Candidates clash in heated debates with US midterm elections less than 3 weeks away
The House and Senate majorities hang in the balance as Election Day for the U.S. midterms is less than three weeks away, with the GOP aiming to retain its majorities in both congressional chambers while the Democratic Party seeks to win control. Candidates clashed in debates on Thursday, with a heckler interrupting a U.S. Senate election debate between Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson.
AOC shells out $1M in campaign cash to boost El-Sayed's Senate bid
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is donating $1 million from her campaign to help boost Democratic Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed's election bid.
The congresswoman, who is also known by her initials, AOC, said during a rally in Pontiac on Friday that she “will be transferring from our campaign in New York, $1 million to the state of Michigan to help support you all. So I'm not talkin’ about it. I'm bein’ about it.”
The New York Times reported that the congresswoman transferred $1 million on Friday to the Abdul for Michigan Victory Fund, which it described as a joint venture involving El-Sayed's campaign, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee as well as the Michigan Democratic State Central Committee.
"I’m not waking up on November 4th wishing I did more to combat the smears aimed at Abdul," Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement to the outlet. "I'm leaving everything I can on the field."
Asked after the event on Friday whether this is the first time she's ever transferred that much funding to a candidate, the congresswoman said "Yes," noting that it is "the first time that I've made a transfer of this kind," adding that it is her first transfer of this type "to a Senate candidate as well."
The Ocasio-Cortez and El-Sayed campaigns did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's comment request on Friday.
El-Sayed is running against President Donald Trump-backed Republican candidate former Rep. Mike Rogers.
Trump to rally in Georgia this afternoon amid ongoing midterm campaign blitz
President Donald Trump will rally in Dalton, Georgia this afternoon as he makes stops around the U.S. to help boost Republicans during the midterm election season.
"President Trump is coming to Dalton TODAY! Show the President that Georgia is TRUMP COUNTRY," the Republican National Committee declared in a Friday post on X.
Sen Darline Graham says she's 'honored' Trump will hold midterm election rally in SC next week
President Donald Trump will make a midterm campaign stop in Clemson, South Carolina next week as he continues aiming to boost GOP candidates ahead of Election Day.
"I’m proud to be endorsed by President Donald J. Trump, and I’m honored that he is returning to South Carolina in Clemson next Wednesday to rally support for this crucial election," Sen. Darline Graham noted in a post on X. "I hope you’ll join President Trump and me for this historic event," she added.
Graham, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, was appointed to the Senate by Gov. Henry McMaster on the heels of her brother's death earlier this year. She is seeking a full, six-year term in the Palmetto State's U.S. Senate race.
Trump-endorsed House GOP incumbent Rep. Sheri Biggs, R-S.C., wrote in a post on X, "Join me - and other SC conservatives - next Wednesday as we give President Trump a BIG Upstate welcome as we rally for the Midterms. You won't want to miss it."
Controversy over El-Sayed's family ties to Muslim Brotherhood ignored, downplayed by liberal media
Several legacy news organizations have not covered allegations involving the family of Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.
El-Sayed's denial of having any family ties to the Muslim Brotherhood has drawn questions after several social media posts from his half-sister suggested that members of their family, including their mother, were active in the Islamist group.
ABC and CBS had not mentioned the allegations on their morning or evening news broadcasts as of Thursday, Oct. 15, according to a Fox News Digital review of Grabien transcripts.
Lifelong Dem chooses Rogers over El-Sayed in Michigan Senate race
A self-described lifelong Democrat is backing Republican U.S. Senate candidate former Rep. Mike Rogers in Michigan's widely-watched U.S. Senate contest.
Former Pontiac City Councilwoman Melanie Rutherford told Fox News' "America's Newsroom" on Friday that she has "always voted Democrat," but will be supporting Rogers.
Rutherford previously backed Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., who lost the Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate primary to Abdul El-Sayed earlier this year.
"I couldn't in my right mind vote for this guy," Rutherford said of El-Sayed, adding that the candidate's thinking did not line up with what she believes is "best for the party."
"And we needed someone who has the background, who has the experience, and someone who actually is going to have these conversations, even if they're tough, about how to move the state of Michigan forward," she said in explaining her path to supporting Rogers.
Rutherford noted that as a former Pontiac elected figure, "everybody knows me as this staunch Democrat," but explained that her thinking is more in alignment with Mike Rogers, who she said is "about the whole conglomerate of people and not just a select few. And so that's what made me switch and vote for him."
President Donald Trump has endorsed Rogers while former President Barack Obama has backed El-Sayed.
Former GOP candidate backs Dem in New Hampshire Senate race
Don Bolduc, a former Trump-endorsed GOP candidate who lost the 2022 New Hampshire U.S. Senate contest to Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan, has backed Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas in the Granite State's 2026 Senate race.
“Chris Pappas’s unwavering dedication to our veterans and his efforts to foster bipartisan cooperation set him apart as a leader who will prioritize the needs of all constituents,” Bolduc said, according to the Pappas campaign. “His ability to navigate the complex landscape of our economy, tackle the national debt with a steady hand, and work towards solutions that bridge divides is especially critical in today’s challenging political climate.”
Prior to his 2022 general election loss, Bolduc had placed second in the 2020 New Hampshire GOP U.S. Senate primary.
Pappas is running against Trump-endorsed Republican U.S. Senate candidate, former Sen. John E. Sununu.
The Sununu campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's comment request on Friday.
The Pappas campaign noted in its Thursday press release that it "unveiled its 'Country Before Party' steering committee of Republicans and Independents who are endorsing Pappas’s campaign to lower costs and create a freer, fairer future for New Hampshire," noting that the group includes Bolduc and others.
Bill and Hillary Clinton make eleventh-hour midterm moves as party's old guard faces new reality
The Clintons are back on the midterm campaign circuit — with Bill Clinton heading to Florida to stump for Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly and Hillary Clinton taking to the podcast microphone as the party makes its final push toward Election Day.
The former president is scheduled to make his first public campaign appearance of the 2026 election cycle on Oct. 20 for Jolly, a former Republican congressman turned Democrat. Hillary, meanwhile, has teamed up with journalist Kara Swisher for a new midterm-focused podcast series and has been making campaign appearances of her own.
The moves bring two of the Democratic Party's most recognizable figures into the midterm fight as the party grapples with competing visions for its future, raising questions about how much influence the Clintons still wield as progressive candidates challenge the Democratic establishment.
Gas and diesel prices remain elevated less than three weeks from Election Day
Fuel prices remain elevated less than three weeks ahead ahead of Election Day in the widely-watched 2026 midterms, with the AAA national average prices for gas and diesel well above $4 and $6 respectively
The AAA national average price for regular gas is $4.3271 as of Oct. 16, while the national average for diesel is 6.3261.
The highest recorded AAA national average price for regular gas was $5.0165 in June 2022 during President Joe Biden's White House tenure, while the record for diesel of $6.5276 was set less than a month ago during President Donald Trump's current term.
Personal attacks fly as Sullivan, Peltola spar over corruption, character and controversy
Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, and former Rep. Mary Peltola traded blows Thursday night in the final debate of a Senate race that has surprised some political observers with how close it has become.
The latest Fox News Power Rankings rate Alaska’s Senate race as a "toss-up," meaning neither party has an edge. Alaska has historically favored the GOP, though the party’s margin of victory has narrowed in recent cycles.
Sullivan and Peltola clashed over energy costs, the Iran war, Social Security reform, healthcare policy, military spending, allegations of misconduct and fish, among other topics, but a handful of exchanges stood out from the rest.
Sanders calls for boosting minimum wage to 'at least' $20 per hour if Dems control Congress
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is advocating for increasing the federal minimum wage to $20 per hour "at least," a figure that would more than double the current $7.25 minimum wage.
"We can no longer tolerate a rigged economy that has enabled one man to become a trillionaire while the U.S. minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25/hour for 17 years. When Democrats regain control of Congress we must raise the minimum wage to at least $20 an hour," Sanders asserted in a post on X. "No more excuses."
Republicans currently hold the majority in both chambers of Congress, but Democrats are hoping that the midterm elections will shift the balance of power in their favor.
"The federal minimum wage for covered nonexempt employees is $7.25 per hour," according to the U.S. Department of Labor. "Many states also have minimum wage laws. In cases where an employee is subject to both the state and federal minimum wage laws, the employee is entitled to the higher of the two minimum wages."
Trump says he'll visit Iowa twice ahead of Election Day 'to get truly fantastic Warriors elected'
President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post that he will visit Iowa on Oct. 22 and Nov. 1 in a bid to boost GOP candidates ahead of Election Day.
"The reason I’ll be there is to get truly fantastic Warriors elected, including Ashley Hinson for U.S. Senate, Zach Lahn for Governor, Mariannette Miller-Meeks for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, Joe Mitchell for the 2nd District, Zach Nunn for the 3rd District, and Chris McGowan for the 4th District — They are all spectacular people, and have my Complete and Total Endorsement," the president declared in the Thursday post.
"I will see you on October 22nd, and again on November 1st, where we will have two spectacular Rallies honoring all of the above — and more. THANK YOU IOWA FOR YOUR GREAT SUPPORT — I WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN, AND NEITHER WILL ANY OF OUR GREAT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES!" he added.
Democrat's debate 'cue cards' steal spotlight in high-stakes Senate clash
Alaska Democratic Senate hopeful Mary Peltola faced ridicule Thursday night after her use of notecards during a debate with Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan drew mocking responses from GOP critics — including a pointed jab from her incumbent opponent.
Sullivan is in an unusually close race with Peltola, a former congresswoman, that is further complicated by another candidate with his same name but a different middle initial, as Republicans fight to hold their narrow Senate majority.
"Really, Mary? Reading off a script? You can't cue-card your way through the Senate," Sullivan wrote on X after Peltola appeared to have a notecard-sized paper with bullet points that she looked down at for several seconds while responding to earlier questions.
'Oh, shut up!': Democrat snaps at Collins after heckler drives Maine Senate debate off the rails
Bangor, Maine – A protester interrupted the final debate between Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson in Maine, triggering a heated exchange after Collins suggested the demonstrator was a Jackson supporter.
The interruption came amid a debate that saw the candidates trade fire over numerous issues. The race between Jackson and Collins, who is seeking a sixth term representing the blue-leaning Northern New England state, is a top flip opportunity for Democrats as they try to win back the Senate majority from Republicans in the midterm elections.
The latest public opinion polls indicate a race within the margin of error between Collins and Jackson, a one-time logger and former state Senate president. The latest Fox News Power Rankings rate the race as a toss-up, as do leading nonpartisan political handicappers the Cook Political Report, Inside Elections and Sabato's Crystal Ball.
This is an excerpt of an article by Paul Steinhauser and Leo Briceno: Click here to read more
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