Nation’s largest teachers union under fire as controversial agenda puts century-old federal charter at risk
EXCLUSIVE — The head of an influential Senate committee is urging Congress to reconsider the charter of the nation’s largest teachers union, citing its far-left associations and allegedly irresponsible financial activity. In recent years, the National Education Association, which represents roughly 3 million educators, has come under fire for mobilizing students and teachers to support liberal activist campaigns, been criticized by its Jewish members for failing to address antisemitism, spent millions in membership dues supporting left-wing causes and partnered with organizations that portray political violence and far-left extremism favorably. Now, Sen. Bill Cassidy, the Republican chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, is calling on his colleagues to take a closer look at the NEA’s congressional charter. BLISTERING REPORT EXPOSES HOW NATIONAL K-12 GROUP’S DEI AGENDA IS TRICKLING DOWN TO LOCAL SCHOOLS “Children are struggling to read and to do basic math. Instead of helping students succeed, teachers’ unions are injecting a dangerous, anti-American agenda into our classrooms,” Cassidy told Fox News Digital. “Parents deserve to send their children to school without worrying that they will be indoctrinated with DEI and taught that Americans have ‘misplaced faith’ in our institutions.” Cassidy, in a report outlining the NEA’s activity obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital, puts a spotlight on the Zinn Education Project and Rethinking Schools — a pair of interlinked educational nonprofits that the top teachers union has collaborated with extensively. EXCLUSIVE: SPLC’S ‘FAR-LEFT’ ‘ANTI-RACISM’ CURRICULUM FOUND IN CLASSROOMS AS EARLY AS KINDERGARTEN: WATCHDOG The Zinn Education Project and Rethinking Schools, for instance, have published curricular materials that justify the actions of the Black Panther Party — a left-wing militant Black nationalist organization that operated during the Cold War — and praise its members, including those who were involved in acts of political violence, according to the report. “The Marxist and communist ideologies espoused by the Black Panther Party are inconsistent and incompatible with the foundation of the United States Constitution,” Cassidy’s report, published by the HELP committee, reads. “The Black Panthers advocated for the use of armed force against police and were involved in the murders of civil servants and members of their own party.” SCOPE OF SPLC’S DEEPLY EMBEDDED INFLUENCE TRAINING TEACHERS NATIONWIDE UNCOVERED IN SWEEPING REPORT Rethinking Schools also published a lesson plan where students are meant to role-play as “queer liberation” activists fighting against the “Religious Right,” according to the report. Another lesson plan, titled “Expanding Intersectional Queer History in the Elementary Grades,” instructs teachers on how to incorporate LGBTQ material into lessons for young students. The union has worked closely with the duo of nonprofits over the years, giving them prominent space and speaking opportunities at conferences, collaborating with them on curriculum development and nationwide teaching events, and praising and promoting their lessons. The union has also incorporated the groups’ work into educator handbooks and helped distribute their lesson plans to teachers. HOUSE GOP LAUNCHES PROBE INTO 5 MAJOR LABOR UNIONS OVER DEM SPENDING DESPITE MAGA MEMBERSHIP BASE Congress chartered the NEA in 1906 under the expectation that it would “elevate the character and advance the interests of the profession of teaching; and to promote the cause of education in the United States,” a mission Cassidy and some other Republicans argue it has since strayed from. Revoking the NEA’s charter would primarily be a reputational blow to the union, as it would still be able to operate even without it. As another example of the NEA allegedly failing to live up to its charter, the HELP committee points to its involvement in the left-wing protest movements. MAY DAY PROTESTS ‘JUST THE BEGINNING’ OF STUDENT ACTIVISM PUSH, EXPERT WARNS The labor union promoted and participated in the 2026 May Day protests, which were critical of President Donald Trump and his Republican allies. In one planning webinar the NEA hosted in the lead-up to the demonstrations, educators were advised to “bring activism into the classroom,” targeting children as young as three years old. Students in Chicago were reportedly encouraged by teachers to skip class for the protests, even as Chicago Public Schools see subpar reading and math competency scores. On the financial side of things, Cassidy points to data showing that, since 2015, the NEA has contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to advocacy organizations and political action committees, the vast majority of which are left-of-center. In some cases, political organizations funded by the NEA later provided members of the union’s leadership team with cushy jobs, according to the report. FAR-LEFT ACTIVIST CONFERENCE AT TEACHERS UNION HQ RAISES CLASSROOM CONCERNS “The central issue is not whether every such expenditure is impermissible. Rather, it is whether members receive sufficient transparency about how their dues are used, whether union leadership has adopted adequate safeguards against conflicts of interest and whether these expenditures advance the purposes for which members joined the union in the first place,” the Senate committee report reads. Organizations funded by the NEA include the Sixteen Thirty Fund and the Tides Foundation, two of the largest Democratic-aligned dark money operations in the country, as well as millions to its own PAC, which almost exclusively supports Democratic candidates. JEWISH EDUCATORS FACE RAMPANT ANTISEMITISM IN TEACHERS UNIONS, NEW REPORT FINDS The HELP committee report also alleges that the NEA has failed to represent the interests of Jewish educators, citing an August 2025 letter where the union’s Jewish Affairs Caucus claimed its members reported “shunning, harassment and antisemitic comments” at the union’s annual assembly. While not congressionally chartered like the NEA, the American Federation of Teachers drew flak from Cassidy’s report for many of the same reasons. The report cites the AFT’s participation in “No Kings” protests against President Donald Trump, its boycott of Target over immigration enforcement and its advocacy on LGBTQ+ issues, as well as its routing of tens of millions of dollars to liberal causes, as evidence of alleged mission drift at the union. The NEA, AFT, Rethinking Schools and the Zinn Education Project did not respond to requests for comment when
DeSantis endorses Florida GOP slate including Byron Donalds in governor’s race
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis endorsed a “slate” of Republicans statewide Tuesday, including GOP gubernatorial nominee U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds. “I’m endorsing the slate here tonight … because I know it’s important for the state of Florida,” DeSantis said at the Florida GOP Leadership Forum in Tampa. The event showcased Donalds, Attorney General James Uthmeier, Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson. Last year, DeSantis appointed Ingoglia as CFO and Uthmeier as attorney general. Later in 2025, the governor endorsed Ingoglia for election to the CFO post. He then backed Simpson for re-election this year. TRUMP’S HANDPICKED DESANTIS SUCCESSOR WINS CROWDED GOP PRIMARY FOR FLORIDA GOVERNOR “Tonight I was honored to earn Governor @RonDeSantis’s endorsement,” Donalds wrote in a post on X. “Governor DeSantis has done incredible work to make Florida the envy of America. As your next Governor, I will build on his success and defend the Florida Dream,” he said. FORMER FLORIDA GOVERNOR HOPEFUL HAULED OUT OF COUNTY MEETING AFTER PROTESTING ISRAEL INVESTMENTS Donalds, who won the Florida GOP gubernatorial primary in August with the backing of President Donald Trump, will face Democratic gubernatorial candidate former U.S. Rep. David Jolly in the general election. While he is currently running for governor as a Democrat, Jolly previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican. BYRON DONALDS SHUTS DOWN BILL MAHER’S CLAIM ON GOP PRIMARY RACISM, SAYS ‘FLORIDA IS A MERITOCRACY’ Under the Florida Constitution, DeSantis, who is serving his second consecutive term, is not eligible to seek another consecutive term as governor this year. “No person who has, or but for resignation would have, served as governor or acting governor for more than six years in two consecutive terms shall be elected governor for the succeeding term,” the Florida Constitution states.
Texas Dem candidate to hold high-dollar Hollywood fundraiser while GOP gathers in Dallas: ‘Fake cowboy’
Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico is set to travel to Los Angeles in September for a high-dollar fundraiser with Hollywood celebrities, according to a report. Politico reported that “Lost” co-creator Damon Lindelof and his wife, Heidi, will host a fundraiser for Talarico in Brentwood on Sept. 10. Tickets for the event start at $500 and go as high as $13,500, according to the outlet. This will be Talarico’s second Hollywood fundraiser in a few months. The first was held in June and was described by Page Six Hollywood as a “glitzy Dem fundraiser” at the home of Hollywood producer Peter Chernin. Fox News Digital reached out to the Lindelofs and Chernin for comment. Meanwhile, Talarico’s opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, will gather in Dallas for the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention, along with President Donald Trump and other Republicans. The same night Republicans rally in Dallas, former President Barack Obama will headline a Democratic House fundraiser in New York, according to The New York Times. The events put prominent Democrats on the coasts while Republicans gather in Texas. Fox News Digital previously reported that donors from outside Texas accounted for roughly 50% of the funds raised by Talarico, according to first-quarter campaign finance records. TALARICO SAYS THE DIVIDE IS ‘TOP VS. BOTTOM’ — THEN HEADS TO ONE OF AMERICA’S RICHEST DONOR ENCLAVES Talarico is taking heat from Republicans for his out-of-state fundraising. RNC spokesperson Zach Kraft told Fox News Digital that “it is no surprise that James Talarico feels more comfortable in crazy liberal California than when his handlers force him to wear a fake cowboy hat and rent a pickup truck to pretend to be a ‘real’ Texan.” Fox News Digital reached out to Talarico’s campaign for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication. Talarico currently serves as a progressive Democratic lawmaker in the Texas House of Representatives. Since winning the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, Republicans have continually knocked him for his record of controversial statements, including calling God “nonbinary,” saying that there are six sexes and saying that reducing meat consumption was “existential” to fight climate change. JAMES TALARICO DOESN’T DRIVE HIS OWN TRUCK IN VIRAL TEXAS CAMPAIGN AD FEATURING DODGE RAM Despite the attacks, Talarico and Paxton are running a tight race, and many Democrats believe this could be the year Texas finally flips blue. A Fox News poll from July gave Talarico a 3-point edge over Paxton, 51% to 48%, which was within the survey’s margin of sampling error. Paxton, meanwhile, has told Fox News Digital that Talarico’s lead is not surprising given his head start in the general election following his particularly messy primary runoff against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn. Speaking with Fox News on Sunday, Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said that “money is an issue” in the race. FIRST ON FOX: MAJOR CORNYN BACKER GOES ALL-IN FOR PAXTON AS GOP RALLIES AFTER RED STATE SHOCK POLL “Mr. Talarico has been raising bucketloads of money from California, Hollywood,” he said. He called on Trump to help Paxton with cash, saying, “We in the Senate don’t have the money budgeted for Texas; we need help from the president.” SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER For his part, Trump has promised: “I’m going to help Ken Paxton, and I’m going to spend a lot of time in Texas.” Touting his history of winning the state three times on the presidential level, he said, “I’ll be going to Texas, and we’re working really hard. We want to win that race.” Trump called Paxton a “very good candidate,” while taking a jab at Talarico, saying, “‘Talafreako,’ they call him, because he is a little freaky.”
Progressive push hits wall against conservative Democrat in deep-blue district
Rep. Stephen Lynch, who has cultivated a relatively conservative reputation while representing Massachusetts for the past quarter-century, has defeated a well-funded progressive challenger. Patrick Roath, an attorney and one-time aide for former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, challenged Lynch from the left, outraising him by about $300,000. Lynch and Roath clashed over a number of issues on the campaign trail, namely immigration, healthcare, money in politics and housing. Lynch was one of 46 House Democrats to vote in favor of the Laken Riley Act, legislation requiring federal authorities to detain certain migrants accused or convicted of theft and other specified crimes. Roath, who supported dismantling and replacing ICE, cited Lynch’s support for the bill as part of his reason for entering the race. MEET THE FAR-LEFT INSURGENTS WAGING WAR ON THE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT IN 2026 MIDTERMS Roath criticized Lynch’s support of the bill as “shortsighted and expedient” and argued that it “demonstrates a fundamental failure to take seriously the threat that the Trump Administration poses to all Americans.” Lynch acknowledged that the Laken Riley Act was “imperfect,” but defended his vote principally as a response to what he called an immigration system that was “completely out of control.” On healthcare, Roath supported moving toward universal, government-funded coverage and has backed Medicare for All, while Lynch has supported a public option and sharply criticized the role of for-profit companies in the hospital system. Lynch, notably, was one of just a handful of Democrats to vote against the Affordable Care Act. The congressman justified his vote by arguing that it provided too many concessions to insurance companies. AOC SAYS MAHA ADVOCATES’ FIGHT ‘ISN’T PARTISAN’ AS SHE BLASTS HEALTHCARE SYSTEM FOR FUELING ‘A TON OF ANXIETY’ While Roath ran as an outsider populist, Lynch attempted to challenge that posturing by pointing to the progressive’s career as a corporate lawyer. Before becoming a member of Congress in 2001, Lynch was previously an iron worker, union president and lawyer. Both Lynch and Roath managed to pull together an impressive coalition of supporters. The Boston Globe, David Hogg’s Leaders We Deserve, Indivisible, Massachusetts Teachers Association, Boston Teachers Union and American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts all endorsed Roath, while Lynch secured the backing of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, Iron Workers Local 7, Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts and the American Federation of Government Employees. In addition to falling within the context of the power struggle between the Democratic Party’s progressive and moderate wings, the primary in Massachusetts’s 8th Congressional District was also a generational battle. Lynch is 71 and Roath is just 39. ‘EXTREMIST’ AND ‘BARBARIC’: MASSACHUSETTS DEMOCRATS BREAK RANKS OVER NEW ABORTION LAW Despite his voting record, Lynch has said that his reputation as a conservative or a moderate is overstated. “Calling me the least liberal member from Massachusetts is like calling me the slowest Kenyan in the Boston Marathon,” he said in 2010. “It’s all relative.” While Lynch is conservative compared to his colleagues in the Massachusetts delegation, he has shifted to the left in recent years. Once a proud pro-life Democrat, the long-time congressman now defends Planned Parenthood and throws his support behind pro-abortion legislation. Massachusetts’ 8th Congressional District is heavily Democratic. Robert Burke, a retired telecommunications worker and small businessman, is the GOP’s nominee in the constituency.
One of Congress’ most powerful Democrats just survived a progressive primary revolt
The progressive push to unseat a veteran Democratic power broker fell short Tuesday, when Rep. Richard Neal defeated high school teacher Jeromie Whalen in Massachusetts’ 1st Congressional District primary. Neal, 77, has represented western Massachusetts in Congress for nearly four decades and has built considerable influence as the top Democrat on the powerful tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee. His 39-year-old challenger ran on a platform that included Medicare for All, higher taxes on the wealthy, abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and a pledge to reject campaign contributions from corporate PACs. The race tested whether progressive voters were ready to replace a longtime Democratic incumbent, even if it meant giving up the clout Neal’s seniority brings western Massachusetts. 2026 MIDTERMS: PRIMARIES, KEY RACES AND ELECTION RESULTS Whalen sought to cast Neal as a representative of the Democratic establishment unwilling to take on wealthy interests and corporate power, while pitching himself as part of a younger generation pushing the party further to the left. Neal, meanwhile, made his experience and position in Washington central to his case for re-election, arguing that his seniority gives the district influence in Congress that would be difficult for a first-term lawmaker to replicate. The contest also unfolded against a broader debate inside the Democratic Party over its aging leadership and whether longtime incumbents should step aside for a younger generation. Progressive stalwart Sen. Ed Markey, 80, defeated a more moderate challenger 33 years his junior on Tuesday night. MEET THE FAR-LEFT INSURGENTS WAGING WAR ON THE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT IN 2026 Neal’s position on the Ways and Means Committee also gave the race significance beyond western Massachusetts. The panel sits at the center of congressional fights over taxes and other major economic policy. His victory also ultimately preserves the seat of one of the House Democratic caucus’ most senior members while turning back a challenge built around the argument that the party needs generational and ideological change. There is no Republican filed to run against Neal in the general election.
Biden-Harris favorite gets second shot at Congress, beats Squad-backed candidate
A former Biden administration aide just won a crowded primary race in Massachusetts, setting up a glide path to the House of Representatives come November. Dan Koh came out first among six candidates to replace Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., who ended his House tenure with a failed run for Senate against incumbent Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., that came to a conclusion Tuesday night. Koh had the backing of both former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris, which was no surprise after his stint working in the White House. He first joined the administration as chief of staff to then-Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and later became deputy assistant to the president and deputy director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. BIDEN INTERVENES IN DEM CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARY, WARNING ALL ‘WE DID TO HELP ORDINARY PEOPLE IS IN JEOPARDY NOW’ But his successful Tuesday primary is not the first time Koh ran for Congress. He narrowly lost the Democratic nomination in Massachusetts’ nearby 3rd Congressional District to Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Mass., in 2018. Koh is running on progressive campaign promises like abolishing “Trump’s ICE” referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and universal healthcare. He’s now poised to succeed Moulton in the 6th Congressional District, which includes the northeastern portion of Massachusetts and is rated a safe blue seat. HARRIS-BACKED DEMOCRAT SCRUBS BLM-ERA POSTS AS HOUSE CAMPAIGN HEATS UP Moulton, who served in the Marine Corps, has represented the district since 2015. His campaign for Senate has been marked by a bitter primary battle against Markey, an 80-year-old progressive who has been in office since 2013. Moulton, 47, ran his campaign based on generational change and arguing that Markey had long missed his chance to substantively make life better for Massachusetts residents, but that wasn’t enough to stave him off Tuesday. AOC ENDORSES SEN ED MARKEY AS INCUMBENT FACES DEM US SENATE PRIMARY CHALLENGE FROM REP SETH MOULTON Markey is backed by the far left’s marquee names, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Meanwhile, Koh himself is a figure of the establishment left, with both his father and uncle also serving in the federal government. His father, Howard Koh, was an assistant secretary in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under former President Barack Obama. His uncle served under the Obama and Clinton administrations. Koh now moves on to face Republican military veteran Micah Jones, who is running in his primary unopposed.
Top Democrat survives double-barreled challenge as party’s Israel divide hits home
House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark toppled two progressive challengers Tuesday in Massachusetts’ safely Democratic 5th Congressional District, surviving a primary fight that put Gaza and pro-Israel political spending at the center of the race. Clark, who won handily Tuesday night against fellow Democratic Party contenders Jonathan Paz and Tarik Samman, was first elected in 2013 during a special election and has held her position as House Democratic whip since 2022. The second-highest ranking Democrat after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Clark has helped lead opposition to Republican spending, immigration and healthcare measures, including recent messaging against ICE funding and GOP cuts to Head Start and Medicaid. MEET THE FAR-LEFT INSURGENTS WAGING WAR ON THE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT IN 2026 MIDTERMS She ran against former city councilor, educator and union organizer Paz and 27-year-old Harvard Law School researcher and union organizer Samman. Clark fended off two left-wing challengers who sought to make Gaza and pro-Israel political money central issues in the safely blue Boston-area primary. Her fundraising operation dwarfed both challengers, raising $4.5 million, while Paz raised $88,500 and Samman brought in $43,800, according to FEC filings. PELOSI-BACKED DEMOCRAT LOSES AFTER $10M FLOOD OF CRYPTO, PRO-ISRAEL MONEY While AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, endorsed Clark and has contributed to her campaign in the past, she has taken a critical stance toward the Israeli government’s handling of the war in Gaza. AIPAC is an influential pro-Israel lobbying group that has been criticized for advocating for U.S. military aid to Israel amid the war in Gaza. Last year, Clark used the word “genocide” at a district event before clarifying that she was not accusing Israel of genocide. Then, in July, she voted to cut $3.3 billion in U.S. military aid, saying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government had failed to meet U.S. interests and values. Clark has continued to support Israel as a sovereign Jewish state and backed U.S. assistance for some Israeli defensive systems but is critical of Netanyahu. TOP HOUSE DEMOCRAT SAYS ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIVISTS’ THREATS KEPT HIM FROM TOWN HALLS FOR A YEAR Samman and Paz have argued that while Clark has increasingly criticized Israel’s conduct in Gaza, she has yet to renounce the AIPAC money she has accepted. Clark ran unopposed in 2024. Her most recent general election opponent was Republican Caroline Colarusso, whom Clark defeated 74% to 26% in 2022.
House Democrat survives left-flank challenge as Bernie volunteer mounts insurgent bid
Rep. Jake Auchincloss advanced Tuesday against Jason Poulos in Massachusetts’ 4th Congressional District. Auchincloss has held his seat since 2021 and faced his first Democratic primary challenge since winning the seat. Progressive challenger Poulos is an AI policy researcher who has been critical of Auchincloss regarding past support for military aid to Israel and ties to AIPAC while calling for an end to U.S. military assistance to Israel. PROGRESSIVE WAVE CRASHES IN SUN BELT BATTLEGROUND AS MODERATE HOLDS HIS SEAT Poulos, who previously volunteered for Bernie Sanders’ campaign, ran on Medicare-for-all, universal basic income, taxes on corporate automation, stronger unions and student debt cancellation. He also wanted to reduce military spending and end U.S. military aid to Israel. While Auchincloss is endorsed by AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, he has been critical of aspects of Israel’s conduct in Gaza by saying some Israeli actions in 2025 “crossed lines” on humanitarian conditions. AIPAC is an influential pro-Israel lobbying group that has been criticized for advocating for U.S. military aid to Israel amid the war in Gaza. HOUSE DEMOCRATS FRACTURE BADLY OVER MASSIE AMENDMENT TO CUT $3.3B IN U.S. AID TO ISRAEL In July, Auchincloss voted with more than 100 House Democrats to eliminate $3.3 billion in U.S. military financing for Israel, while maintaining his support for the U.S.-Israel alliance. Auchincloss campaigned on lowering housing and healthcare costs, promoting economic growth and positioning Democrats to better confront the economic disruption caused by AI. Auchincloss, who succeeded Joe Kennedy III, comes from a prominent Boston medical family. He had previously been a registered Republican and worked on former Gov. Charlie Baker’s campaign, a line his primary opponents used against him. He later returned to the Democratic Party.
Trump taps ‘true warrior’ Hung Cao as Navy secretary after 4 months as acting leader
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he is nominating acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to permanently lead the service, calling the former Navy special operations officer a “true WARRIOR” and urging the Senate to quickly confirm him. Cao has served as acting secretary for the past four months, overseeing the Navy and Marine Corps as the Trump administration pushes to expand U.S. shipbuilding and strengthen the military’s maritime capabilities. “I am pleased to nominate a true WARRIOR, Hung Cao, to become the next Secretary of the Navy,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We need Patriots like Hung leading our Navy and Marine Corps, and I can think of no one better than him to make sure our Great Navy and Marine Corps remain the FIERCEST and BEST Force the World has ever seen,” the president continued. TRUMP PRAISES OUSTED NAVY SECRETARY PHELAN AMID TENSIONS WITH PENTAGON LEADERSHIP Trump called on the Senate to move quickly on the nomination, pointing to Cao’s tenure already leading the department. SENATE REPUBLICANS CONFIRM NEARLY 50 OF TRUMP’S PICKS FOR ENERGY, LAND MANAGEMENT “The Senate needs to confirm this Warfighter, ASAP, so he can continue the fantastic work he has been doing over the past 4 months,” Trump wrote. Cao thanked Trump shortly after the announcement and said his priorities would continue to include shipbuilding and homeland defense. AS CHINA TENSIONS LOOM, US TEMPORARILY PAUSES TAIWAN WEAPONS SALES DUE TO IRAN WAR, ACTING NAVY SECRETARY SAYS “Thank you, Mr. President. It’s an honor of a lifetime to lead the great warriors of the Navy and Marine Corps team,” Cao wrote on X. “I’m grateful for your leadership and support as we continue to get after shipbuilding and ensure the defense of the homeland.” Cao is a retired Navy captain who served for 25 years in uniform after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy. His military career included service in special operations and deployments to combat zones, including Iraq and Afghanistan. The Virginia Republican later entered politics, mounting an unsuccessful bid for Congress in 2022 before challenging Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine for his Senate seat in 2024. Trump endorsed Cao during the 2024 campaign, touting his military background. Cao ultimately lost to Kaine before joining the Trump administration and taking over the Navy in an acting capacity earlier this year. TRUMP TAPS ACTING LABOR SECRETARY KEITH SONDERLING FOR PERMANENT ROLE PENDING SENATE CONFIRMATION If confirmed by the Senate, Cao would formally assume responsibility for the Department of the Navy, which includes both the Navy and Marine Corps. The White House and the U.S. Navy did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
Self-funded CEO claims GOP nomination to challenge Massachusetts Democrat’s second-term bid
Former medical device executive Mike Minogue won the Massachusetts gubernatorial primary Tuesday, defeating Brian Shortsleeve, a former executive at the MBTA, the state-run transit agency. The winner will now face favored Democratic Gov. Maura Healey, who is running for a second term. Massachusetts has had continuous Democratic representation in Congress since 1996, but Republicans have had considerably more success in races for the governor’s mansion since the Reagan era. Minogue emphasized his business credentials in campaign materials, citing his work at GE Healthcare before leading Danvers-based Abiomed. GOP GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE FIGHTING TO FLIP BLUE STATE UNVEILS HEALTHCARE PLAN TO LOWER COSTS, EXPAND ACCESS Minogue said that, while he was at Abiomed, the company developed the world’s smallest heart pump and doubled the size of its headquarters, increasing its in-state capabilities and creating jobs. Minogue also drew attention on social media when Boston-based Canadian American investor Kevin O’Leary, better known as Shark Tank’s “Mr. Wonderful,” appeared in one of his videos and said he does not usually “show for politicians.” “Massachusetts is ‘dead-money’ now. We need a guy like this to run the show,” O’Leary said in July. TRUMP KEEPS WINNING REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES; HIS LOSSES MAY BE MORE REVEALING According to The Boston Herald, Healey launched a last-minute ad attacking Minogue as “MAGA Mike,” which the newspaper said shows the executive “has Healey’s attention” and may help Shortsleeve. Minogue won the state’s GOP convention endorsement with 70% of the vote, while Shortsleeve earned his ballot position with a fraction of a percentage point more than the required 15%, according to reports. Minogue self-funded roughly $7 million of the more than $7.5 million he raised in the first quarter, hosted a fundraiser with Vice President JD Vance and has donated to Trump and the RNC. Shortsleeve raised about $646,500 in the first quarter of 2026. Healey was formally renominated Tuesday after running unopposed. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, a fellow Democrat, also advances unopposed to the November election. Republicans, however, have no candidates in about half of the state’s congressional districts or in the races for secretary of state and state auditor. A signature problem has forced lieutenant gubernatorial candidate Anne Manning Martin to run a write-in campaign. The district in the Berkshires, the district covering much of the Massachusetts Turnpike corridor, and two exurban Boston-area districts to the north and west have no Republican candidates competing Tuesday, guaranteeing Democratic nominees will advance in those races ahead of November. Massachusetts state government has not always been as reliably Democratic in modern times despite the conditions in this year’s contests. Former Gov. Charlie Baker, a moderate Republican, preceded Healey from 2015 to 2023. Former Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, served as Massachusetts governor from 2003 to 2007 and opted against re-election before launching an unsuccessful presidential bid against President Barack Obama. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER Romney was preceded by several Republican governors. From 1997 through the end of Romney’s tenure, Republicans continuously held the governor’s office. Former libertarian presidential candidate Gov. William Weld, former Gov. Paul Cellucci and former Gov. Jane Swift were consecutive Republican governors. Swift was elevated to the office when Cellucci became then-President George W. Bush’s ambassador to Canada. Weld was preceded by 1988 Democratic presidential nominee Gov. Michael Dukakis, and Democrats more often held the governor’s office in the preceding era.