Top Republican privately backing Thune to succeed McConnell in GOP leader race
National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman Steve Daines, R-Mont., is privately urging other Senate Republicans to cast their ballots in favor of Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., a source familiar told Fox News Digital. The Montana Republican has not publicly endorsed Thune but is planning to support him in the secret ballot on Nov. 13 to determine who will succeed Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., as the head of the party. Up until last month, Daines was still being speculated as a potential contender for leader. The senator had repeatedly skirted questions about whether he would join the race, noticeably not ruling it out. However, he confirmed to Fox News in October that he would not seek the leadership post. RICK SCOTT SEES RED WAVE AS ‘BEST CASE SCENARIO’ FOR SENATE LEADER BID AS HE LOBBIES TRUMP FOR SUPPORT Daines’ office did not provide comment to Fox News Digital in time for publication. The leader position is currently being sought by Thune and Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Rick Scott, R-Fla. McConnell, 82, announced in February that he would not run for leader again in the next Congress. He is the longest-serving party leader in Senate history. The very influential Kentucky Republican won’t be endorsing a successor ahead of the election, Fox News also confirmed. CHUCK SCHUMER PREPS FOR RETURN TO SENATE MINORITY AFTER GOP VICTORY Before Daines dispelled speculation that he would launch a campaign for leader, Trump told allies following McConnell’s announcement that he would like to see the Montana senator run to succeed him. That was prompted by the president-elect’s good relationship with Daines, the source shared. ELECTION NIGHT WINNERS AND LOSERS: 2024 EDITION Senators have kept quiet throughout the months leading up to the leader race, opting instead to focus on the 2024 elections. Very few Republicans have made revealing public comments about the candidates or whom they were leaning toward. MITCH MCCONNELL SINGS TRUMP CAMPAIGN PRAISES: ‘SHARPER OPERATION THIS TIME’ Only three senators have made public endorsements, with Sens. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., and Mike Rounds, R-S.D., who announced support for Thune earlier this year, and Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., who recently backed Scott and urged Trump to endorse him as well. Trump has not weighed in, and it is unclear whether he plans to. His team did not immediately provide comment to Fox News Digital.
Trump-backed PA Senate candidate flips longtime Dem seat red in nail-biter election
Republican Pennsylvania Senate candidate Dave McCormick was declared victorious in his high-stakes election against longtime Democrat Sen. Bob Casey on Tuesday. Casey has served in the Senate since 2008 and ultimately became a stalwart within the Democratic Party. For example, he voted on legislation President Biden supported 98.5% of the time, according to FiveThirtyEight data. The Casey name also has deep roots in the state, with Bob Casey Sr., the senator’s father, serving as the Keystone State’s governor from 1987 to 1995 after years of serving in various other elected roles. The longtime senator, however, faced what was described as his most difficult re-election effort to date, squaring up against Republican businessman Dave McCormick. McCormick is an Army combat veteran and former CEO of hedge fund Bridgewater Associates who served as the undersecretary of commerce for industry and security as well as undersecretary of the treasury for international affairs in former President George W. Bush’s administration. ‘LIES THROUGHOUT’: TRUMP-BACKED CHALLENGER, LONGTIME DEM SENATOR FACE OFF IN HEATED BATTLEGROUND DEBATE Political eyes have been locked on Pennsylvania this election cycle after it yet again emerged as a key battleground state for the presidential race. Trump narrowly won the state in his successful 2016 election against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, while President Biden declared victory in the Keystone State in the 2020 election. MCCORMICK SEIZES ON PENNSYLVANIA SENATE RACE GAP, LAYING BORDER BLAME ON CASEY The race was rated as “leans Democrat” by both the Fox News Power Rankings and the Cook Political Report, with Casey himself acknowledging this year that it would be a “close, tough race.” Biden campaigned for Casey in their shared home state, with the president lauding the senator as “a man that kids can look up to.” On the other side of the aisle, McCormick earned Trump’s endorsement in the Keystone State. “He’s a good man. He wants to run a good ship,” Trump said during a rally in April. “He’s a smart guy. He was a very successful guy. He’s given up a lot to do this.” PHILLY VOTERS SOUND OFF ON ECONOMY: ‘EVERYBODY IS STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW’ The two have sparred over issues such as immigration, abortion, spiraling inflation and law enforcement in their campaigns and during their debates. BIDEN WILL ‘ABSOLUTELY’ HURT LONGTIME DEM SENATOR’S CHANCES OF RETAINING BATTLEGROUND STATE SEAT: MCCORMICK Casey campaigned on a platform of protecting access to abortion, lowering “greedflation,” preserving Pennsylvania’s “energy legacy” while also working “to protect our environment” and bolstering infrastructure in rural areas. McCormick campaigned on reeling in inflation under the Biden-Harris administration, securing the border, curbing crime, defending the Second Amendment and expanding the Keystone State’s energy sector. The high-stakes election put both candidates under the national spotlight, including earlier this year when police leaders in the state slammed Casey for aligning himself with a pro-defund the police group as he geared up for the election. He was also dinged by McCormick and other conservatives for rhetoric blaming spiraling inflation on corporations’ alleged greed, which he calls “greedflation.” McCormick came under fire from Casey and Democrats for splitting his time between Pennsylvania and Connecticut, where his children attend school, painting him as a Keystone State outsider. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Blue state governor summons legislature in response to Trump win: ‘Ready to fight’
Blue state Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday he is calling an emergency special session to bolster the state’s legal response to any future attacks from the incoming Trump administration. The special session will focus on safeguarding “civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate action, and immigrant families,” Newsom’s office said in a press release. “California is ready to fight,” Newsom said on X. “Whether it be our fundamental civil rights, reproductive freedom, or climate action – we refuse to turn back the clock and allow our values and laws to be attacked.” His action comes just a day after Newsom said he “will seek to work with the incoming president.” NATHAN HOCHMAN OUSTS EMBATTLED LIBERAL PROSECUTOR GEORGE GASCON AS LA COUNTY DA AMID CRIME CONCERNS The special session will convene on Monday, Dec. 2. Newsom is urging his state legislature to earmark more funds for the California Department of Justice and other state agencies with additional resources to mount legal challenges. “The funding will support the ability to immediately file litigation and seek injunctive relief against unlawful federal actions,” Newsom’s office said. During Trump’s first term, Newsom launched lawsuits against the federal government more than 100 times. “We learned a lot about former President Trump in his first term – he’s petty, vindictive, and will do what it takes to get his way no matter how dangerous the policy may be,” Mike McGuire, Democratic state Senate president pro tempore, said in a statement. PROPOSITION 36 OVERWHELMINGLY PASSES IN CALIFORNIA, REVERSING SOME SOROS-BACKED SOFT-ON-CRIME POLICIES “California has come too far and accomplished too much to simply surrender and accept his dystopian vision for America. This is why we’re moving with speed and investing in our legal defense.” Meanwhile, Republican Brian Jones, state Senate minority leader, said the special session “is clearly just another political stunt,” and a “desperate attempt to distract from Democrats’ significant losses across California on Tuesday – in the state Senate, state Assembly, U.S. House, and on key ballot measures, including Prop 5’s defeat and Prop 36’s overwhelming win.” “Californians have made it clear: affordability is their top concern,” Jones said. “Yet, even with the massive deficit he created, Gov. Newsom wants to hand his attorney general a blank check to wage endless battles against the federal government – while our own state is on fire, both literally and metaphorically.” California, a sanctuary state for illegal immigrants, abortions and transgender transition treatments for children, could be targeted by the Trump administration, especially considering Trump’s mass deportation plan of illegal immigrants. Newsom, leader of the progressive blueprint of the country, isn’t the only Democrat who is preparing to Trump-proof their states ahead of his inauguration. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James, who’ve spent years prosecuting and disparaging Trump, vowed to fight back against any potential “revenge or retribution” that may be coming their way now that he will be returning to the White House. DONALD TRUMP WINS 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Hochul offered congratulations to Trump during a press conference on Wednesday while also commending his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris and running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, for a “hard-fought campaign that really lifted up so many issues that matter to Americans.” “I want to be very clear that while we honor the results of this election and will work with anyone who wants to be a partner in achieving the goals of our administration in our state, that does not mean we’ll accept an agenda from Washington that strips away the rights that New Yorkers have long enjoyed,” Hochul said Wednesday. Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
McCormick eyes ‘ruby red’ county to put him over the top in tight PA Senate battle
Longtime Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey and Republican challenger Dave McCormick are still wading through their election results, with McCormick’s campaign saying that even though the race is tight, the Republican will prevail. “McCormick is up 30,679 votes with more to come, as ruby red Cambria County is still outstanding. While votes continue to be counted, any way you slice it, Dave McCormick will be the next United States Senator from Pennsylvania,” Elizabeth Gregory, McCormick’s communications director, said in a comment Thursday provided to Fox News Digital. More than 98% of the votes have been tabulated in the high-stakes Senate race, with McCormick showing a slight lead over Casey, at 48.94% to Casey’s 48.49% support, Fox News’s race results show. The results are too close to make an official call, and they will likely face a recount. As of Thursday afternoon, 31,503 difference in McCormick’s favor. Cambria County, which is home to the city of Johnstown, is a reliably red jurisdiction that was granted a two-hour extension of polling hours on Tuesday after a “software malfunction” temporarily delayed the scanning of ballots in the precinct. The county has voted for Republican presidential candidates each cycle since Mitt Romney’s 2012 run. BATTLEGROUND STATES’ RECOUNT RULES VARY WIDELY, HERE’S A LOOK AT HOW THEY WORK Pennsylvania has three recount options: statewide automatic recounts ordered by the secretary of the commonwealth; recounts ordered by a county election board; and recounts that are ordered by the court. ‘VINDICTIVE’: DEMOCRAT IN TIGHT SENATE RACE BLASTED BY GOP RIVAL FOR SWIPE AT MCDONALD’S AFTER TRUMP VISIT An automatic recount would occur in this case if a candidate’s margin of victory is no more than 0.5% of total votes cast. A recount submission must be submitted to the Pennsylvania Secretary of State’s office no later than 5 p.m. on the second Thursday after Election Day. The Casey campaign touted earlier Thursday that they, too, are confident that the senator will end the campaign with another re-election win. KEY BATTLEGROUND STATE VOTER REGISTRATION DATA SHOWS INFLUENTIAL SHIFTS FAVORING GOP “The count in Pennsylvania is still continuing,” Casey for Senate spokesperson Maddy McDaniel said earlier on Thursday. “Yesterday, the vote margin shrunk by 50,000 votes and this race is now within half a point, the threshold for automatic recounts in Pennsylvania. With tens of thousands more votes to be counted, we are committed to ensuring every Pennsylvanian’s vote is heard and confident that at the end of that process, Senator Casey will be re-elected.” Casey has served in the Senate since the 2006 cycle. He faced his most uphill election battle this year against McCormick, an Army combat veteran and former CEO of hedge fund Bridgewater Associates. Fox News Digital’s Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report.
‘Now’s the time’: Trump victory has Biden admin bracing for migrant surge at southern border
The Biden administration is reportedly preparing for a potential migrant surge at the southern border ahead of a looming Trump administration amid concerns that migrants may seek to flood into the U.S. before President-elect Trump enacts strict border controls. Numbers have dropped dramatically at the southern border since June after a more than three-year historic surge that overwhelmed officials and communities across the country. Trump’s presidential election victory on Tuesday brings the prospect of much tougher border measures and a mass deportation operation. NBC News reports that on Monday, before the election, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas held a virtual meeting with top advisers and the heads of DHS agencies. In that meeting, officials raised concerns about what a Trump victory might mean for the border. ‘LIBERATION DAY’: WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP ON BORDER SECURITY, IMMIGRATION The report said that officials asked if DHS officials were prepared for a possible spike in immigration, with immigrants preparing to enter the country at the last minute. Migrants would unlikely be motivated by the prospect of a Trump administration, where there have been promises of historic deportations and a crackdown on sanctuary cities, but would instead be motivated by an effort to take advantage of what may be lighter border security than what they believe will be in place under the Republican administration. DHS did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. But there are concerns that have been echoed by some conservatives who believe there could be a surge leading up to January. “It’s going to be a rush to the border,” Lora Ries, director of the Heritage Foundation’s Border Security and Immigration Center, told Fox News Digital. “I’m sure Mexico has stepped out of the way [now] that the election is over, feeling their obligation to try and help Kamala Harris win the election is finished.” Trump has promised to implement additional limits on the border, which includes ending the use of the CBP One app to bring in hundreds of thousands of migrants via humanitarian parole at ports of entry. He has also promised to build additional border wall to the more than 450 miles he built during his first administration. He has also promised to launch the “largest domestic deportation operation in American history” to deport millions of illegal immigrants. HOW HARRIS WAS DOGGED BY ‘BORDER CZAR’ LABEL, PAST RADICAL IMMIGRATION VIEWS DURING FAILED CAMPAIGN Ries said that any surge will be fueled by migrant smugglers looking for business. “The cartels and the smugglers are spreading the word that now’s the time to get in before Trump enters,” she said. “They will use any marketing that they can at any time to make more money.” Republicans have also called for a tighter use of Temporary Protected Status, which grants foreign nationals from certain countries protection from deportation and work permits if it is deemed unsafe for them to return. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE BORDER SECURITY CRISIS Other Trump-era policies that could come back include a form of the Remain in Mexico policy, which saw migrants stay in Mexico while they wait for their asylum cases to be heard, and travel bans from countries deemed to be national security threats. In the last week, Trump also raised the possibility of a tariff on Mexican goods to force Mexico to get tighter control of the numbers coming north. “I’m going to inform [the Mexican president] on day one or sooner that if they don’t stop this onslaught of criminals and drugs coming into our country, I’m going to immediately impose a 25% tariff on everything they send into the United States of America,” he said. Ries said the looming restrictions will deter some migrants, but not all of them. “A lot will take their shot because over the decades they’ve seen that if they generally fly below the radar once in the U.S., their chance of being encountered and removed is quite low. But for some, they’ll decide: ‘I’m not going to spend my money, I’m not going to sell my house and do this.’”
Vance’s orbit reveals what role he will play in Trump’s second administration
Sources in Vice President-elect JD Vance’s political orbit say his role in Donald Trump’s upcoming administration is simple. It will be whatever the president-elect needs Vance to do and wherever Trump needs a second set of eyes and focus, they tell Fox News. Vance, the first-term senator from Ohio who quickly became one of the top advocates for Trump’s “America First” policies in the Senate, was named by the former president as the GOP’s vice presidential nominee on the first day of the Republican National Convention in July. PRESIDENT BIDEN ADDRESSES THE NATION FOLLOWING TRUMP DEFEAT OF HARRIS The senator was tireless on the campaign trail the remainder of the summer and autumn, stumping on behalf of the Republican ticket and taking aim at Vice President Kamala Harris; her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz; and President Biden’s administration. With Trump and Vance’s convincing electoral victory this week, which included a sweep of the key battleground states and a popular vote victory, the transition between the Biden and second Trump administrations is quickly getting underway. And the vice president-elect will have an honorary role in the transition. THE VOTES IN UNRESOLVED RACES ARE STILL BEING COUNTED – HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS ELECTION RESULTS Sources noted some of the issues the vice president-elect personally cares about that he would like to be involved in over the next four years. Among them are immigration, tech policy and, as a Marine who served in the war in Iraq, veterans policies. The sources also shared that Vance’s experience with the train disaster in East Palestine, Ohio, also makes disaster relief a subject that’s important to him. While no names are being bandied about for top positions in the incoming vice president’s office, a look at who currently serves the senator may offer clues. Jacob Reses is Vance’s Senate chief of staff, and James Braid serves as deputy chief of staff in the senator’s office. And it’s probable top outside advisers, such as Andy Surabian, a leading political adviser to Donald Trump Jr.; Luke Thompson, who ran the super PAC backing Vance’s 2022 Senate campaign’ Jai Chabria, a longtime Ohio-based adviser; and informal adviser Arthur Schwartz will continue to hold similar roles with Vance.
Republicans within striking distance of House majority as key races remain too close to call
The majority in the House of Representatives appears within reach for Republicans, who have already won control of the Senate and White House. Associated Press race projections show Republicans holding 209 seats compared to 196 seats for Democrats as of Thursday afternoon. A total of five sitting House lawmakers are projected to lose their re-election bids so far – three Republicans and two Democrats. Several races involving GOP incumbents in California are still too close to call and are likely to be pivotal to the House majority. SPEAKER JOHNSON RIPS ‘LACK OF LEADERSHIP’ IN BIDEN ADMIN’S HELENE RESPONSE: ‘ALARMED AND DISAPPOINTED’ Republicans in three Arizona districts, as well as GOP lawmakers in Nebraska, Iowa and Oregon, are also still awaiting result projections. Whichever party reaches 218 victories first will hold the House majority in the 119th Congress. House Republican leaders have been touting confidence in their eventual victory, with the top four House leaders already formally announcing bids to hold the same spots in a January House majority. “It appears we’re going to hold the House and flip the Senate,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., told Fox News Digital on Wednesday night. “California’s the main state still. You know, in a lot of those close races, our incumbents are leading the way – by small margins, but we knew there would be small margins.” HOUSE GOP LEADERS RIP ACTBLUE AFTER DEM FUNDRAISING GIANT HIT WITH SUBPOENA It’s a far cry from House Democrats, whose hopes of winning the majority are rapidly decreasing. Multiple sources told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that Democrats were bracing for Republicans to win complete control of Congress and the White House. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., pointed out that a Republican victory is not a forgone conclusion, however. “It has yet to be decided who will control the House of Representatives in the 119th Congress. We must count every vote and wait until the results in Oregon, Arizona and California are clear,” Jeffries said in a statement that also congratulated President-elect Trump. JOHNSON BLASTS DEM ACCUSATIONS HE VOWED TO END OBAMACARE AS ‘DISHONEST’ Democrats have scored key wins in projections by unseating Republican incumbents in three New York seats – Reps. Marc Molinaro, Brandon Williams and Anthony D’Esposito. Republicans are projected to flip three seats as well – one vacated by a Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., to run for Senate, and two districts held by moderate Democrats in Pennsylvania. The GOP also saw former House Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry, R-Pa., projected to survive his toughest race yet as of Thursday afternoon. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Fox News projects Democratic Rep. Don Davis will win North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District
Fox News Decision Desk projects Democratic Rep. Don Davis will be the winner against Republican challenger Laurie Buckhout in North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, considered a toss-up race this election cycle. Davis, who won the seat in 2022 after the retirement of longtime Democrat G.K. Butterfield, is a former state senator and mayor. He also has a military background as an Air Force officer. Buckhout is a retired U.S. Army colonel with extensive experience in military logistics and national security. While the 1st District has historically leaned Democratic and has a large Black population, recent electoral trends in North Carolina are showing growing Republican support in rural areas, where conservatives are largely dissatisfied with Democratic policies on issues such as the economy and agriculture. The district, which covers much of the northeastern part of the state, includes rural counties, the Inner Banks, and parts of the Research Triangle. POLITICAL STORM: ON TRUMP ‘ONSLAUGHT OF LIES,’ BIDEN URGES FORMER PRESIDENT TO ‘GET A LIFE MAN’ ———————————————————————————————- POLITICAL STORM: ON TRUMP ‘ONSLAUGHT OF LIES,’ BIDEN URGES FORMER PRESIDENT TO ‘GET A LIFE MAN’
Kamala Harris underperformed Biden’s numbers with women. South Dakota’s governor thinks she knows why.
In her quest to become the first female president, Vice President Kamala Harris portrayed herself as a champion of women’s rights, putting abortion rights at the forefront of her campaign. But she fell short, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem explains in an interview, because in doing so, Harris and the Democrats failed to meet voters where they are. “I think what was so interesting during this campaign is we consistently saw Kamala Harris and the Democrats try to put women in a box,” Noem told Fox News Digital. “They tried to define women as only caring about abortion and their health care. They didn’t really give them due credit for being the individuals out there that are raising families and caring about their children’s education and paying their bills and pursuing their careers.” Among the more surprising findings from the 2024 election is that Harris under-performed with women compared to President Biden’s support four years ago. HARRIS FORMALLY CONCEDES ONE DAY AFTER TRUMP’S SWEEPING VICTORY President-elect Trump prevailed Tuesday in a decisive victory, sweeping all the key battleground states and winning a majority in the national popular vote – the first time a Republican has done so in 20 years. Voter concerns about the economy and immigration propelled Trump’s triumphant return to the White House. But he also expanded his base with traditionally Democratic constituencies, including Black, Hispanic and young voters, according to the Fox News Voter Analysis. The election showcased many of the nation’s deep divides, particularly in gender. Men voted for Trump by 10 points, while women supported Harris by 8 points. The 18-point gender gap was slightly bigger than in the 2020 presidential election (17 points). That widening was due to Trump improving 5 points among men since 2020. But Harris also under-performed with women compared to President Biden, who won the female vote by 12 points. Harris became the Democratic frontrunner after President Biden suspended his bid for re-election in July amid reports of his declining mental acuity in the wake of a poor debate performance against Trump in June. Biden quickly endorsed Harris, who made “reproductive rights” a top issue on the campaign trail, a strategy that would ultimately not win over enough swing state voters. Harris was the Democrat nominee for only about four months. DONALD TRUMP JR., KRISTI NOEM JOIN FRANKLIN GRAHAM IN HELENE-TORN NORTH CAROLINA WITH SAMARITAN’S PURSE GOP strategists told Fox News Digital that the Harris campaign’s abortion strategy was ineffective against Trump, who had argued the issue returned to the states after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Noem added that abortion is just not the only priority for women in America. She campaigned for Trump in Pennsylvania and other swing states, promoting his policies and taking questions from voters. “We’ve got women running businesses that want their communities to be safe. They want to thrive. And they certainly don’t want a president that doesn’t protect women and the opportunities they have in front of them,” she told Fox News Digital. The governor also criticized Harris’ team for “minimizing women” in the closing weeks of the election, referencing how Harris surrogate Mark Cuban had said Trump never surrounds himself with “strong, intelligent women.” SOUTH DAKOTA GOV. KRISTI NOEM SIGNS BILL BANNING SOME GENDER-RELATED MEDICAL, SURGICAL PROCEDURES FOR MINORS “They even went so far as to call women weak and dumb, you know, by their surrogtates. And I think that was offensive to many of us across the country,” said Noem. She also said the Democrats’ far-left positions on abortion and transgender issues have made it easier for Republicans to take “common sense” positions that most Americans agree with. “Kamala Harris and her Democratic Party have become more and more extreme on gender issues, on abortion. It’s easier for Republicans and our candidates and President Trump to use common sense to talk to the American people about truly how extreme the Democrats want to take this country and what we can do to make sure that every single person in this country, whether you’re a man or woman, that you get an opportunity,” she said. The Trump campaign and associated political action committees leaned in to the culture wars with millions of dollars spent on ads that attacked Democrats and Harris as too liberal on gender issues. “Kamala is for they/them. Trump is for you,” one of Trump’s strongest attack ads concluded. The New York Times reported that Trump’s anti-trans ads shifted the race 2.7 percentage points in Trump’s favor after viewers watched it. Noem has also fought the culture wars. In South Dakota, she signed legislation that banned puberty blockers, cross-sex hormone treatments and sex-change operations for transgender individuals under the age of 18. She has spoken repeatedly about keeping biological men who identify as transgender out of women’s sports and protecting opportunities for women and girls. “President Trump is not going to let mediocre men take away opportunities for our outstanding women,” Noem said. It was Harris, she argued, who would have women on an “uncompetitive playing field.” Asked if she had discussed joining the new administration, Noem said she had not had any conversations with the president-elect about a job. “He knows I’ll help him any way that I can. But I spoke to him today, and he’s in great spirits. He’s looking forward to getting his administration set up. And I think he’s already getting phone calls from world leaders and working with people on his transition team to make sure that he’s ready to hit the ground running.” “I love being the governor of South Dakota,” she added. “So we’ll continue to be a strong advocate for President Trump. He’s my friend, I’m so happy for him. And if he asks me to do something, well, we’ll make a decision at that time.”
Susie Wiles, the ‘ice baby,’ is a top contender for Trump’s chief of staff, sources say
Speculation is surging that Susie Wiles, a veteran political operative who worked closely with President-elect Donald Trump during his campaign, could take a top position in his new administration. Sources within Trump’s transition team and others close to the former president’s campaign confirmed to Fox News that Wiles is reportedly the frontrunner for White House Chief of Staff – who will oversee the Executive Office of the President. Trump, during his victory celebration in West Palm Beach late Tuesday night, gave special thanks to Wiles for her prominent role throughout the campaign. “Let me also express my tremendous appreciation for Susie [Wiles] and Chris [LaCivita], the job you did. Susie, come, Susie,” Trump said, inviting her up to the microphone, but Wiles refrained from making comments. HERE ARE THE MOST TALKED-ABOUT CANDIDATES FOR TOP POSTS IN TRUMP’S ADMINISTRATION “Susie likes to stay sort of in the back, let me tell you. The ice baby. We call her the ice baby. Susie likes to stay in the background. She’s not in the background,” Trump added. “Thank you, Susie.” NBC News also reported that Wiles is seen as the frontrunner to become Trump’s chief of staff. Two sources in Trump’s political orbit didn’t wave Fox News off the reporting. PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP ALREADY MEETING WITH TRANSITION TEAM, STRATEGIZING HOW TO FILL ADMINISTRATION Wiles’ decades-long political career stretches back to working as former President Ronald Reagan’s campaign scheduler for his 1980 presidential bid. Wiles managed several campaigns throughout her political career, including former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.’s presidential campaign and Florida Sen. Rick Scott’s Senate bid. The Florida-based consultant successfully managed the operations for Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns in the Sunshine State, contributing to his victories in Florida during both elections. In between presidential cycles, Wiles helped Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis with his 2018 re-election bid. Wiles currently serves as a senior adviser to Trump and is campaign co-chair alongside Chris LaCivita. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was previously floated as a possible contender for the role, but recently told “The Guy Benson Show” that he would not take the position if it was offered. “People always ask if I’m going to be chief of staff, no I’m not going to be…that’s a no,” he said.