WATCH: Dem scolds Homeland Security chief to ‘calm down’ after hearing derails over alleged ‘pattern’
A Senate Appropriations Committee hearing was derailed Tuesday after Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin got into a heated exchange, prompting the Democrat to tell Mullin to “calm down.” Van Hollen, who is best known for flying to El Salvador to meet with controversial illegal immigrant and alleged gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia, accused the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of having a “pattern” of abuse while enforcing immigration law. He pointed to several recent DHS-involved shootings, including those involving Venezuelan national Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis and activists Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota. Mullin pushed back against the allegation as an “exaggeration of words,” saying, “When you say there’s a pattern, there’s not a pattern.” “Oh, I would say three in a row is a pattern,” retorted Van Hollen, to which Mullin shot back, “No, sir… a pattern of three people when we average 1,900 a day is not a pattern.” TRUMP ADMINISTRATION NAMES ROSARIO ‘PETE’ VASQUEZ TO SERVE AS NEXT US BORDER PATROL CHIEF Van Hollen insisted “there was a pattern.” As the two talked over each other, Van Hollen shook his head, saying, “Let’s get out the dictionary, put your semantics aside, the reality is this is a big problem.” He pressed Mullin to commit to sharing evidence from the federal officer-involved shootings to Minnesota authorities. “It sounds like you’re not willing to share evidence with the state authorities who are trying to get to the bottom of this. And I will just say, Mr. Secretary, that given the statements that came out of this administration, including the White House, it is hard to trust this administration to do an independent investigation,” said Van Hollen. “But yet you trust your last administration?” Mullin fired back. “I’m just saying if we’re calling an apple what an apple is and an orange what an orange is, don’t sit there and start cherry-picking one administration to believe and another administration not to believe,” Mullin continued. In response, Van Hollen raised his hands and said, “Mr. Secretary, just, just please calm down.” MARKWAYNE MULLIN GOES OFF ON DEMS’ ‘GARBAGE’ MEMORIAL DAY ‘POLITICAL STUNT’ AT ICE FACILITY During the hearing, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., pressed Mullin to commit to abiding by court orders, citing a federal judge’s claim that DHS had violated just under 100 orders in Minnesota. Murphy also criticized DHS for “spending money like stone drunk sailors,” including on “the massive detention centers that you are building.” Murphy asked Mullin, “Now that you are on the job, can you commit to us that if a court judges something ICE is doing, something DHS is doing as illegal, unconstitutional, tells you to stop, that you will comply with the court order?” Mullin answered, “We will never break the Constitution, and we’re not going to break the law, but we’re going to enforce our nation’s laws, and we’re going to enforce the laws that you guys passed and that we implement. We will never go outside that. And if we do, we’ll hold each other accountable for that.” “But that doesn’t sound like the same thing as committing that you will obey a court order,” pressed Murphy. “Will you, or will you not implement court orders?” GOP DEMANDS TRUMP KILL CONTROVERSIAL $2B FUND BEFORE REVIVING ICE FUNDING PACKAGE In response, Mullin said, “If we didn’t think courts were politicized, then I would probably be able to answer that. But we see courts over and over again that use their bench for their political opinion, not just the rule of law.” He chided Murphy, saying, “Don’t put words in my mouth,” adding, “What I’m saying is we will enforce the law, and we’re never going to break the Constitution.” Looking aside to his colleagues on the committee, Murphy remarked, “Listen, if you’re a Republican or Democrat on this committee, you should be really, really freaked out.” “We should be really concerned about the rulings that come out of the courts, and how often they get overturned,” retorted Mullin.
Hilton, Becerra in the lead with votes still being counted in battle for California governor
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA – Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra were leading in unofficial early returns Wednesday morning and appeared positioned to advance to the November California gubernatorial election in the race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in steering the nation’s most populous state and one of the world’s largest economies. Hilton, a one-time British political strategist turned American conservative commentator and former Fox News Channel host who is backed by President Donald Trump, and Becerra, a former California attorney general who later served as a Cabinet secretary in former President Biden’s administration, were in the lead early Wednesday morning, with votes still being counted and results not yet certified. “Change is coming to California, and it’s long overdue,” Hilton told supporters at his primary night watch party in Orange County. Hilton, in an exclusive Fox News Digital interview following his speech, said speaking “honest, simple truths” to voters boosted his campaign. “Everything is too expensive in California. We’re going to cut people’s costs,” he pledged. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST PRIMARY RESULTS FROM FOX NEWS Becerra, who, if elected in November, would make history as California’s first Latino governor since Romualdo Pacheco briefly served in 1875, told supporters that his campaign’s success is “more than a Hollywood ending. More than a milestone. That’s the everyday miracle of living in a state that makes the improbable seem inevitable. And I couldn’t have done it without you.” Democrat-dominated California holds what’s known as a jungle primary in which all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, appear on the same ballot, with the top two finishers advancing to the general election. Tom Steyer, a billionaire hedge fund founder turned environmental activist who unsuccessfully ran for his party’s 2020 presidential nomination and who has shelled out over $200 million of his own money in his bid for governor, was in third place as the results continued to be tabulated and as additional mail and provisional ballots remained to be counted. Meanwhile, more than $80 million in outside money has also been spent on the race. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican, as well as Democratic candidates former Democratic Rep. Katie Porter, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, were also among the whopping 61 candidates on the ballot. Hilton is hoping to become the first California Republican to win a gubernatorial election since Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2006 re-election. In his speech, Hilton showed off the lining of his blazer, with American and California flags, that he said Schwarzenegger a few years ago urged him to wear. “Arnold, I did that for you,” Hilton said. DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB Becerra, in his speech in Los Angeles, took aim at Trump, who is very unpopular in California according to public opinion polls. “As Governor, I will never back down from the threats of small cowards in big offices. I sued Trump 122 times before and I won, and won, and won. And anyone who wants to come at California will have to go through me,” Becerra emphasized. Hilton spotlighted Trump’s support during his primary campaign and when asked by Fox News Digital if he’ll continue to showcase the president’s support during the general election, he said, “We’re going to be working together when I’m governor to bring positive changes to California. And I think that’s something everyone can get behind.” Former Vice President Kamala Harris and Sen. Alex Padilla mulled launching Democratic bids for governor, but both last year announced they would take a pass. That resulted in the lack of a clear Golden State gubernatorial frontrunner for the first time in more than a quarter-century. And the race was overshadowed for much of last year, as the devastation from the Los Angeles-area wildfires and Trump’s immigration raids grabbed headlines in California. But the showdown for governor entered the spotlight earlier this year when one of the leading candidates, Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, dropped out of the race and then resigned from Congress after facing multiple allegations of sexual assault and misconduct that he continues to deny. Swalwell’s exit from the race opened the door for first Steyer and then Becerra to rise in the polls. Bianco, who launched his campaign for governor in April of last year, was among the top contenders in the race until Trump’s endorsement of Hilton in early April appeared to blunt his momentum.
South Dakota governor’s race remains up in the air as GOP contest goes to runoff
South Dakota Republican businessman Toby Doeden will move on to a July runoff in the GOP gubernatorial sweeps, while the race for the second contender remained too close to call overnight Wednesday. The news is a blow to incumbent Gov. Larry Rhoden, who still has a shot at the runoff depending on whether he, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., or South Dakota House Speaker Jon Hansen make it through. Rhoden, the longtime lieutenant governor under former Gov. Kristi Noem, is a rancher who rose through the ranks of state legislative leadership before succeeding the former Homeland Security secretary. Often seen with his trademark cowboy hat, the western South Dakota native spent 16 years in the state legislature and has focused on continuing Noem’s platform of making South Dakota one of the nation’s most affordable and business-friendly states. WHAT’S NEXT FOR KRISTI NOEM? 2026 SENATE CHATTER GROWS AFTER DHS EXIT Rhoden opposes abortion, supports Second Amendment rights and has worked with his former boss on homeland security matters, including cooperating with ICE on immigration enforcement operations. President Donald Trump was conspicuously mute in the crowded primary, an observation South Dakota News Watch recently questioned Rhoden about. “I don’t spend a lot of time fretting about it,” the governor said. “If you look at who he’s endorsed, he likes endorsing winners and seldom goes out on a limb. And here we have a four-way primary with a seated House member in the race,” Rhoden said, adding that Trump appears to like making safe bets. BLUE STATE GOVERNORS MOVE TO KEEP HEAT ON NOEM AS DHS FIRES BACK Rhoden, along with Doeden and Hansen, faced a challenge from Rep. Dusty Johnson, the state’s lone congressman, whose statewide profile was considered stronger than the other candidates. Doeden ran as a political outsider and positioned himself as a populist candidate. Largely self-funded, Doeden positioned himself as a conservative alternative to the Pierre establishment. Hansen, meanwhile, is the establishment conservative challenger who has served in the State House for more than a decade.
Supreme Court allows Alabama GOP-backed congressional map for midterms
The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave Alabama Republicans a victory, issuing an emergency order that the state can use a congressional map likely to benefit the GOP in November’s midterm elections. The justices granted Alabama’s emergency appeal to use a map adopted by the state legislature in 2023 that includes a single majority-Black district for this election cycle. The court’s three liberal justices dissented. Alabama Republicans had sought to revive the previously blocked map, which is expected to give the GOP an opportunity to gain an additional congressional seat by replacing a court-drawn south Alabama district that helped elect a Black Democrat with a map that contains only one majority-Black district. The ruling came after the Supreme Court last month vacated a lower court ruling blocking Alabama’s 2023 congressional map and sent the case back for further review. Last week, however, a three-judge federal panel again blocked the GOP-backed map and ordered Alabama to continue using a court-drawn map containing two districts in which Black voters are a majority or have an opportunity to elect their preferred candidates. REDISTRICTING WAR INTENSIFIES AS GOP SUFFERS SETBACKS IN TWO STATES Republican Gov. Kay Ivey celebrated the ruling Tuesday evening and confirmed that Alabama’s Aug. 11 special primary election would be conducted under the 2023 map. “The U.S. Supreme Court confirmed what I have said all along and that is that Alabama knows our state, our people and our districts best,” Ivey said in a statement. “Today’s decision is a win for the people of Alabama and our elections,” she continued. “Alabama is doing our part to keep America strong, and I am proud our state continues to fight the fight to ensure activists do not get the final say.” REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: DEMOCRATS SAY THEY CAN STILL FLIP THE HOUSE DESPITE GOP REDISTRICTING GAINS IN THE SOUTH “I will see y’all at the polls August 11!” Ivey added. The redistricting fight comes as President Donald Trump has encouraged Republican-led states to redraw congressional maps following the Supreme Court’s Callais decision, which limited the use of race in congressional redistricting. Alabama argued that the lower court’s remedial map improperly elevated race over traditional districting principles, while voting-rights groups argued that the state’s map diluted Black voting power. In an unsigned majority opinion, the court wrote: “The State has also made a strong showing of irreparable harm and that the equities and public interest favor it.” SUPREME COURT JUST GAVE BLACK VOTERS A SHOT AT REAL POWER BEYOND SAFE SEATS “We have repeatedly cautioned that lower federal courts should not ‘alter the election rules on the eve of an election,’” the majority added. In a dissenting opinion, Justice Sonia Sotomayor argued that the map discriminates against Black Alabamians. “Before the Court are two paths,” Sotomayor wrote. “Down one lies an orderly election, held under a tried-and-tested congressional map that protects Black Alabamians’ right to vote and with which all voters, elections officials, and candidates alike are familiar.” SUPREME COURT RULES ON KEY VOTING RIGHTS ACT RULE AS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WAGE REDISTRICTING WAR “Down the other lies a chaotic election, held under a never-before-used congressional map that intentionally discriminates against Black Alabamians, that Alabama adopted in unashamed defiance of a prior court order directly affirmed by this Court, and that will require officials to change the voter registrations of hundreds of thousands of voters in just days at best, a task that Alabama previously represented would take months,” she continued. “The majority chooses the second path and disregards both democratic values and the rule of law.” she added. The ACLU also criticized the ruling, arguing it permits Alabama to use a racially discriminatory map. “Today’s ruling delays relief for voters who have already spent years fighting for an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice and to have their voices heard,” Davin Rosborough, deputy director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project, said in a statement. “We remain committed to pursuing equal opportunities in Congress for our clients and Black Alabamians,” he added. “We will fight for those rights even in the face of those who continue to move the goalposts and undo our nation’s progress in realizing its promise as a multi-racial democracy.” Fox News Digital’s Adam Pack and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Trump-endorsed Feenstra concedes to MAHA-backed Lahn in GOP governor primary upset
Trump-backed Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, conceded to MAHA-backed Republican Zach Lahn after the polls closed Tuesday night in Iowa’s GOP gubernatorial primary. Lahn, a farmer and businessman who campaigned on an “Iowa First” message, pulled off a surprising upset over Feenstra in the race to succeed outgoing Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds. Besides Feenstra, Lahn beat out former state Rep. Brad Sherman, former Iowa Department of Administrative Services Director Adam Steen and state Rep. Eddie Andrews in his bid to move on to the November general election and eventually the governor’s mansion. The result marked a major setback for Feenstra, who represents Iowa’s 4th Congressional District and entered Election Day as the best-known Republican in the race. Feenstra had a congressional profile, a fundraising advantage, support from prominent Iowa Republicans, including former Gov. Terry Branstad, and a late endorsement from President Donald Trump. TRUMP-ENDORSED HINSON SECURES IOWA SENATE NOMINATION AS DEMOCRATS EYE GOP SEAT Lahn had just around a 1,600-vote lead ahead of Feenstra shortly after midnight Eastern Time with 99% of the votes counted, according to The Associated Press’ elections tracker. “I just called Zach Lahn, and said, ‘Hey, you got to carry this torch. We got to keep this state red. You got to make sure you beat Rob Sand.’ And I’m all in to help him out,” Feenstra said to supporters at his election night gathering, according to a video recording shared by Iowas News Now reporter Skylar Tallal. Trump endorsed Feenstra just days before the primary, calling him “MAGA all the way” and giving him his “Complete and Total Endorsement.” Feenstra campaigned as a close ally of the president, highlighting his support for Trump’s agenda on border security, tax cuts, energy production and agriculture. Lahn, meanwhile, ran as an outsider candidate and drew support from MAHA Action, the political group aligned with the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. His campaign website describes him as a father, farmer and businessman advancing an “Iowa First” agenda. And Lahn was also endorsed by the political wing of Turning Point USA, the powerful conservative group founded by the late Charlie Kirk. IOWA MAN SUSPECTED OF KILLING 6 FAMILY MEMBERS IN ‘ACT OF EVIL’ The race opened after Reynolds announced she would not seek re-election despite being eligible to run again, creating Iowa’s first open gubernatorial contest since 2006. Republicans have controlled the governor’s office since 2011. Lahn will now face Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand in November. Sand, Iowa’s only Democratic statewide officeholder, advanced unopposed through the Democratic primary and has built a political profile centered on government accountability and anti-corruption efforts. Early ratings have suggested the general election could be competitive. The Cook Political Report moved the race from “Lean Republican” to “Toss Up” in April, while Inside Elections has rated the contest “Lean Republican.” If Sand were to win in November, he would become the first Democrat elected governor of Iowa since Chet Culver’s victory in 2006. Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report
Booker set to face Navy vet after former local NJ official lost in 2024 Senate race
Justin Murphy won New Jersey’s Republican U.S. Senate primary late Tuesday night, setting up a general election fight against Democratic Sen. Cory Booker in a state where Republicans have not won a U.S. Senate race since 1972. The race was close among the top three candidates with 90% of the votes counted. Murphy was followed by suspended New Jersey State Trooper Richard Tabor and former News 12 New Jersey reporter Alex Zdan. Physician Robert Lebovics finished last. Murphy is an attorney and U.S. Navy veteran from Tabernacle, New Jersey, who served as a local committeeman and ran unsuccessfully for the GOP Senate nomination in 2024, finishing a distant third. He launched another campaign this cycle to take on Booker, casting himself as a conservative, pro-Trump grassroots candidate. ‘JERSEY SHORE’ STAR MIKE SORRENTINO TEASES FUTURE RUN FOR NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR Murphy faces an uphill but nationally watched race against Booker, a high-profile Senate Democrat and frequent Trump critic who ran unopposed on the Democratic side of the ticket as he seeks another term after first winning the seat in a 2013 special election. While Republicans are hoping to flip the seat, the party has not won a U.S. Senate race in the state since 1972. Murphy, who describes himself as self-employed, is a former Tabernacle deputy mayor and a U.S. Navy veteran, according to the New Jersey Globe. He ran for the GOP Senate nomination in 2024, finishing far back in third, before launching another bid this cycle as a conservative candidate running on cleaning up his state’s pollution, protecting it from ever-expanding windmill construction, parental rights, medical freedom and improving Medicare for seniors. “I will convey my Conservative principles with confidence, energy, and optimism. The last time New Jersey elected a Republican to the US Senate was 1972; my campaign represents a new day in New Jersey politics,” Murphy states on his campaign website. “Being self-employed, I can identify with middle-class voters. I know firsthand financial struggle, debt, and stress. I know the long hours and countless weeks without a paycheck that many small business owners experience as a normal part of their working adult lives. Small business owners will have no better friend in Washington.” DEMS PICK CHALLENGER FOR GOP CONGRESSMAN WHO VANISHED FROM PUBLIC VIEW AMID HEALTH MYSTERY The GOP primary unfolded without an obvious Trump-backed favorite. Trump does not appear to have endorsed in New Jersey’s Republican Senate primary. His late New Jersey endorsements ahead of Tuesday’s primary went to House Republicans Tom Kean Jr., Jeff Van Drew and Chris Smith. Murphy received support from two county Republican organizations and ran in some counties under the slogan “American Conservative Republican,” according to NJ Spotlight News’ 2026 U.S. Senate primary voter guide. The general election will test whether Republicans can make inroads in a state that has remained stubbornly difficult for GOP Senate hopefuls. Booker won re-election in 2020 by more than 16 points, and early race ratings have generally listed the seat as safely Democratic heading into November.
DOJ expands indictment against SPLC, alleging $4M secretly funneled to KKK and extremist groups
The Department of Justice last month announced an indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), alleging that the civil rights nonprofit defrauded donors by secretly paying informants associated with extremist organizations, including the Ku Klux Klan. A federal grand jury in the Middle District of Alabama returned an 11-count indictment in April charging the SPLC with six counts of wire fraud, four counts of making false statements to a federally insured bank and one count of conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering, according to the Justice Department. The superseding indictment retains those charges while expanding on the alleged misconduct. According to the DOJ, the SPLC “secretly funneled” more than $3 million in donor funds between 2014 and 2023 to numerous individuals associated with extremist organizations, including the Ku Klux Klan, United Klans of America, the National Socialist Movement, participants in the Unite the Right rally and the Aryan Nations-affiliated Sadistic Souls Motorcycle Club. NEO-NAZIS, ‘SADISTIC’ BIKERS AND CHARLOTTESVILLE ORGANIZER: 5 OF THE MOST SHOCKING SPLC INFORMANTS The original indictment alleged approximately $3 million in payments between 2014 and 2023. “The SPLC’s paid informants (‘field sources’) engaged in the active promotion of racist groups at the same time that the SPLC was denouncing the same groups on its website,” the indictment states. Prosecutors further allege the SPLC opened bank accounts tied to fictitious entities in order to conceal donor funds that were allegedly routed to confidential sources. MIKE DAVIS: SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER: A TALE OF A RACISM SCAM According to the indictment, the SPLC began operating a covert informant network in the 1980s, and between 2014 and 2023 allegedly paid those sources in a clandestine manner. The DOJ alleges an SPLC employee instead encouraged the pair to remain involved and offered them a monthly salary of $1,200. The two subsequently agreed to remain in the organization, according to the indictment. DR. BEN CARSON: I KNOW HOW BAD THE SPLC WAS, IT CAME AFTER ME AND PUT ME AT RISK Prosecutors allege an SPLC employee instructed the individuals to claim they worked for a company called Rare Books and helped college students with research and writing assignments if anyone questioned the source of their income. The indictment alleges donor funds were used to pay both individuals through SPLC accounts. According to prosecutors, the pair were also reimbursed for expenses related to Ku Klux Klan activities, including cross-burning events and associated costs such as wood and fuel. One of the individuals is also accused of recruiting new members using donor-funded payments. The indictment further alleges the SPLC knew donor funds were used to purchase materials for Ku Klux Klan garments. In a statement to Fox News Digital, attorney Abbe Lowell, who represents the SPLC, denied the allegations. “This apparent superseding indictment attempts to shore up the flaws in the initial charges, but it changes nothing,” Lowell said. “The SPLC did not lie to its donors, it did not mislead banks it did business with, and its informant program prevented violence and saved lives,” he continued. “It appears the Justice Department shared the indictment with media before it was unsealed by the court – another example of the government’s troubling handling of this case.” “We will be addressing these irregularities with the court and look forward to presenting the truth at trial,” he added. NONPROFIT REVENUE TOTALS SURGE AMID GROWING SCRUTINY AFTER MAJOR FRAUD CASES The superseding indictment also notes that the SPLC’s reported revenue increased from roughly $38.7 million in 2010 to more than $129 million in 2023, an increase of approximately 233%. According to the filing, the organization’s net assets grew from approximately $238 million to nearly $787 million during the same period. The SPLC is a longtime nonprofit organization that says it combats white supremacy and extremism through research, reporting and monitoring efforts intended to assist law enforcement and the public. During a news conference announcing the original indictment, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche alleged the SPLC paid members of extremist groups so it could generate “work product” documenting their activities. “To that end, [SPLC] was doing the exact opposite of what it told its donors it was doing – not dismantling extremism but funding it,” Blanche said. Fox News Digital’s Alexandra Koch, David Spunt, Jake Gibson and Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.
Missing GOP congressman reveals he’s ‘more energized than ever’ to return to Washington
Rep. Tom Kean Jr., R-N.J., said Tuesday he is “more energized than ever” and plans to return to in-person work “within a matter of weeks,” issuing a new statement after months away from Capitol Hill because of an undisclosed medical issue. Kean, who represents New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, has been absent from Congress for months while dealing with undisclosed health issues keeping him away from Washington and the campaign trail. Kean said in April that he was addressing a “personal medical issue,” but he has not publicly disclosed the nature of the issue. “Serving the people of this district is the honor of my life. Every day, I wake up determined to build on the results I have delivered for New Jersey families such as lowering costs, restoring the SALT deduction, funding our law enforcement, helping veterans, standing with Israel, strengthening our economy, and making government work better,” Kean said in a statement Tuesday, amid growing scrutiny over his absence. REP. TOM KEAN JR. SAYS HE EXPECTS TO RETURN TO CONGRESS ‘IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS’ AFTER MISSING 100 VOTES Kean has not cast a vote since March 5, according to The New York Times. House voting records also listed Kean as “Not Voting” on a May 21 roll call vote. “I am optimistic about the road ahead, and ready to earn the support of voters in every corner of the district,” Kean continued. “I am more energized then ever to keep fighting for the people of New Jersey’s 7th District. Right now I am focused on my recovery and under the advice of healthcare professionals I will transition from virtual work to in person work within a matter of weeks. At that time I will be completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition.” Kean added that he “understand[s] the need for transparency on this matter” and looks forward to sharing his experience with the public. DEMOCRAT TINA SHAH CALLS TRANSGENDER HEALTHCARE FOR CHILDREN A ‘NO-BRAINER’ IN COMPETITIVE NJ HOUSE RACE Ahead of Kean’s Tuesday primary election, during which he ran unopposed, President Donald Trump endorsed the New Jersey Republican. Trump praised Kean in a Truth Social post Monday night, describing him as a strong supporter of the president’s “America First Agenda,” adding the New Jersey Republican is “working tirelessly” on border security, crime, the economy, taxes, energy, veterans and Second Amendment issues. “Tom Kean has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election,” Trump concluded, telling people to get out and vote. Trump’s support remains one of the most powerful forces in Republican primaries, with candidates across several states openly competing for his backing ahead of key contests. His endorsement of Kean signals the White House and GOP leaders are still lining up behind the incumbent as Republicans fight to defend their narrow House majority this fall. Four Democrats — Rebecca Bennett, Michael Roth, Tina Shah and Brian Varela — were competing for the nomination to face Kean in November, but Bennett edged them out Tuesday night during the Democratic primary. The Associated Press described Bennett as a former Navy helicopter pilot, Roth as a former Small Business Administration official, Shah as an intensive care doctor and Varela as a businessman, with each candidate raising seven figures as Democrats target Kean’s battleground seat.
Democrats turn to Paralympian in bid to flip key GOP-held Senate seat
Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek of Iowa on Tuesday captured his party’s Senate nomination in the race to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Joni Ernst. Turek, a Paralympian, defeated state Sen. Zach Wahls in Iowa’s Democratic Senate primary, The Associated Press reported, and will now face off against Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson, who cruised to the GOP nomination. The Republican-controlled Senate seat in Iowa is a top target for Democrats, and the race is one of about a dozen crucial showdowns in this year’s midterm elections that will determine whether Republicans successfully hold onto their slim majority in the chamber. THE MIDTERM RACES THAT COULD TIP THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE SENATE Turek, a moderate Democrat who flipped a GOP-held Iowa House seat in 2022, was backed by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and had the tacit support of longtime Democratic Senate Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. And VoteVets, an establishment-aligned outside group, has spent big bucks on behalf of Turek. “Josh Turek is a two-time Paralympic gold medalist who has represented his country on the world stage and has built a reputation in the legislature for working across the aisle to get things done for Iowans,” Schumer and Gillibrand said in a statement. “His nomination tonight puts the Iowa Senate seat firmly in play, and in November, Iowans will reject Ashley Hinson’s self-serving politics and send Josh Turek to the U.S. Senate.” But National Republican Senatorial Committee Regional Press Secretary Samantha Cantrell said that “Chuck Schumer spent $10 million dollars to coronate Josh Turek as his rubber stamp for Democrats’ radical tax-and-spend agenda. In November, Iowans will reject him and elect Ashley Hinson to keep fighting for Iowa families, farmers, and workers.” Wahls, a progressive candidate who Republicans likened to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, was endorsed by liberal champion Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. The Democratic primary grabbed plenty of national attention and drew tons of outside money. DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB Hinson, a former TV news anchor who is in her third term representing Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, defeated former state senator and former U.S. Senate candidate Jim Carlin in the GOP Senate primary, The Associated Press reported. Hinson was backed by President Donald Trump; Senate Majority Leader John Thune; the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is the campaign arm of the Senate GOP; and by Ernst as she cruised to her party’s nomination. Hinson, who in 2020 flipped a Democratic-held seat, is seen as a rising star in the party. Iowa was once a top battleground state that former President Barack Obama carried in his 2008 and 2012 White House victories. But the state has shifted to the right in recent election cycles with Trump carrying the state by nine points in 2016, eight points in 2020 and by 13 points in November 2024. Republicans hold both of the state’s Senate seats — Ernst and longtime Sen. Chuck Grassley — and all four of Iowa’s congressional districts, as well as all statewide offices except state auditor. But Democrats are energized heading into the midterms, when the GOP, as the party in power, will face traditional headwinds, a challenging political climate thanks to persistent inflation and sky-high gas prices due to what polls show is an unpopular war with Iran, as well as Trump’s sinking approval ratings. And Iowa Democrats, in particular, are energized after flipping two GOP-held state Senate seats in special elections in 2025. The general election winner will succeed Ernst, a retired Army Reserve and Iowa National Guard officer who served in the Iraq War and was first elected to the Senate in 2014. Ernst grabbed plenty of national attention in that campaign with her “make ’em squeal” ads as she won the high-profile Senate election to succeed retiring longtime Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin. Fox News’ Sally Persons contributed to this report.
Plastic surgeon who testified for 1993 WTC bombing cleric wins NJ Dem primary
A pro-Palestinian plastic surgeon in New Jersey who testified as a witness in a major terrorism case on behalf of a convicted Islamic cleric won election in the New Jersey primary. Adam Hisham Hamawy, a former Army combat medic born in Egypt, won a 12-way Democratic primary contest for a solidly blue House seat, according to The Associated Press. Hamawy was considered to be the frontrunner to succeed retiring Trenton-area Rep. Bonnie Watson-Coleman, D-N.J., and garnered support from the Democratic Party’s far-left flank. He attempted to weather mounting scrutiny for his ties as a young adult to Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, who was convicted of inciting the 1993 World Trade Center bombing that killed six people and injured thousands. The infamous “Blind Sheikh” was also an influential figure among al Qaeda terrorists. MEET ANALILIA MEJIA, THE SANDERS-AOC BACKED PROGRESSIVE WHO JUST WON ELECTION TO CONGRESS Hamawy testified as a witness for the defense and has faced lingering questions for his role in the convicted sheikh’s 1996 trial. Fox News contributor Andrew McCarthy, the chief prosecutor in Abdel Rahman’s criminal trial, said Hamawy’s testimony ultimately helped the government’s case despite it being offered to undermine the prosecution’s case. “As was uniformly the case with witnesses presented in the extensive defense case, his testimony, once cross-examination was over, did more to bolster the prosecution’s proof of a jihadist terrorism conspiracy against the United States than to help the accused,” McCarthy said in a statement to Fox News Digital. His campaign told Fox News Digital that a past affiliation with Abdel Rahman, who was also convicted of conspiring to assassinate Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, amounts to “guilt-by-association” shaming. He has denied any wrongdoing and was never criminally charged. The political newcomer also faced questions over his ties to a now-shuttered al Qaeda-linked front group in Eastern Europe, which he briefly volunteered for in 1994, Jewish Insider first reported. Hamawy was endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.; and controversial Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, among other leading progressives. American Priorities, a nascent pro-Palestinian super PAC, also poured money into the race to put him over the top. EX-COUNTERTERRORISM CHIEF WARNS OF ‘MAJOR PROBLEM’ THAT COULD FORCE US ‘BACK INTO THE WAR ON IRAN’S TERMS’ The district, spanning liberal Mercer County up through Somerville to the Plainfields, is considered a safe Democratic seat in a blue-trending state that has moved away from the relatively close margins President Donald Trump received in his 2024 race. With a crowded field, few have coalesced around an alternative to Hamawy, while one opponent — Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp — did call out the surgeon as a “radical extremist.” Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., told Jewish Insider he had “deep concerns” about Hamawy’s “associations with terrorist organizations and leaders who have attacked America.” Activist Sue Altman, who lost to adjacent-district Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in 2024, is another of the dozen running against Hamawy. She recently won support from influential figures among the party’s establishment, including former Gov. Jon S. Corzine, ex-Sen. Robert “The Torch” Torricelli and ex-Sen. Bill Bradley. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., notably credited Hamawy with saving her life on an overseas deployment to the Middle East in 2004, and he, in turn, credited her with helping secure his evacuation in 2024 after his medical mission was reportedly trapped by a closed border crossing near Khan Younis, Gaza. During that humanitarian trip, Hamawy said he had “never … witnessed the level of atrocities and targeting of my medical colleagues,” in an apparent reference to the Israeli government.