around the country for months and we’ve been concerned about it too,” she wrote. JONATHAN TURLEY: SOCIALISM IS BACK IN STYLE, AND DEMOCRATS ARE BUYING THE PITCH Erika Kirk rejected socialism as an answer, arguing it places economic power in government hands rather than allowing individuals and families to build prosperity. She said that approach conflicts with the free enterprise, individual liberty and opportunity at the heart of the country. But she also warned that Americans will not simply stick with a party out of habit. “Americans are not looking for labels and don’t subscribe to unquestioned party loyalty anymore either,” she wrote. “They will support the candidates who can both speak to their concerns and deliver on what THEY need and dream about for their families.” She identified affordable homes, safe communities and greater opportunity for the next generation as the promises voters want fulfilled. Erika Kirk said the organization would study the results, listen to voters and spend the next two years making the case that conservative policies and free markets can address the problems Americans face. She pledged to continue building relationships in communities across the country and preparing for “2028 and beyond.” “Our principles haven’t changed and neither has our mission,” she wrote. “Onward.”
Florida congressman diagnoses GOP’s blue tsunami losses: ‘We failed to make them think we cared about them’
As Republicans sift through the wreckage of a devastating election night that handed Democrats control of both chambers of Congress by large margins, one Florida Republican who bucked the national trend says the GOP fundamentally misread the electorate. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Congressman Randy Fine — who expanded his own winning margin by five points despite the national backlash — offered a candid assessment of his party’s shortcomings and warned that Republicans must now prepare for an “ugly two years” battling Democrats over immigration and other contentious issues. While Republicans held their ground in Florida, winning the governor’s mansion, the Senate race, and maintaining their 20-8 edge in the US House, nationally the GOP got crushed under the weight of a blue tsunami. ILHAN OMAR HIT WITH EXPULSION THREAT AS GOP LAWMAKER VOWS TO BOOT HER FROM CONGRESS OVER DOJ PROBE Congressman Fine presents no easy answer to the GOP’s divergence in fortunes between Florida and the rest of the country: “You know, I think that’s a hard question to answer. What I would say, I can speak to my race, and I’m actually one of the few Republicans in the country whose margin increased from my last election. I won my special election after having $14 million spent against me. I won it by 14 points. I won last night by 19 points. And so what I can tell you is what worked for me. “My constituents want a fighter, someone who says what they believe. They know it’s not driven by polls or anything else and fights for them, whether it’s fighting for their constituent service issue or fighting on illegal immigration or fighting to bring money to the district. And that’s why I went up so much. I took my race seriously because I knew the winds were against us. “And so, Florida, I think just people know how good we have it and they don’t want to screw up the state. I think that’s why we won all 20 of these races.” Fine refuses to single out anyone in GOP leadership for the electoral outcome, and believes the Republicans must approach each election cycle as a unified team: “Well, look, I’m not a finger pointer, but what I would say is this. We’re a team and the team lost. And so then the whole team bears responsibility and that includes me. I mean, while I did well, my team lost, and I’m not going to be here pointing the fingers at anybody. FROM CAMPUS RADICALS TO BEIJING’S AI SABOTAGE: REP RANDY FINE SAYS ‘US FIGHTING TO SAVE WESTERN CIVILIZATION’ “I think that what we did is we failed to understand what the American people wanted. I think we failed to make them think we cared about them. Now, I didn’t fail in my district, but I think nationally people came to believe that we weren’t interested in them and that’s wrong. “We were, but we failed to communicate it, and maybe that’s part of my special sauce is I know how to communicate better than many of these people.” With Democrats firmly in control of both chambers of Congress, Fine anticipates two years of playing defense, and a continuous fight to explain why Democrats’ policies will be harmful to the country: “I don’t know that we’re going to push the agenda. I think what we’re going to be is we’re going to be on defense. We’re going to have to fight back. And you know, as my father told me this morning, he goes, ‘Randy, you’ve been a fighter your whole life. You were built for the fight.’ “So we’re going to be having to fight against stupid policies that they will be pushing. And it’s going to be an ugly two years, but we’re gonna have to explain why all of the things that they said they would do during the campaign are so bad. We obviously didn’t succeed in doing that. But as they put those policies forward, we’re going to have to make the argument for why they would damage America.” Immigration is the single issue that Fine identifies as having the greatest potential to harm the country: “I think they will seek to reopen the border and allow illegals to flood in. I think they will seek mass amnesty, rewarding all of the illegals that are here. And I think they will stop any requirement for people who come to this country to assimilate. They believe in the ‘third worldification’ of America. And that’s going to be the number one thing we have to fight back against.” Florida and Texas painted a particularly stark contrast in electoral outcomes. Fine suggests the Sunshine state GOP was better prepared to face headwinds: “Well, I think maybe our candidates at the top of the ticket were better. You know, Byron Donalds is an incredible spokesman for the conservative movement. Ashley Moody is a multiple-time winner statewide. And I think Texas allowed itself to slide on a lot of these things. “They had a big influx of illegal immigrants. And they also really didn’t fight back against the Islamification of their state in a way that we have in Florida. Demographics are destiny. And I think, to some degree, Texas was overtaken by that yesterday.” Fine has long been an outspoken critic of Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed, and believes he represents a danger to the country: “Of all the races last night, that one breaks my heart the most. I mean, someone who literally supports Muslim terror, someone whose family is embedded in so many aspects of Muslim terror. Someone who’s really a danger to this country being elected to the United States Senate. It’s an unspeakably horrible thing, a historically bad thing. Someone who doesn’t support the United States. Someone who supports the Muslim Brotherhood. “It breaks my heart. I’m not from Michigan, I don’t know what they were thinking, but it’s a terrible, terrible, terrible day. Look today for
Vance courting disgruntled Trump voters to form ‘new right’ alliance after Republican bloodbath, sources say
EXCLUSIVE: Vice President JD Vance is seeking to forge a new alliance with disaffected Trump voters ahead of the 2028 election cycle, Fox News Digital has learned. Vance took control of his own messaging Wednesday morning in the wake of a brutal Republican midterm beatdown, breaking with President Donald Trump on foreign policy and America’s relationship with Israel. A source familiar with post-election happenings told Fox News Digital that there was a White House meeting Wednesday morning aimed at aligning the entire administration officials on post-midterm messaging. A second source familiar described the meeting as a regular senior staff meeting. After that huddle, the vice president posted a lengthy admonishment to X where he squarely blamed the Iran war for the Republican Party’s losses in the 2026 midterms. Trump made a similar claim after calling into Fox News during Tuesday night’s election coverage, saying the upsets were “partly” due to the Iran war. VANCE’S SCATHING IRAN WAR POSTMORTEM PUTS POTENTIAL 2028 GOP SHOWDOWN IN FOCUS: ‘EVERYONE KNOWS WHY’ “The reason we lost is the war,” Vance’s post said. “The president himself said so last night.” “If you’d like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so. Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that’s at least honest,” he went on. “But everyone knows why we lost. And any honest conversation about where we go from here must start there.” In the post, Vance said a pollster and “one of the smartest people I know in politics” laid out four tasks that would bring voters back to the GOP — end the war in Iran, focus on the cost of living and inflation, put America first, and “change our relationship with Israel.” JD VANCE DECLINES TO ENDORSE NETANYAHU DESPITE TRUMP’S STRONG BACKING A Trump administration official who spoke with Fox News Digital said that the four tasks are Vance’s rallying cry to the “new right,” broadly defined as a coalition of Republicans that aligns with the president’s original “America First” movement — staying out of foreign conflicts, making America an affordable place for Americans to raise families, and closing the borders. But those voters, they said, also believe that Trump is too aligned with Israel on foreign policy matters. Among some on the political right, the war in Iran is intrinsically tied to Israel’s influence in the Middle East, and Trump’s relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. TRUMP TOLD DONORS ‘WE NEED TO ELECT JD,’ SOURCE CONFIRMS, AS HE WEIGHS VANCE OR RUBIO IN 2028 The official made it clear that Vance’s message is not a separation from Trump, à la former Vice President Mike Pence who denounced Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the capitol. Rather, they said, he is aiming to send a clear message to Republicans who support Trump and disagree with or feel betrayed by his foreign policy. And that message is: “Vance is our guy.” The White House did not return Fox News Digital’s request for comment at time of publication on the meeting or Vance’s post-election messaging. The vice president has not strayed much from Trump and the White House’s preferred messaging for the past two years — though he has been one of the few voicing concern over the ongoing war in Iran. Despite his friendship with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, reports and comments from the vice president himself have expressed how his stance on the Iran conflict differs. Trump acknowledged earlier this year that Vance was “maybe less enthusiastic” about attacking Iran from the jump. TRUMP ‘COULDN’T TRANSFER THE LOVE’ OF HIS SUPPORTERS TO OTHER REPUBLICANS AMID HISTORIC MIDTERM LOSS Vance is widely considered a top GOP presidential candidate in 2028 — along with Trump’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio. So far, Democrats stand at 54 Senate seats to Republicans’ 44, after sweeping wins in typically red Texas, ruby-red Kansas and other Republican strongholds like South Carolina. DEMS SEIZE THE SENATE AS BLUE TIDAL WAVE CRASHES DEEP INTO TRUMP COUNTRY, TOPPLES GOP STRONGHOLDS Votes are still being counted into Wednesday in a tight race in Alaska, that could see Democrats winning yet another seat in the Senate and widening their majority over the GOP. The outcome of the midterms could have massive implications for the 2028 election, and Republicans are grappling now with how to face one of their biggest-ever challenges in trying to flip back the upper chamber despite a widened gap throwing them deep into a minority in January. Needing only 218 to control the House, Democrats on Wednesday afternoon had won 237 seats, with more projected to filter in as ballots are counted and races are called.
Fox News/NORC Study: Voters look to 2028 focused on the economy
After the midterm elections, attention will turn to the 2028 race for the White House. What is on voters’ minds as they look ahead to the next presidential election? Most Republicans want the next president to follow President Donald Trump’s policies, if not his style. Nearly 4 in 10 MAGA Republicans want Trump’s successor to emulate both, and about half want the next president to follow his policies alone. Non-MAGA Republicans are less enthusiastic: 45% want his policies to continue, but only about 15% of non-MAGA Republicans want a president with the same style. Independents prefer something entirely different: 6 in 10 want the next president to break with both Trump’s policies and his style. Likewise, few Democrats want to see either his style or his policies repeated. Even as the Democrats have won control of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and Trump finds his approval rating at 39%, a bloc of voters remains loyal to the president and is likely to influence the 2028 campaign. While half of voters want a successor who does not emulate his style or follow his policies, 26% want a president who will carry on his policies, and another 12% want the next president to copy his policies and his style. FOX NEWS VOTER POLL: 2026 MIDTERM ELECTIONS USHER IN A BLUE WAVE AS DEMOCRATS WIN CONTROL OF CONGRESS Looking ahead, voters across party lines say improving economic conditions is the most important issue for the country to address over the next five years. Six in 10 voters feel they are holding steady financially while about 3 in 10 feel they are falling behind. Few, about 1 in 10 voters, feel they are getting ahead financially. Voters who describe their own financial situation as less than satisfactory, or say they are falling behind, are more likely to name the economy as the top issue. What should Tuesday’s winners prioritize once sworn into office? When asked what is most important for newly elected officials to work on first in 2027, 3 in 10 voters want elected officials to address grocery costs. About 2 in 10 want action on gas prices, and a similar share say they should work on healthcare and prescription drug costs. Slightly fewer are concerned about housing costs, while about 1 in 10 want officials to address electricity and other utility costs. Voters are closely divided on whether the country can look forward to better days or if the good days are behind us. And it’s linked to how they’re feeling financially. About two-thirds of those who say they are getting ahead financially are optimistic about the future. However, about two-thirds of voters who are falling behind financially think the country’s best days are in the past. Beyond the economy, priorities diverge. About 1 in 5 Democrats point to access to affordable healthcare, while about a similar share of Republicans say protecting individuals from government overreach is the top issue. About 1 in 10 independents say the country should address the affordability of healthcare, and about the same share say government overreach. Voters are divided over AI’s effect on the U.S. economy during the next 10 years. About 4 in 10 say it will be harmful, while 3 in 10 expect benefits. About 1 in 10 expect AI to make no difference, while slightly more, about 2 in 10, are unsure. About 4 in 10 expect AI to negatively affect the environment and the arts and entertainment industry. About half of voters want substantial changes in how the country is run. Party identification shapes how much change voters want and which branches of government they think most need reform. Democrats are about three times as likely as Republicans to want complete upheaval of how the country is run. Half of democratic socialists favor complete and total upheaval, compared with about 1 in 10 MAGA Republicans. In the 2024 Fox News Voter Analysis conducted for the presidential election, most Republican voters said they wanted substantial change or total upheaval. Now, with a Republican in the White House and their party controlling both houses of Congress, they are less eager for major change. FOX NEWS VOTER POLL: HOW DEMOCRATS TOOK CONTROL OF THE SENATE Overall, 4 in 10 voters think Congress should be substantially reformed, including three-quarters of MAGA Republicans and half of non-MAGA Republicans. Democrats are less likely to say Congress needs reform, but half say the executive branch should be improved. Few voters in either party want changes to the Constitution. Democrats are more likely than Republicans or independents to say the Supreme Court needs reform. Voters across party lines support term limits for Congress and Supreme Court justices. Democrats favor abolishing the Electoral College, but Republicans and independents are less enthusiastic. Most Republicans support limiting mail voting to people physically unable to vote in person. MAGA Republicans are more supportive of limiting mail voting than non-MAGA Republicans (63% vs 40%). Democrats oppose the idea, regardless of whether they support the Democratic Socialists of America. AMERICANS CLASH OVER SUPREME COURT EXPANSION AS FIGHT OVER 9 JUSTICES HEATS UP: ‘LET’S PACK IT NOW’ The expansion of artificial intelligence has triggered some public backlash against AI data centers. Voters are divided on whether AI will help or hurt during the next 10 years. More Democrats say the technology will be harmful while more Republicans expect benefits. Among Republican voters, MAGA Republicans are more enthusiastic about AI than non-MAGA Republicans. Forty-five percent of MAGA Republicans believe AI will help the U.S. to compete with other countries, and another 4 in 10 feel AI will do more to help the economy. Among Democrat voters, supporters of democratic socialism and those who do not support the movement are similarly likely to feel AI will help aspects of American society. However, supporters of democratic socialism are more likely than other Democrats to feel AI will do more to hurt than help. Overall, 6 in 10 voters are extremely or very concerned about the effect of
Hegseth’s future draws ominous predictions from insiders after GOP losses, but Trump isn’t budging yet
President Donald Trump stood by War Secretary Pete Hegseth Wednesday, saying he was doing “a very good job” even as current and former administration figures continued to question how long the Pentagon chief could remain in his post after Republicans’ bruising midterm losses. “I think he’s doing a very good job,” Trump said Wednesday when asked by the media whether he was considering replacing Hegseth. The public support came a day after Democrats secured majorities in both chambers of Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections, setting the stage for a shift in power on Capitol Hill in January. The Iran war and its economic fallout loomed large in the election, with Hegseth among the administration’s most vocal advocates for the campaign. His future remains the subject of speculation among current and former administration figures despite Trump’s public backing. TRUMP PLEDGES TO VETO ‘INSANE’ DEM BILLS, PINPOINTS ISSUE PARTIALLY TO BLAME FOR REPUBLICAN LOSSES A White House official told Fox News Digital Tuesday that the election results “would have looked very different without the Iran War.” The official predicted Trump would ultimately hold Hegseth, a former Fox News host, accountable, saying, “That will play out in the lame duck.” “Hegseth is on the chopping block,” a former White House staffer told Fox News Digital later Tuesday of Hegseth’s future. An administration official said there were “signs” Hegseth could be ousted but added that “Trump can turn on a dime.” The official said the possibility had been discussed for some time, though “only Trump knows what he’s gonna do.” “It was clear Bessent became the go-to after Pete couldn’t deliver an Iran victory,” the source said, referring to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who led the sanctions campaign against Iran known as Operation Economic Outcast. Beyond the Iran war, Hegseth also championed a plan to livestream the firing-squad execution of Nidal Hasan, the former Army major who killed 13 people and wounded 32 others at Fort Hood in 2009. The proposal drew bipartisan backlash before Trump ultimately scrapped the livestream, while leaving Hasan’s execution in place. A foreign policy source with ties to Hegseth expressed doubt to Fox News Digital that the secretary will remain in the job through the end of the year. The source said Republican Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie’s impeachment push could force Republicans eyeing 2028 re-election bids to “saddle themselves with a pro-Hegseth vote.” GOP SEN THOM TILLIS URGES TRUMP TO REPLACE PETE HEGSETH, BLASTS PENTAGON LEADERSHIP Hegseth has faced criticism over his prominent role in the Iran war, which has continued to generate political and economic fallout long after the White House’s initial three- to four-week timeline. He was among the administration’s most vocal defenders of the campaign, declaring in March that the U.S. was carrying out “our retribution” against Iran. Although sustained U.S. strikes have ended, tensions with Tehran remain unresolved with lingering concerns about Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities and the possibility of renewed military action. Renewed U.S. military strikes against Iran remain under serious consideration by the White House, sources told Fox News Digital. That possibility could weigh against an immediate change at the Pentagon. Installing new leadership as the administration considers renewed military operations would create uncertainty at a critical moment, while Hegseth has already demonstrated a willingness to move quickly in carrying out Trump’s military directives. Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told Fox News Digital Hegseth remains “100% committed to leading the Department until the end of President Trump’s term in office.” “Secretary Hegseth will not back down or be deterred by politicians seeking to score partisan points or launch phony investigations where no wrongdoing exists,” Parnell said. “The Department of War has followed the law, and our secretary will continue to stand and fight every single day to support and defend the Constitution, lead our troops and protect America. We will continue to drive President Trump’s agenda at the Department of War despite threats of sham witch hunts from Democrats.” Democrats have signaled that Hegseth will be a focus of the incoming Congress. Before the election, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats would “run Pete Hegseth out of town” if they won the House. Democrats have also discussed investigations into the Iran war and Pentagon leadership, with impeachment among the options. Scrutiny from Democrats could keep Hegseth and the war he has championed at the center of the administration’s political troubles. Massie, R-Ky., has separately vowed to force a vote on his impeachment resolution during the lame-duck session if Hegseth remains in office. DEM FLIPS KEY SENATE SEAT IN BATTLEGROUND NORTH CAROLINA AS COOPER DEFEATS TRUMP ALLY As war secretary, Hegseth pushed sweeping changes to military culture, including banning transgender service members; eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs; and imposing uniform combat fitness standards for men and women. He also sought to overhaul the Pentagon bureaucracy by consolidating Army commands, cutting senior military leadership and expanding the use of artificial intelligence and advanced weapons technology. His tenure has also been marked by controversy, including the sharing of sensitive details about planned strikes against Houthi militants in Signal chats that inadvertently included a journalist. Internal infighting, leak investigations and the dismissal of several top aides have fueled scrutiny, though Trump has repeatedly defended his leadership. The political pressure on Hegseth echoes a past moment when midterm losses and an unpopular war put a defense secretary’s future in question. On Nov. 8, 2006, President George W. Bush announced Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s resignation, one day after Republicans suffered major midterm election losses amid growing criticism of the Iraq War.