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One-time GOP rising star reveals how she will work with Trump admin after victory in key race

One-time GOP rising star reveals how she will work with Trump admin after victory in key race

CONCORD, N.H. – Thanks to her convincing gubernatorial election victory last week in New Hampshire, Kelly Ayotte’s national profile is once again on the rise. But Ayotte, who, other than President-elect Trump, was arguably the biggest Republican winner on Election Night, is keeping her focus on her home state. “I see one role for me and that is every day, to wake up and to be the champion for the people of New Hampshire,” the governor-elect said in a Fox News Digital interview at her transition office this week in the state’s capital city. And Ayotte, who last week defeated Democratic gubernatorial nominee and former Manchester, New Hampshire mayor Joyce Craig by an unexpected nearly 10-point margin, emphasized that she plans “to focus on the economic issues, education, mental health, and housing,” when she is inaugurated in early January. REPUBLICANS HOLD ON TO THE MOST HIGHLY CONTEST GUBERNATORIAL SEAT THIS YEAR Ayotte, a former state attorney general, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010 and was a rising star in the GOP and regarded as a leader on national security and foreign policy. But Ayotte lost re-election in 2016 by a razor-thin margin of just over 1,000 votes at the hands of then-Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan. “It was a privilege to represent New Hampshire in the United States Senate, but I’ve been elected governor of the state of New Hampshire and everyday I’m just going to wake up and say ‘what can I do for New Hampshire today,’” Ayotte said when asked about any emerging new role as a leader in the GOP. VANCE IN ‘CATBIRD SEAT,’ BUT THESE OTHER REPUBLICANS MAY ALSO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2028 Ayotte launched her gubernatorial bid last year after popular Republican Gov. Chris Sununu announced that he wouldn’t seek re-election in 2024. Sununu, a well-known figure in national politics, endorsed Ayotte in early August ahead of her easy victory in September’s GOP gubernatorial primary.  The governor often joined Ayotte on the campaign trail in the late summer and autumn, and Ayotte highlighted that she planned to continue the Sununu agenda. “I think Gov. Sununu has done an excellent job for the state of New Hampshire. We’re leading the nation in so many metrics,” she told Fox News. But she added that “the thing that I love most about Gov. Sununu is the passion, the positive enthusiasm that he brings for this state. He loves this state. He’s so proud of New Hampshire. And I’m going to bring that same attitude as governor, really being a champion for the people of New Hampshire.” “Obviously, we are different people, but I share his philosophy on the economic prosperity of the state and the emphasis on personal and economic freedom,” Ayotte emphasized. HERE ARE THE DEMOCRATS WHO MAY RUN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2028 When it comes to former and future President Trump, Ayotte said “I look forward to working with the Trump administration on behalf of the people of New Hampshire, whether its roads, whether its bridges, whether its areas where we can strengthen our public safety. I think there are so many opportunities where we should be working together, and I’m going to advocate for the people of this state.” Ayotte said her years serving in Washington will come in handy as she takes over in the Granite State’s governor’s office. “Having the experience of having served in Washington, I certainly will fight hard for New Hampshire when it comes to interacting with the Trump administration,” she said. “Those federal dollars – making sure that they come to New Hampshire. But also, when Washington does things on the regulatory front, I want to make sure that New Hampshire’s voice is at that table.” Ayotte famously broke with then-GOP presidential nominee Trump just ahead of the 2016 election. She withdrew her support for Trump over the “Access Hollywood” controversy, in which Trump, in a years-old video, made extremely crude comments about grabbing women without their consent. “I cannot and will not support a candidate for president who brags about degrading and assaulting women,” Ayotte said at the time.  While they both lost in New Hampshire, Ayotte slightly outperformed Trump in the state as Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton edged the White House winner by less than 3,000 votes. Before heading back full time to New Hampshire, Ayotte stuck around Washington briefly after the end of her term, shepherding then-Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch (Trump’s first high court nominee) through his successful Senate confirmation process. As she ran for governor the past two years in a state where New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation presidential primary repeatedly drew Trump and other GOP White House hopefuls, Ayotte kept her distance from the national political conversation. She stayed neutral in New Hampshire’s presidential primary, but did endorse Trump after he locked up the nomination. She didn’t appear with Trump’s running mate – now Vice President-elect JD Vance – when the senator from Ohio made a last-minute stop in the Granite State a couple of days before Election Day. But Ayotte told Fox News “I want to congratulate President Trump, obviously, on a very strong victory on Election Day.” Asked about some of the president-elect’s controversial cabinet nomination announcements this week, Ayotte said that “it’s important that he’s putting together a team that works for him.” But the former senator emphasized that “this is really a decision for the United States Senate. They have an important role when it comes to advise and consent. I’m sure they’ll look carefully at President Trump’s nominees and make sure that they believe that they’re qualified.” Ayotte, in the GOP gubernatorial primary, easily defeated former New Hampshire Senate president Chuck Morse, who touted his support for Trump and questioned Ayotte’s loyalty to the former president. Morse’s hope that he would land a Trump endorsement never materialized, as the former president stayed neutral. Also helping Ayotte as she ran for governor – a helping hand from the Republican Governors Association, which dished out nearly

Arizona state Senate candidate John McLean killed in suspected DUI crash: ‘True public servant’

Arizona state Senate candidate John McLean killed in suspected DUI crash: ‘True public servant’

A Democratic candidate for a seat in the Arizona Senate was killed in an early morning DUI crash in Tucson on Friday, police confirmed. John McLean, 68, died after Michael Martin Creel, 27, allegedly ran a stop sign and struck his vehicle, according to the Tucson Police Department. Creel is being held at the Pima County Jail on manslaughter and aggravated DUI charges. McLean died at the scene, and police determined that speed and impairment were known factors in the fatal crash. According to court documents obtained by local outlet 13 News, Creel had a DUI case against him dismissed in December 2023. GOP INCUMBENT PROJECTED TO DEFEAT DEM CHALLENGER IN CLOSELY WATCHED ARIZONA HOUSE RACE The Arizona Senate Democrats also confirmed McLean’s passing.  “We are heartbroken to hear about the passing of LD17 Senate Candidate John McLean. He spent his final days fighting for a better Arizona and we could not be more thankful for his work and dedication to our great state,” the group posted in a statement on X. “We extend our deepest sympathies to John’s family and loved ones.” McLean was running against Republican Vince Leach for the District 17 seat in the Arizona Senate. Leach also released a statement and sent his condolences to McLean’s family and friends. “My thoughts and prayers are with the McLean family for their tragic loss today,” Leach said. “John was a good man who conducted himself honorably as a candidate. My deepest condolences go out to John’s family and friends in this most difficult time.” 5 KILLED IN ARIZONA WHEN SMALL PLANE CRASHES INTO CAR WHILE TAKING OFF Leach was leading McLean by more than 3,000 votes when election results were announced on Friday afternoon. McLean, who was running for office for the first time, had conceded the race less than 24 hours before the crash. “It has been an honor and a privilege to run as the Democratic candidate for the LD17 Senate seat. While the outcome isn’t what we hoped for, I am proud of the work that so many people put into our campaign,” McLean wrote in part on his campaign Facebook page. ESTIMATED 500,000-PLUS BALLOTS STILL UNCOUNTED IN ARIZONA: ‘ELECTIONS DO NOT END ON ELECTION DAY’ State Sen. Mitzi Epstein offered her condolences in a statement after saying she had just spoken to McLean on Monday. “I just spoke with John Monday this week. His optimism about Arizonans never wavered. He stepped up to do a volunteer job that required long hours every day, and he brought a smile and thoughtful words to every door. My heart is with his family,” Epstein wrote in a post on X. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs also paid tribute to McLean and said he was a “true public servant,” calling his death a “tragic loss.”  “John was a true public servant who cared deeply about Arizona. He always wanted to do what was best for his community, and he will be remembered for that. This is a tragic loss, and my heart breaks for his family and loved ones. Sending all my love to those who knew him,” Hobbs wrote in a post on X.  Police said that the investigation into the fatal crash is ongoing. 

New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer says ‘we need to stand up to Trump’ in video announcing run for governor

New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer says ‘we need to stand up to Trump’ in video announcing run for governor

Democrat New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who announced on Friday that he is running for governor in 2025, suggested the need to “stand up to” President-elect Donald Trump following the “horrible” election outcome. Gottheimer, who entered into a crowded Democratic field for New Jersey governor, said that Trump’s win was a “terrible loss for America.” “Let’s pause for a minute, the election outcome was a horrible loss for America. Every candidate running for governor agrees,” he said on Friday at a diner in South Hackensack. “We need to stand up to Trump,” he said. HOCHUL SPURS BIPARTISAN OUTRAGE OVER MASSIVE TOLL REBOOT, AS DEMS WORRY TRUMP WILL BLOCK IT Gottheimer pointed to Trump’s stance on abortion, the environment and gun safety as “major issues” with the president-elect. “On the major issues from healthcare to the environment to gun safety, every candidate shares the same goals, and on the issue of abortion rights, we will all stand up to Trump and his extremist attacks on women’s health care,” he said. “We must reinstate Roe.” After promising to “stand up” to Trump, the representative of New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District stated his main priority as governor would be lowering costs for New Jersey residents. “But there is one more issue that defines who I am, and what I’ll fight for,” he said. “Jersey is now the fourth most expensive state in the entire nation to live in, and unlike everyone else in this race, I’m focused like a laser beam on the need to lower your taxes and lower your costs.” HOMAN SCOFFS AT HOCHUL’S SUDDEN OUTRAGE OVER VIOLENT MIGRANTS Gottheimer joins a slew of Democratic candidates, including former state Sen. Stephen Sweeney, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, in the state’s gubernatorial race. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The Republican nominees so far include former gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli, state Sen. Jon Bramnick, former state Sen. Ed Durr, talk radio host Bill Spadea, and candidates Robert Canfield, Jim Fazzone, Hans Herberg and Robert Bacon.

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 995

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 995

Here is the situation on Saturday, November 16: Fighting Russia’s Ministry of Defence said air defences downed 15 drones in the Kursk region on the Ukrainian border. The ministry said one drone each was downed in the Bryansk region, also on the border, and in Lipetsk, further north, as well as in the central Oryol region. The governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, a frequent target on the Ukrainian border, said a series of attacks had smashed windows in an apartment building and caused other damage, but no casualties were reported. Dozens of mourners filled a golden-domed Orthodox cathedral in Ukrainian capital Kyiv to pay their respects to a beloved combat medic, 32-year-old Maria-Khrystyna Dvoinik, who was killed this week on the front line. Politics and diplomacy Adblock test (Why?)

‘Stripped of our human dignity’: What it means to be hungry in Gaza

‘Stripped of our human dignity’: What it means to be hungry in Gaza

Khan Younis, Gaza – What does it mean to be hungry for months? In Gaza, where more than 43,000 of us have been killed by Israel’s bombardment and ground invasions – and many more thousands are lost, feared dead, under the rubble – we have been punished with hunger now for more than a year. In war, survival becomes the only focus, and hunger is a constant reminder of that. We have been forced to be hungry – we did not choose this. We’re struggling to survive under Israeli bombardment, but we’re failing. It has become clear to us that the Israeli army’s goal is to spread famine across the entire Gaza Strip, from north to south. The fear of hunger has been a constant since the beginning. At the moment, we live on one meal a day. How I have come to hate the question: “What can we eat?” The cheese we eat for breakfast is the same cheese we eat for dinner. I have developed a loathing for this type of cheese, but it is the only option we have. My sister and mother wake up every morning and go to the market looking for any food they can find for my sister’s children, for my brother who goes to work, or for my mother who needs to eat to take her medicine. They generally return downcast because there is nothing in the market. We used to think that maybe it was just our neighbourhood that had no food, so we would call our friends and relatives in other areas. But they told us every time that there was no food in their markets besides a little canned food. When we go out, we see the miserable faces of the vendors who look as if the worries of the world are weighing on their hearts. When we speak to them they barely reply because there is nothing to buy. Every day, they say the same thing: “The crossing hasn’t opened yet.” There’s a vegetable vendor in our neighbourhood, Uncle Ahmed, who knows us well. We’ve come to rely on him since the start of this war. Women sit near their malnourished infants at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza on June 1, 2024 [Jehad Alshrafi/AP] He used to sell his produce in the main market but had to move after the bombing and destruction, now he sells in our neighbourhood. We’ve lived together through difficult circumstances like the shortage of vegetables and fruits and the frightening rise in prices. Now, there is nothing on his stand except some peppers, eggplant and a little lemon. This poor man, ashamed to answer our questions. Starving as the world is silent The Israeli army is deliberately starving us. The Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom to Israelis) crossing, through which some aid was arriving earlier this year, has been closed for a month. It was closed, we were told, for the Jewish holidays but has since not reopened. People waited and hoped that the end of the holiday was approaching and the crossing would open soon, but that never happened. We’ve been stripped of our dignity as human beings. I can’t believe what we are living through. I look at my family and feel so angry that this can be so frightening and the world is silent about what we are living through. A three-year-old child who suffers from diabetes, a weakened immune system and malnutrition, rests at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital on June 1, 2024 [Jehad Alshrafi/AP] Our faces have become so pale and we look so tired. We can barely do normal daily activities. We live on just one meal a day – if that. It is the same meal every day. My brother Muhammad, who works at what remains of Nasser Hospital, has gotten used to going to work without eating. He used to reassure us that he could buy food in the nearby market and eat with his colleagues, but then he started asking us to prepare anything we can for him because there’s no food in the market. If he doesn’t eat anything at all before he goes out, he won’t be able to work and stay up all night at work. My mother needs to eat when she takes her blood pressure medication and her bone and nerve medications. The tablets are harmful if taken on an empty stomach. Recently, she has had to take her medication without food because there is nothing to eat. I feel desperate for her. I am so afraid that she will develop a stomach ulcer. My sister’s children, Rital and Adam, ask for food constantly. They tell us they crave chicken and red meat, French fries, biscuits and juice. We don’t know what to tell them. I’ve started telling them the truth, that the Israeli army closed the crossing. Adam, the three-year-old, responds that he’s going to open the crossing. The situation is impossible for him to comprehend. When my niece sees food online, she asks us why we don’t eat like that. Why don’t we just buy a chicken? When Adam goes to the market with his mother, he asks the vendors, “Do you have chicken? I want to eat rice, chicken and potatoes.” The vendors now know Adam well and they have become invested in finding a chicken for him. They always ask us: “Did Adam eat today?” You cannot ration a child Two days ago, our neighbour came to visit. I could see that she’s lost a lot of weight. The main topic of conversation is always food these days. She asked us what we ate that day. Did we eat anything different? She told us that she only eats a little zaatar every day and cannot afford tomatoes, which are now 55 shekels ($20) a kilo – if you find them. A displaced child lines up for food aid in Deir el-Balah on October 17, 2024 [Abdel Kareem Hana/AP] She said she goes to

Ten newborns killed in north India hospital fire

Ten newborns killed in north India hospital fire

The babies died from burns and suffocation after a blaze swept through a neonatal intensive care unit in Jhansi. A fire ripped through the neonatal unit of a hospital in northern India, killing 10 newborns and injuring 17, the authorities said. Emergency responders rescued 38 newborns from the ward, which housed 49 infants at the time of the incident, said Uttar Pradesh state’s Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Saturday. The fire broke out at 10:30pm (17:00 GMT) on Friday at the Maharani Lakshmibai Medical College in Jhansi, about 450km (280 miles) south of the national capital, New Delhi. “Seventeen of the injured are receiving treatment in different wings and some private hospitals,” Pathak told reporters in Jhansi. The newborns died from burns and suffocation. Seven of the dead infants have been identified, while efforts were on to identify the remaining three, Pathak said. The cause of the fire was being investigated, but police said it was most likely caused by a faulty oxygen concentrator. Footage from the scene posted on social media showed charred beds and walls inside the ward as anguished families waited outside. The rescued babies, all only days old, were laid side by side on a bed elsewhere in the hospital as staff hooked them up to intravenous drips. Images of charred beds and walls inside the neonatal unit at the Maharani Lakshmibai Medical College in Jhansi [AFP Screenshot] One infant remains missing, a government official, who asked not to be identified as he was not authorised to speak to media, told the Reuters news agency. Pathak said a safety audit of the hospital was carried out in February, followed by a fire drill three months later. “If any lapses are found, strict action will be taken against those responsible and no one will be spared,” he said. District official Avinash Kumar told The Hindustan Times newspaper that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit in the unit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the deaths “heart-wrenching” in a post on social media. “My deepest condolences to those who lost their innocent children in this,” Modi wrote. “I pray to God to give them the strength to bear this immense loss.” Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced compensation equivalent to $5,900 to the bereaved families. Building fires are common in India due to shoddy construction and a routine disregard for safety regulations. Six months back, a similar blaze at a children’s hospital in New Delhi killed seven newborns. Last October, a huge explosion involving fireworks left dozens of people injured in the state of Kerala. Adblock test (Why?)

Sen. Sanders says he is looking forward to Trump ‘fulfilling his promise’ on credit card interest rates

Sen. Sanders says he is looking forward to Trump ‘fulfilling his promise’ on credit card interest rates

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said he is looking forward to working with the Trump Administration and hopes that President-elect Donald Trump sticks to his promise surrounding the cap on interest rates. “I look forward to working with the Trump Administration on fulfilling his promise to cap credit card interest rates at 10%,” Sanders wrote in a post on X on Friday. “We cannot continue to allow big banks to make record profits by ripping off Americans by charging them 25 to 30% interest rates. That is usury,” he wrote. Several X users praised Sanders and thanked him for backing Trump’s efforts. NANCY PELOSI FIRES BACK AT BERNIE SANDERS FOR COMMENTS ON DEMS’ SWEEPING ELECTION LOSS: NO ‘RESPECT’ “Thank you for trying to focus on the potential good coming from the next administration instead of fear mongering,” one person commented. “I did not have Bernie agreeing with Trump on anything on my Election BINGO Card,” another person commented. “This is a moment in the history of our country that nobody should never forget. Wow! Trump and Bernie working together for the people of America! Maybe unifying this country is not impossible. Thank you Bernie!” another user commented.  The left-wing lawmaker, who is listed as a member of the Senate Democratic caucus, ripped the Democratic Party in the wake of Trump’s 2024 presidential election victory and accused the party of abandoning the working class. “It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them. First, it was the White working class, and now it is Latino and Black workers as well,” Sanders said in a previous statement. BERNIE SANDERS EXCORIATES DEMOCRATIC PARTY, CALLS CAMPAIGN ‘DISASTROUS’ AFTER TRUMP VICTORY “While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change. And they’re right,” he continued. Sanders has characterized Harris’ campaign as “disastrous.” “Will the big money interests and well-paid consultants who control the Democratic Party learn any real lessons from this disastrous campaign?” he asked.  “Will they understand the pain and political alienation that tens of millions of Americans are experiencing?” he added. “Do they have any ideas as to how we can take on the increasingly powerful oligarchy which has so much economic and political power? Probably not.” While Republicans secured the Senate majority following the 2024 election, the 83-year-old Sanders, who has served in the chamber since 2007, just won another six-year-term. BERNIE SANDERS SAYS HARRIS DROPPING FAR-LEFT POLICIES ‘IN ORDER TO WIN THE ELECTION’ “Unbelievably, real, inflation-accounted-for weekly wages for the average American worker are actually lower now than they were 50 years ago,” Sanders previously said. “Today, despite an explosion of technology and worker productivity, many young people will have a worse standard of living than their parents.” Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., joined a slew of Democrats taking offense to Sanders’ comments.  “With all due respect, and I have a great deal of respect for [Sanders], for what he stands for, but I don’t respect him saying that the Democratic Party has abandoned the working class families. That’s where we are,” Pelosi told The New York Times’ “The Interview” podcast on Saturday. Pelosi’s remarks came days after Sanders posted on X that Democrats’ loss should “come as no great surprise” after working class voters – first the White working class and then the Latino and Black working classes — looked elsewhere for change. Fox News Digital’s Alex Nitzberg and Taylor Penley contributed to this report.