Chicago suburb slammed for rehiring police officer arrested by ICE: ‘Crazy as hell’
A Chicago suburb’s police department is under fire after it announced a Montenegran immigrant serving on the force that had been arrested by ICE for a visa-overstay will continue on the job. Officials in Hanover Park, Illinois – which straddles DuPage and Cook Counties — defended Officer Radule Bojovic, saying in a statement to CBS News he had been hired in “full compliance” with the law, and had proper federal work authorization. DHS was nonplussed, with Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin commenting, “What kind of police department gives criminal illegal aliens badges and guns? It’s a felony for aliens to even possess a firearm.” “A so-called law enforcement officer is actively breaking the law,” McLaughlin said, with her agency releasing further statements claiming Bojovic’s employment had an estimated cost to taxpayers of $205,707. BORDER PATROL CHIEF FIRES BACK AFTER CHICAGO MAYOR CALLS HIM ‘BARBARIC’ OVER TEAR GAS CLASH The agency said Bojovic was “encountered” during Operation Midway Blitz, the Chicago ICE and Border Patrol enforcement action led by Commander Gregory Bovino. Bojovic’s tourist visa reportedly expired in 2015, leading McLaughlin to wonder in a statement how he could be hired after 10 years living in the U.S. illegally. Hanover Park officials told CBS News that Bojovic was hired through the proper checks and channels and he also provided a valid work authorization card that had recently been renewed. ICE ARRESTS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ACCUSED OF DECAPITATING ILLINOIS WOMAN AFTER JUDGE SET HIM FREE Bojovic’s first day back on full duty was Tuesday, according to police statements, as officials said the man’s $2,500 bond from his DHS case was not contested. That did not quell other conservatives, including commentator Chaya Raichik, better known as “LibsOfTikTok.” “Crazy as hell,” Raichik wrote on X. “Why is an illegal alien working as a cop and getting paid by our tax dollars.” Raichik also criticized a report that Bojovic will receive back pay for the time he has been off duty. Bojovic has no criminal history in Illinois State Police and federal databases, according to Chicago’s FOX affiliate. A town in Maine is also under scrutiny after ICE claimed an illegal immigrant from Jamaica was serving as a reserve police officer in a “sanctuary jurisdiction” when he was reportedly arrested for unlawfully attempting to purchase a firearm. Fox News Digital reached out to Hanover Park Police administration as well as a deputy chief listed on a press release about the matter, for further comment.
House Republicans back Trump’s Venezuela moves for now as escalation uncertainty looms
House Republicans say they’re behind President Donald Trump and his administration’s pressure campaign on Venezuela so far, but the uncertainty over what happens next is spurring both questions and concerns among some in the GOP. Several Republican members of the House Armed Services Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee told Fox News Digital that the Trump administration has been well within its rights to act against Nicolás Maduro’s regime. But they’re eager for more information after several strikes against alleged Venezuelan drug boats and Trump’s own heightened rhetoric targeting the country’s dictatorial president. “I support the actions that are being taken,” Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., told Fox News Digital. “I absolutely support stopping the flow of drugs in this country. I’m interested in seeing what the longer-term plans are, and that’s what I want to see.” It comes amid significant speculation and debate over a pair of Sept. 2 strikes against an alleged drug boat from Venezuela. LAWMAKERS SKEPTICAL OF ALLEGED HEGSETH KILL ORDERS IN VENEZUELA — BUT ISSUE STARK WARNING The White House confirmed that the U.S. carried out two attacks — one initial hit on the boat and a follow-up strike that killed two remaining survivors. Democrats have accused the GOP administration of committing a possible war crime. Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who said the second strike was carried out on orders from U.S. Navy Admiral Frank M. Bradley, have emphatically defended the decision. “Obviously, if you’re not there, it’s kind of hard to second-guess those decisions,” Rep. Mark Messmer, R-Ind., said in pushing back on the criticism. “I think the use of our armed forces … to help deal with the flood of human trafficking and drug trafficking that’s coming out of Venezuela, we need to do all we can to help stop.” TOP DEMOCRAT BACKS US INTEL ON NARCO-TRAFFICKING STRIKES, FAULTS BIDEN FOR ‘NOT GOING FAR ENOUGH’ ON MADURO He said, however, that Trump would have to seek congressional approval before any escalation of force against Venezuela — something GOP lawmakers were torn over. “Certain things are obviously within the executive authorities, but also I think there’s things under Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 through 13 that are war powers of Congress,” said Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla. “There are certain things that he does have the ability to do. But we don’t know what the president’s plan is at this point, and he’s not forecasting it so others know. So I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves slightly … when we don’t know what the actual plan is.” Rep. Earl Baumgartner, R-Colo., said Trump had past precedent on his side in treating certain further actions against Venezuela as law enforcement actions rather than acts of war. “I think it’s within the bounds of protecting American national security under the guidance of the president. And, again, the briefings I’ve received, I think they’re on the right track in the process,” he said. WASHINGTON’S SHADOW WAR: HOW STRIKES ON CARTELS THREATEN TO COLLAPSE MADURO’S REGIME Rep. Derek Schmidt, R-Kan., said he was looking forward to getting more information on the situation but did not say directly whether Trump needed to seek Congress’ green light to escalate use of force against Maduro. “I think we have to give the president plenty of room to conduct diplomacy on behalf of the country. Not everything that ends up in print is necessarily intended for domestic consumption when you’re dealing with foreign relations,” he said. “Setting aside the legal debates, I think it would be wise to be sure that the American people are supportive of, you know, any substantial escalation before undertaking it.” Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., said Trump would need to seek congressional approval if he “goes to war” but argued “it currently is not a war.” “I mean, they declared war on us when they dumped that junk onto our streets. So the drug dealers, I say, send them all to hell. I’m tired of seeing families that I know lose loved ones to drug abuse,” he said. And Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., also signaled he would stick by whatever Trump decided on Venezuela. “It’s already designated a foreign terrorist organization. [Maduro is] the head of a foreign terrorist organization. He’s the illegitimate president or leader of Venezuela,” he said. “That organization has killed tens of thousands of Americans. And so I will support the actions that the president is taking in order to get Maduro to leave and install a legitimate government and bring freedom to the people of Venezuela.”
Foreign-backed influence in schools to be exposed under GOP ‘TRACE Act’ giving parents access to curriculum
EXCLUSIVE: Congressional Republicans renewed their efforts Wednesday to give parents a window into whether their child’s education is being influenced by the Chinese Communist Party or other malign actors. Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Fla., chair of the House DOGE Caucus, and Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Pa., will put forward their TRACE Act on Wednesday morning, which seeks to “TRACE” foreign funding and influence – or provide “Transparency in Reporting of Adversarial Contributions in Education.” The bill would require that, as a condition of federal funding, schools must provide parents with the right to review any curriculum provided by or purchased with funds of a foreign country. It also mandates parents have the right to know or be informed of any contract or financial transaction a school or district has with any foreign country. NEW REPORT SOUNDS ALARM ON ‘STAGGERING’ AMOUNT OF FOREIGN MONEY POURING INTO US UNIVERSITIES Schools would be required to provide free copies roughly once a month and no later than 30 days after a parent submits a written request for any student curricular materials or teacher professional-development materials. The bill would also shine a light on foreign countries’ donations to schools across the country, particularly those contributions from formally designated “foreign entities of concern.” “American schools are for education, not espionage,” Bean told Fox News Digital. FBI DIRECTOR PATEL LEADS CHARGE TO ROOT OUT CHINESE INFLUENCE ON US SOIL “Yet this is what happens when our institutions of learning accept the Trojan horse of foreign funding. The TRACE Act puts parents back in charge, exposes foreign influence for what it is, and slams the door on hostile nations trying to reach America’s youth.” Bean said the House seeks to protect parental rights, secure classrooms from foreign influence and “keep American schools rooted in freedom.” “Our future is on the line, and we’re going to get this done.” ARREST OF CHINESE NATIONALS IN SWING STATE, ISRAEL’S FIGHT WITH IRAN ARE ‘WAKE UP’ CALL ON CCP THREAT: EXPERTS Mackenzie added that parents have a right to know what is being taught to their kids – “especially when overseas adversaries like China may be involved.” “Our children and our democracy depend on keeping foreign propaganda campaigns out of American classrooms, and parents are the first line of defense,” Mackenzie told Fox News Digital. He echoed Bean in that the TRACE Act will strengthen parental rights and harden classrooms against outside academic intercession. Two other House lawmakers: Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., and Erin Houchin, R-Ind., have also signed on to the bill. The issue has come to the fore in recent years, as education officials in states such as Oklahoma warn against Chinese Communist Party-linked Confucius Classrooms and other foreign-funded or globally-based initiatives. BYRON DONALDS LEADS BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO PUNISH FEDERAL WORKERS FOR FAILURE TO REPORT FOREIGN GIFTS Oklahoma’s top elected education official had called for congressional action in 2023 to blunt foreign influence in schools – and further pledged to be on the front lines of pushing back against untoward interference in children’s education. State Superintendent of Education Ryan Walters previously told Fox News Digital he believes foreign influence over education is a national security risk – especially when it comes without the knowledge of children or their parents. He challenged his state’s largest school district, alleging funding for Confucius Classrooms had been “hidden” from parents and that it was “actually the Chinese Communist Party that was funding a nonprofit that was working directly in the school.” In a statement to Fox News at the time on the matter, Tulsa Public Schools said the district “has no Confucius Classroom programs in its schools” in response to allegations it partnered with a China-linked entity. A similar bill was launched in 2024, but languished in the House. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, also previously authored a Senate version of the prior legislation, but it died in committee, according to the Congressional Record.
Trump administration strikes deal with Ohio to clean up state voter rolls using federal database
Ohio elections officials reached a data sharing agreement with President Donald Trump‘s administration that will help clean up and maintain the state’s voter rolls. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced the new agreement on Monday, saying it guarantees Ohio access to enhanced federal records for at least 20 years. The deal refers to the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database, which previously had limited and costly availability to state election officials. LaRose says Monday’s agreement with the Department of Homeland Security guarantees Ohio the capability to obtain verifiable data supporting each citizen verification as well as the ability to perform bulk verification requests. “Ohio has a duty to ensure that only U.S. citizens are registered to vote, and this agreement gives us the tools to do that job right,” LaRose said. “I appreciate the Trump administration for working with us to deliver long-term access to the federal data needed to protect election integrity.” TEXAS FINDS THOUSANDS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS REGISTERED TO VOTE ON STATE VOTER ROLLS The agreement concludes a lawsuit LaRose filed against the DHS under former President Joe Biden. The previous administration had withheld access to SAVE data and also charged states for access on a per-query basis. LaRose’s office has already removed tens of thousands of wrongful voter registrations in Ohio since before the 2024 election. He referred over 1,000 noncitizens to the DOJ for potential prosecution in October after determining that they “appear to have registered to vote unlawfully in Ohio.” OHIO LAWMAKER PUSHES BILL TO DEFUND SANCTUARY CITIES, BOOST ICE COOPERATION His office said that of the 1,084 cases, 167 of the individuals appeared to have cast a ballot in a federal election since 2018. LAWMAKER REVEALS HOW DES MOINES SCHOOLS CHIEF REGISTERED TO VOTE DESPITE ILLEGAL STATUS The cases included 99 individuals who appear to have voted in two states in the same federal election; 16 people who appear to have voted twice in Ohio in the same federal election; 14 who appear to have voted in a federal election after the date of their death; four who appear to have engaged in ballot harvesting and two who registered at an unlawful residence. LaRose’s office also removed over 155,000 voter registrations that were confirmed to be abandoned and inactive for at least four consecutive years.
Trump admin’s energy agenda hailed for crucial ‘wins’ as green activists lash out
FIRST ON FOX: A coalition of conservative groups representing the energy industry is hailing a list of ten regulatory and fiscal “wins” under the Trump administration’s new Energy Secretary, Chris Wright, which they say have “restored America’s path toward true energy dominance.” “Secretary Chris Wright has delivered the boldest course correction in modern energy policy, and the results speak for themselves. He has led the largest deregulatory initiative in Department of Energy history, cut billions in wasteful green subsidies, and restored a clear path to American energy dominance,” Jason Isaac, CEO of one of the groups that signed on to the published list of Trump administration energy sector wins, wrote. “He halted dozens of harmful appliance rules, streamlined NEPA, canceled politically driven wind, solar, and carbon-capture spending, reignited U.S. LNG and nuclear development, and used emergency authority to keep critical coal capacity online, so the grid stays stable when it matters most,” he continued. “This is what it looks like when Washington finally puts consumers, reliability, and American workers first.” TRUMP ADMIN ANNOUNCES BIG STEP TOWARD ‘ENERGY DOMINANCE’ WITH MASSIVE ALASKA LNG PROJECT ALLIANCE Groups from the letter include the Heartland Institute, the Energy and Environmental Legal Institute, Truth In Energy and Climate, the American Energy Institute, and others. Several of the “wins” they touted focused on deregulation, such as the rescission or blocking of 47 specific regulations and standards for a variety of consumer appliances, reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) aimed at reducing permitting delays for energy infrastructure, the cancellation of “billions of dollars” in funding for wind and solar projects, the fast-tracking of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects that the coalition says were “stymied” under the Biden administration, and an initiative to critically review the impact of greenhouse gasses on the U.S. climate, among a list of other reforms. However, environmental groups who spoke to Fox News Digital about the conservative coalition’s victory lap, argued the recent reforms actually serve to help big businesses and not the average person. They noted that the viewpoint that President Donald Trump’s environmental agenda is making the country stronger is also a facade. “These policies might be good for Trump and Wright’s rich corporate buddies, but they are downright evil for working people,” Tim Donaghy, Greenpeace USA’s research director, told Fox News Digital. “The decisions made in the last nine months are literally sucking money out of Americans’ wallets and putting it into oil industry bank accounts, while pretending they’re making the country stronger.” Donaghy said that President Trump’s plan to increase energy exports, for example, “will increase” costs for American families and exacerbate climate change, which he argued was another driver of increased housing insurance costs for families. CCP-LINKED FIRMS QUIETLY HOLD STAKES IN US SOLAR COMPANIES FUELING DEM’S GREEN PUSH “The sad thing is that the Trump administration’s policies are creating more pollution that will make Americans sick. Every year 350,000 Americans die younger from being exposed to toxic air pollution from burning fossil fuels. We need that number to go down. These ‘wins’ all but guarantee it will go up,” Donaghy concluded. The “wins” touted by the “American Energy Dominance Coalition” did not exclusively include deregulation efforts in the energy sector, but also featured increased investments in nuclear energy production. The list also praised Sec. Wright for launching a critical review earlier this summer looking into the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions on the U.S. climate, as well as a study focused on identifying pipeline needs and potential permitting reforms that could be used to help speed up oil and gas production. Some of the additional deregulation ‘wins’ listed by the coalition include the termination of $3.7 billion in carbon-capture and decarbonization grants, the cancellation of “hundreds-of-millions” in electric-vehicle and battery manufacturing grants, and a push towards rescinding energy-efficiency standards for federal billions, which the conservative coalition argued could lead to saving millions of dollars in “unnecessary upgrades.” “Chris Wright has done an amazing job of actually prioritizing American energy development and affordability rather than globalist misguided climate agendas,” Heartland Institute President James Taylor said. “American energy policy must continue to bolster affordable and reliable domestic energy sources rather than the agendas of foreign nations that are often hostile to American interests.” Meanwhile, Sal Nuzzo, Executive Director of Consumers Defense, also praised Sec. Wright and his administration’s “most sweeping de-regulatory initiative in U.S. history,” for overturning “burdensome regulations” that Nuzzo says hurt both consumers and businesses. Nuzzo also pointed out that the Trump administration has taken a stand against “politically motivated” environmental, social, governance (ESG) “schemes,” which he said have been inflating energy costs and weakening U.S. independence while also undermining the free market system. But the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Bernadette Del Chiaro, who is EWG’s Senior Vice President for its California-based operations, dismissed that the policy “wins” touted by these conservative groups were actually “wins” for the American people. Instead, Del Chiaro described them as “giveaways” to the fossil fuel industry that will result in greater pollution, higher energy costs, and fewer choices for consumers. “Slashing support for wind and solar cripples U.S. leadership in the rapidly expanding clean-energy economy. These rollbacks kill jobs, strand private investment, and hand global economic advantage to China just as the rest of the world races toward cheaper, cleaner and more competitive energy sources,” Del Chiaro told Fox News Digital. “If the priority is affordability, the Administration is on the wrong track as there’s no cheaper energy resource than solar,” she added. “And if beefing up American energy independence is the goal, once again, we are veering off course because there is nothing more abundant than the sunshine that falls on our country ‘from sea to shining sea,’ or more homegrown than the wind that whips across our Great Plains.”
War Secretary Hegseth highlights US ‘Drone Dominance’ push for mass adoption in modern warfare
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth highlighted U.S. ambitions to acquire massive quantities of drones. Hegseth, who noted that he is focused on “rebuilding” the nation’s military, said in a video message that “Drone Dominance is a billion-dollar program funded by President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill.” “We cannot afford to shoot down cheap drones with $2 million dollar missiles. And we ourselves must be able to field large quantities of capable attack drones,” he said. A DRONE FOR EVERY SOLDIER IN ARMY OF THE FUTURE, DRISCOLL SAYS “Drone dominance will do two things: Drive costs down and capabilities up. We will deliver tens of thousands of small drones to our force in 2026, and hundreds of thousands of them by 2027. I will soon be meeting with the military services to discuss transformational changes in warfighting doctrine. We need to outfit our combat units with unmanned systems at scale,” Hegseth asserted. Business tycoon Elon Musk has repeatedly emphasized the importance of drones in war. ZELENSKYY GIVES STARK WARNING ON FUTURE OF DRONE WARFARE AT UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY “Drones are the future of warfare. Manned aircraft are not,” he declared in a post on X earlier this year. “We better figure out how to build drones at scale fast or we are doomed to be a vassal state…,” he warned in another post. PENTAGON EXPLORING COUNTER-DRONE SYSTEMS TO PREVENT INCURSIONS OVER NATIONAL SECURITY FACILITIES CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In a post last year he wrote, “Future wars are all about drones & hypersonic missiles. Fighter jets piloted by humans will be destroyed very quickly.”
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to special election results for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District
Observations on Republican Matt Van Epps defeating Democratic rival Aftyn Behn in Tuesday’s special election to represent Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District: Flipping seats in special elections for House seats is hard. The party challenging the seat sometimes makes a race of it. That often signals a weakness in the party in power or even the president as you approach the next election. Democrats came close in multiple special elections in 2017, but didn’t win any. There have truly only been four major “flips” in House special elections in the past 18 years. TRUMP-BACKED REPUBLICAN KEEPS CRUCIAL CONGRESSIONAL SEAT IN GOP HANDS WITH SPECIAL ELECTION VICTORY Should Democrats have run a moderate? Behn was progressive. A centrist may have won a district like this based on Abigail Spanberger winning the Virginia gubernatorial race. Van Epps’ win may encourage other Republicans to quit. The House majority will be 220-214, but some Republicans are itching to leave. They may think there’s enough of a cushion, even though Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene departs in January. TRUMP-BACKED REPUBLICAN TOUTS ‘GREAT TURNOUT FOR US’ IN MUST-WIN SPECIAL ELECTION FOR GOP Moderate Republicans may look at this race and insist on the party addressing healthcare, seeing a competitive race as in a district with a plus-20 in favor of the GOP. Moderate Republicans in California, New York and elsewhere should be worried in the midterms considering the Democratic strength in this race. Dems flipped the House in 2018 after coming close in several special elections. The Van Epps win underscores the point that gerrymandering/redistricting works. Tennessee Republicans drew former Democratic Rep. Jim Cooper, and any other Democrat, out of a Nashville area district a few years ago. The GOP trifurcated Nashville and the suburbs, diluting the Democratic vote among several GOP districts, which helped the GOP win Tuesday night.
DOJ sues six states for refusing to turn over voter registration rolls, warns ‘open defiance’ of federal law
The Justice Department filed lawsuits Tuesday against six blue states: Delaware, Maryland, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington, accusing them of violating federal law by refusing to provide statewide voter registration rolls upon request. The complaints, filed by the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, argue the states failed to meet their legal obligations under the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), and the Civil Rights Act of 1960, three federal statutes that require states to maintain accurate voter rolls and make those records available for inspection. Attorney General Pam Bondi said state refusals to disclose the lists undermine the transparency and accountability those laws were designed to guarantee. “Accurate voter rolls are the cornerstone of fair and free elections, and too many states have fallen into a pattern of noncompliance with basic voter roll maintenance,” Bondi said in a statement announcing the lawsuits. “The Department of Justice will continue filing proactive election integrity litigation until states comply with basic election safeguards.” NEWSOM’S FIERY CLAIM DOJ HAS ‘NO BUSINESS’ MONITORING CA ELECTION BLASTED BY TRUMP OFFICIAL: ‘CALM DOWN BRO’ According to the DOJ, the agency formally requested each state’s current, statewide voter registration roll and did not receive the required records. In each lawsuit, the department argues that Congress gave the attorney general clear authority to demand the production, inspection, and analysis of voter registration data to ensure compliance with federal law. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the Civil Rights Division, said the department is escalating enforcement efforts ahead of the 2026 election cycle. “Our federal elections laws ensure every American citizen may vote freely and fairly,” Dhillon said. “States that continue to defy federal voting laws interfere with our mission of ensuring that Americans have accurate voter lists as they go to the polls, that every vote counts equally, and that all voters have confidence in election results. At this Department of Justice, we will not stand for this open defiance of federal civil rights laws.” FIRST TIME VOTING? HERE IS THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BALLOT BOXES, CRITICAL ISSUES ON ELECTION DAY The DOJ says the lawsuits are part of a broader effort to enforce voter-registration transparency requirements that Congress put in place to ensure public confidence in election administration. NVRA requires states to maintain accurate voter lists and produce them upon request; HAVA mandates states modernize and safeguard voter registration systems; and the Civil Rights Act of 1960 authorizes the government to inspect and copy certain election records, including voter rolls. Fox News Digital has reached out to elections officials in all six states for comment. Federal officials have increasingly pressed states on voter roll compliance issues in recent years, arguing that transparency around registration lists is essential to maintaining accurate records, preventing administrative errors and ensuring voters have confidence in election outcomes. The DOJ says the six states named in these new suits have repeatedly failed to meet the department’s requests. The cases will now move forward in federal court, where judges could order the states to turn over the voter lists, impose compliance deadlines, or issue injunctions requiring adherence to federal law. Election law disputes over voter roll access and maintenance have escalated nationwide as states prepare for the 2026 midterms and the DOJ’s latest actions show an aggressive legal posture toward states that fail to meet federal disclosure rules. The department says it will “continue filing proactive election integrity litigation until states comply,” and has left open the possibility of additional lawsuits.
Trump-backed Republican keeps crucial congressional seat in GOP hands with special election victory
Republicans will hold onto a GOP-controlled vacant congressional seat in ruby-red Tennessee after winning a hotly contested special election that grabbed plenty of national attention. Republican nominee Matt Van Epps on Tuesday defeated Democratic rival Aftyn Behn, according to the Associated Press, in the high-stakes race to succeed former GOP Rep. Mark Green, who resigned from office in June to take a private sector job. “This race was bigger than just one campaign,”Van Epps said in a statement after declaring victory. “It represented a defining moment for Tennessee and for the direction of the country.” With the GOP clinging to a razor-thin majority in the House, the special election was seen as a must-win for Republicans. DECISION DAY: TRUMP, SPEAKER JOHNSON, AOC BLITZ CAMPAIGN TRAIL ON EVE OF KEY SHOWDOWN President Donald Trump carried the 7th Congressional District — which is located in central and western Tennessee, stretches from Kentucky to Alabama, and includes parts of Nashville — by 22 points in last year’s presidential election. And Green won the district by over 20 points in his 2022 and 2024 re-elections. But Democrats were energized following their decisive victories in last month’s 2025 elections, and public opinion surveys suggested a close contest between Van Epps and Behn in a showdown that was seen as a key barometer ahead of next year’s midterm elections, when the GOP will be defending its majority. With votes still being counted, Van Epps was on track for an upper single digit victory. WATCH: WHAT AFTYN BEHN TOLD FOX NEWS DIGITAL ON ELECTION EVE Asked by Fox News Digital on Tuesday morning if he needed to win the election by a certain margin, Van Epps said, “a win is a win.” But the military combat veteran and former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services added that “we’re going to press as hard as we can to win by the biggest margin we can, and then we’re going to hold the majority in ’26.” Behn, a state representative and former healthcare community organizer, who’s been dubbed the “AOC of Tennessee” in a comparison to progressive champion Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, said in her concession speech, “Although tonight is not the final result of what we wanted…it is the beginning of something so powerful in Tennessee and across the South.” She delivered a similar message to supporters at a local Democratic Party office in Nashville on Tuesday morning. “Whatever happens, win or lose, you’ve inspired a country. You’ve shown people the South has something to say,” Behn said. “For me, we’ve already won over the hearts and minds of so many Tennesseans and across the country,” Behn told Fox News Digital minutes later when asked if she’s a winner even without an election victory. “What starts here changes this country.” And she added, “I think the electorate is shifting to accept a candidate like me that has a progressive track record.” Behn was laser focused during her campaign on two key issues, affordability and health care. But National Republican Congressional Committee chair Rep. Richard Hudson, in congratulating Van Epps, emphasized that “Tennesseans know they can trust Van Epps to fight for their safety, security, and prosperity. No one is better positioned to take up the mantle and deliver results for Tennessee families, workers, and small business owners.” Trump, whose endorsement of Van Epps helped the candidate win a crowded and competitive primary last month, took to social media to congratulate “Van Epps on his BIG Congressional WIN.” “Another great night for the Republican Party!!!” the president said in his social media post. And Van Epps, in his victory speech, said “Our victory was powered by a movement of Tennesseans that are ready for change. We are grateful to the President for his unwavering support that charted this movement and catapulted us to victory. President Trump was all-in with us. That made the difference. In Congress, I’ll be all-in with him.” But Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said in a statement, “What happened tonight in Tennessee makes it clear: Democrats are on offense and Republicans are on the ropes.” “Aftyn Behn’s overperformance in this Trump +22 district is historic and a flashing warning sign for Republicans heading into the midterms,” Martin argued. “The fact that Republicans spent millions to protect this Trump +22 district and still lost so much ground should have the GOP shaking in their boots. Democrats are all gas and no brakes as we head into next year, organizing everywhere and competing in elections across the country. “ And House Majority PAC, the top super PAC supporting congressional Democrats, claimed, “Tonight’s results make it clear: No House Republican’s re-election should be considered safe next November.” DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, GO ALL IN ON FINAL 2025 CONGRESSIONAL BALLOT BOX SHOWDOWN With so much on the line, outside groups aligned with both parties shelled out millions of dollars to run ads in the race. And the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the rival Republican National Committee (RNC) each poured resources into the showdown, which included dispatching staffers onto the campaign trail. House Speaker Mike Johnson spent the entire day on Election Eve with Van Epps, joining the GOP nominee at a slew of rallies and stops across the district. He was joined by RNC chair Joe Gruters. “We’re going to win this seat, but we cannot take anything for granted,” Johnson said in an interview with Fox News Digital. “Special elections are strange because a lot of people take for granted in a deep red district like this that the Republican is just going to win automatically. Nothing’s automatic. So we’re here to help turn out the vote and make sure we get this great candidate right over that line,” Johnson said. Aiming to motivate low-propensity Trump supporters, who often don’t vote when the president’s not on the ballot, Johnson emphasized that “we need everybody to turn out.” Before introducing Van Epps at Monday’s first rally, Johnson called Trump on his cell phone, and the president spoke
Young progressive beats out establishment candidate in Jersey City mayoral race, echoing Mamdani
One month after former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was defeated in New York City’s mayoral election by democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, another disgraced former governor seeking political redemption by running for mayor was also defeated by a younger, progressive contender. Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey, who was running for mayor of Jersey City, the state’s second-largest city, came up short on Tuesday in a runoff election. The 68-year-old McGreevey was defeated by 41-year-old Councilman James Solomon, according to the Associated Press. The two candidates, both Democrats, were the top two vote-getters among seven contenders in last month’s nonpartisan general election in the left-leaning city. But since no candidate won a majority of the vote, McGreevey and Solomon faced off in the runoff election. HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS DEVELOPMENTS ON THE 2025 ELECTIONS Solomon will succeed Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, whose 2025 bid for Garden State governor ended with defeat in June’s Democratic gubernatorial primary. The mayor-elect was first elected to the council in 2017 after stints as an adjunct professor in Jersey City. He previously worked in the offices of longtime Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and then-Newark Mayor Cory Booker, now a U.S. senator. MCGREEVEY, SOLOMAN, ADVANCE TO RUNOFF ELECTION A one-time state lawmaker, McGreevey was elected governor in 2001. But he resigned in 2004 and came out as gay after saying he took part in an extramarital affair with a male staffer who he had named as New Jersey’s homeland security adviser. The adviser denied he had an affair with the governor and claimed he had been sexually harassed. McGreevey, pointing to his work as executive director of a nonprofit that provides services to those adjusting to society after serving in prison, addiction treatment or combat duty, now describes himself as a “champion of second chances.” McGreevey’s unsuccessful attempt at a political second chance follows Cuomo’s failed bid. Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 amid multiple scandals, ran this year for New York City mayor. But he lost June’s Democratic primary to Mamdani. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The former governor, running as an independent in last month’s general election, lost to Mamdani a second time.