With 19 days until midterms, Trump rallies GOP as Democrats outline first 100 days

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 rates the race as a toss-up, as do leading nonpartisan political handicappers the Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, and Sabato's Crystal Ball.

The protester, who interrupted Collins as she spoke, yelled out, "I'm terrified. AI data centers are destroying our climate. They are poisoning our water."

As security escorted the protester out of the debate hall, Collins suggested the man was a Jackson supporter.

"So this is obviously one of Troy's supporters," Collins said.

This is an excerpt of an article by Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser and Leo Briceno.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson faced off Thursday night in Bangor, Maine, debating campaign financing, the Iran war, immigration enforcement, gun restrictions and the Supreme Court.

The candidates sparred over political donations, with Collins questioning Jackson's fundraising pledges and Jackson defending his campaign's practices.

On Supreme Court reform, Jackson expressed support for term limits and openness to expanding the court, while Collins opposed adding justices.

"But it's inconsistent with the whole idea of the Supreme Court being insulated from politics," Collins said.

Jackson, meanwhile, criticized the court's ethics and called for changes.

"We have the best court the money can buy right now, and I think that has to be turned over," Jackson said

A leading Republican Senate campaign group took aim at Alaska Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola on Thursday ahead of a scheduled debate, accusing her of misconduct and criticizing her political record.

"We kindly ask that Mary Peltola refrain from further physical violence and derogatory language tonight and stick to the issues that matter to Alaskans, like her record of selling out the Last Frontier to Washington lobbyists and California liberals," the Senate Leadership Fund wrote in a statement.

Peltola was accused in a September New York Times report of subjecting former staffers to angry outbursts, homophobic slurs and physical abuse.

The statement comes as Republicans seek to defend their Senate majority in November, with Alaska among the states drawing national attention in the battle for control of the chamber.

A protester interrupted Thursday night's Senate debate between Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson in Bangor, Maine, prompting a brief exchange between the candidates.

The disruption occurred as Collins was speaking, with an audience member raising concerns about the environmental impact of data centers.

Moderator Jennifer Rooks acknowledged the interruption and said security would handle the situation.

Collins then suggested the protester was a Jackson supporter.

"So this is obviously one of Troy's supporters," she said.

Jackson pushed back, denying that he knew the individual.

"Oh, shut up, I don't even know who that kid [is]."

The Justice Department, working alongside the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), filed a complaint against California on Thursday after determining that more than 20,000 likely noncitizens are registered to vote in the state.

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), along with federal partners, reviewed publicly available California voter-registration files and compared relevant records with federal immigration data to identify noncitizen registrants.

The DOJ filed a complaint against California alleging the suspected noncitizens registered to vote or voted in a federal election. Officials said HSI and federal partners used multiple methods to verify their immigration status.

First assistant U.S. attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California said election officials were given an opportunity to remove noncitizens from their voter rolls and to sequester ballots returned from suspected ineligible voters, but “they refused.”

“We are taking California to federal court to demand that the votes of American citizens not be diluted by noncitizens,” Essayli said.

If found responsible in a court of law, Attorney General Todd Blanche said California “will have seriously undermined confidence in our electoral system and violated laws that protect our nation’s representative system of government.”

President Donald Trump voiced support for South Carolina Sen. Darline Graham during a Thursday evening tele-rally for her re-election campaign, reflecting on the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham and his decision to encourage her to enter the race.

"Lindsey passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly, and everybody was devastated, especially Darline and myself," Trump said.

During the campaign call, Trump recalled the late senator's admiration for Darline, describing the respect Lindsey had for her and their close relationship.

The president also praised Darline's work on behalf of South Carolina, describing her as a respected figure who is delivering results for the state.

Trump's remarks came as Republicans seek to maintain control of the Senate in the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins' campaign bus arrived outside the Gracie Theatre in Bangor, Maine, on Thursday ahead of her debate against Democratic challenger Troy Jackson.

The debate comes less than three weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, as Collins seeks another term in the U.S. Senate.

The Maine Senate race is among the closely watched contests as Republicans fight to maintain control of the chamber.

Vice President JD Vance took aim at Michigan Democratic congressional candidate William Lawrence during a Thursday midterm rally in Monroe, accusing him of supporting immigration policies that would benefit drug cartels.

Vance criticized Lawrence, who is running in Michigan's 7th Congressional District, over statements he attributed to the Democrat about the nuclear family, American culture and open migration.

"And he has called for a world of free and open migration, which, as we know, is little more than a blank check to the cartels," he said.

The vice president also accused Lawrence of opposing traditional American values, arguing that Republicans must defend the country's way of life.

"We know it, we love it, and we're never going to allow the left to destroy it," Vance said.

Lawrence faces incumbent Rep. Tom Barrett, a first-term Republican congressman and Army veteran who was elected to the seat in 2024.

Vice President JD Vance took aim at Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed during a Thursday rally in Monroe, accusing him of misrepresenting his background and prioritizing foreign conflicts over Michigan voters.

Vance claimed El-Sayed, who was born in Michigan, had falsely portrayed himself as an Egyptian dual citizen and questioned his commitment to the state.

"He's ten times more interested in what's happening in Palestine than in Port Huron. He's way more interested in what's happening in Gaza than he is in what's happening in Grand Rapids," he said.

The vice president later delivered a personal attack on El-Sayed while urging voters to support Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers.

"You deserve better than a little weasel who should shut his mouth and show a little gratitude to the country that gave him everything," he added.

Vance then praised Rogers' military service, arguing that Michigan voters deserve a senator committed to serving the country.

Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed took aim at President Donald Trump during a Thursday campaign event alongside Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., calling the president a con man and mocking the size of his hands.

Speaking at his "Shouldn't Be This Hard" tour stop in Iron Mountain, Michigan, El-Sayed criticized Trump's wealth and character.

"He's a New York billionaire who has never cared about people in his life. And on top of that ... he has very small hands," he said.

El-Sayed also referred to Trump as a punk during his remarks.

The comments came hours after Trump accused El-Sayed of having ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, an allegation the Democrat has repeatedly denied, while urging voters to support Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers.

Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed pushed back Thursday against President Donald Trump's references to his middle name, Mohamed, accusing Republicans of focusing on his name and religion to distract voters from other issues.

Speaking at a campaign town hall alongside Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., in Iron Mountain, Michigan, El-Sayed discussed the meanings of his first and middle names before predicting he would win the November election.

"The reason they keep pointing out my name and my faith is because they think they can distract you from the issues in your life," he said.

El-Sayed went on to argue that his name has nothing to do with voters' struggles to afford gas, groceries or healthcare, accusing Republicans of using his identity to divert attention from their policies.

He also suggested that attacks on his name reflected doubts about Michigan voters rather than his own ability to win the race.

Trump earlier Thursday accused El-Sayed of having ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, an allegation the Democrat has denied, while urging Michigan voters to support Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers.

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, identified Maine, Iowa, Alaska and Ohio as four critical states in Republicans' fight to retain control of the Senate in November.

Speaking on "America Reports" Thursday, Scott expressed confidence in the GOP's prospects in those races.

"The momentum, frankly, is with us, not against us. I'm really excited about that," he said.

Scott also pointed to New Hampshire, Michigan and Minnesota as potential pickup opportunities, highlighting Republican Michele Tafoya's campaign in Minnesota.

"I think we close that gap. And if there's an October surprise, Minnesota goes Republican," Scott added.

Scott also defended President Donald Trump's economic agenda amid voter concerns about the cost of living, arguing that the president's policies are on the ballot in November.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Thursday that he plans to join Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul on the campaign trail in the coming weeks as she seeks re-election against Republican Bruce Blakeman.

Mamdani, who recently released a campaign video supporting Hochul, said he wanted to highlight the governor's record while drawing a contrast with her Republican challenger.

"So I was excited to put together a video for the governor to make the case as to not only what her vision is and what her record has been on delivering for this city, but also the lack of a vision when it comes from her opponent, Bruce Blakeman, beyond that of trying to make working class New Yorkers lives even harder than they already are," he said.

Mamdani also confirmed that he expects to campaign alongside Hochul before the Nov. 3 election.

"And I'm looking forward to being out there with her on the trail, in the weeks to come. We know that Election Day is coming up soon, and I'm also excited about the campaign that she's been putting together," the mayor added.

Democrats are highlighting a surge in small-dollar donations with less than three weeks remaining before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

The Democratic National Committee raised $10.25 million from small-dollar donors in September, exceeding its fundraising totals for the same month during the previous three midterm election cycles, according to The Associated Press.

The DNC also reported that roughly one in five contributors were first-time donors, pointing to an influx of new supporters as the party seeks to regain control of Congress.

Despite the increase, Democrats continue to face a fundraising disadvantage against Republicans, while the DNC has carried debt during the election cycle.

The September figures reflect only small-dollar contributions, with additional fundraising disclosures expected later this month.

The Associated Press contributed to this post.

Government corruption is among voters' leading concerns heading into the Nov. 3 midterm elections, according to a new Fox News poll.

The survey found that 60% of registered voters are extremely concerned about government corruption, while inflation, gas prices, government leadership and healthcare also rank among voters' top concerns.

Fox News correspondent Christina Coleman highlighted the findings on "Fox News @ Night" as President Donald Trump campaigned for Republican candidates in Arizona and Montana on Wednesday.

The poll also identified border security, immigration, crime and the war in Iran as concerns for voters ahead of Election Day.

Trump used his campaign stops to defend his administration's record on border security and the economy while warning that Democrats would reverse his policies if they regain power in Congress.

President Donald Trump accused Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed of having ties to the Muslim Brotherhood on Thursday, while throwing his support behind Republican Mike Rogers in the state's Senate race.

"He's a Muslim Brotherhood guy, 100%, 100%," Trump said in the Rose Garden of the White House during an event for first responders. "How about having him be on the Senate Intelligence Committee? How about that?"

El-Sayed has repeatedly denied having ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, telling “NBC Nightly News” in an interview that aired Wednesday, "I have no ties, we have no ties."

During the interview, El-Sayed pushed back on questions about social media posts from his half-sister alleging their mother had been involved with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt during the 1970s. El-Sayed said he had not discussed the alleged involvement with his mother and questioned the relevance of the decades-old claims.

His campaign has previously accused Republican Mike Rogers of making politically motivated attacks on his faith and family.

Trump also questioned El-Sayed's patriotism, saying, "I don't think this guy likes our country at all," before adding, "He hates our country. So I hope that he is defeated."

The president praised Rogers as "a good man" who "loves our country" and urged his supporters to help secure a Republican victory in Michigan.

"We've got to make sure that Mike Rogers wins," Trump said.

Fox News Digital’s Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report

The U.S. Postal Service is preparing to ensure millions of mail-in ballots reach election officials in time for the Nov. 3 midterm elections, with the agency's top official declaring Thursday that it is "absolutely ready" for the task.

"Everybody is engaged and absolutely ready for the next two weeks," Postmaster General David Steiner told reporters Thursday.

Beginning Oct. 24, USPS said it will take "extraordinary measures," implementing additional measures to speed up ballot deliveries, including extended hours at some postal locations, special pickups and expedited handling. The agency will also bypass normal processing procedures when necessary to get ballots to election offices on time.

The Postal Service is urging voters to mail completed ballots at least one week before their local deadlines.

The preparations come after the Supreme Court last month blocked USPS from enforcing new mail-ballot requirements stemming from a March executive order by President Donald Trump.

USPS handled 99.2 million ballots sent to and from voters during the 2024 presidential election, according to the agency.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Texas state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic candidate running for U.S. Senate against GOP Lone Star State Attorney General Ken Paxton, has announced a $64 million dollar third-quarter campaign fundraising haul.

"Today, State Representative James Talarico announced his campaign raised $64 million in the third quarter of 2026 — the largest amount a U.S. Senate candidate has ever raised in the third quarter of an election," the Talarico campaign noted in a press release provided to Fox News Digital on Thursday. "Since launching in September 2025, Team Talarico has now raised over $134.3 million, receiving more than 3 million donations from a staggering 1.3 million+ individual contributors."

"97% of contributions to the campaign were $100 or less," the campaign noted.

“Grassroots contributors from across Texas are coming together to end billionaire control over our politics and bring down costs for working families,” Talarico said. “Thanks to the support of everyday Texans, this people-powered movement is going to change this broken, corrupt political system.”

Paxton's campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's comment requests on Thursday.

In a post on X last week Paxton noted, "We raised $18 MILLION in the third quarter, and it's because hardworking Texans are all in on this fight."

Elon Musk contributed $10 million to a political action committee supporting Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton in Texas, Fox News has confirmed.

A representative for Musk's America PAC confirmed to Fox News national correspondent Brooke Taylor that the billionaire contributed $276 million to Republican super PACs and organizations over the past three months, including $10 million to Lone Star Liberty PAC, a group backing Paxton's Senate bid.

The confirmation corroborates figures first reported by The New York Times and offers a new look at Musk's financial involvement in Republican politics ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.