13 days until midterms, Trump heads to South Carolina as Democrats widen battleground map

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said during Minnesota's gubernatorial debate on Wednesday that the war in Iran will not end "without a check on Donald Trump," attempting to tie the midterm elections to the conflict in the Middle East, which has led to soaring gas prices in the U.S. and around the world.

"Without a check on Donald Trump, this war is not coming to an end. Soon, as people go to the ballot box, they better think about that," Klobuchar said.

The senator also vowed to lower taxes after the Trump administration's trade war and conflict in Iran that she linked to higher prices for Americans.

"I'm not going to raise taxes. And if I can, I will lower them, including on Social Security, because I believe that with the headwinds we're seeing right now from Donald Trump from the tariffs that my opponent has said are effective — which amounts to a $2,000 tariff tax on every family in Minnesota — from the war in Iran, which I have voted against now 14 times, which has raised the price of gas by $500. I view those things as headwinds, but not excuses. When I am your governor, I'm going to do a comprehensive review of all of our taxes, make it fit the modern world, and make it fit your lives," she said.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said during Minnesota's gubernatorial debate on Wednesday that retiring Gov. Tim Walz should have caught fraud earlier, as she vowed to prosecute people who engage in fraud.

"The fraud is simply unacceptable. And as a former prosecutor, I'm going to send those fraudsters to jail. Tim Walz should have caught the fraud earlier and he should have done more," Klobuchar said.

"We need to vet these contracts before they come in and there needs to be surprise audits. You can't just do them by Zoom. People need to show up at these places and make sure that they're delivering the services and the people that need the services get them. And then finally, we need to have a list of the fraudsters so they never come back again. And that is what I will do. I am committed to this," she continued.

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, a Democrat, said during Wisconsin's gubernatorial debate on Wednesday that local law enforcement agencies should not have contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and that federal immigration agents should be prohibited from wearing face coverings.

"We need to make sure that there are no contracts when it comes down to our local police departments and our sheriffs. We hire our local PD and our sheriffs to protect our local communities. If they can't do their job, which is based off of trust, how can we make sure that undocumented immigrants will call the police when they see a fire, when somebody is actually in need? Because we've eroded that trust," Crowley said.

"The other thing that we need to make sure is in place when it comes down to ICE is that they cannot wear a mask. They cannot. They must show a badge, and they cannot incite fear. They have to let us know that they're in these communities. And then third, they cannot come into our jails and our prison without a judicial warrant," he added.

Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., said during Wisconsin's gubernatorial debate on Wednesday that he would not sign a six-week abortion ban and instead continue to support the state's 20-week abortion law.

"A decade ago, when I was in the state Senate, we passed a five month bill, 20 weeks officially. But it's basically a five month bill. And I voted for that bill. And it's now the law in the state of Wisconsin. Five months. And when I talk to my constituents, they said, we want you to find a middle ground on this. We want you to compromise. And that's exactly what we did. I stand by that vote of a decade ago, and I will uphold it as the governor of Wisconsin," Tiffany said.

Asked by the moderator if he would sign a six-week ban if it passed the legislature and landed on his desk, Tiffany said, "no."

Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., said during Wisconsin's gubernatorial debate on Wednesday that he would certify the 2028 presidential election regardless of the winner.

This comes after Tiffany voted to reject electoral votes from Arizona and Pennsylvania during the congressional certification of former President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory over President Donald Trump.

"I will certify the election in 2028, regardless of who the winner is," Tiffany said on Wednesday in the debate against his Democrat opponent, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.

Crowley said Tiffany could not be trusted to certify the 2028 presidential election "because he has shown us that because of one disagreement, he'll throw them out."

"This is why we need a governor who's going to work for you. We cannot afford to have Congressman Tom Tiffany as governor of Wisconsin," he added.

Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, a Democrat, is standing up for defending Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., after she received faced backlash for suggesting that young professionals should reconsider accepting a job with the Trump administration.

In a radio interview with on "The Daily Blast with Greg Sargent," El-Sayed argued that Republicans were attempting to "manufacture" a controversy.

"The way that Donald Trump has wound himself around the justice system is frankly unprecedented. It’s ugly and it’s antidemocratic," El-Sayed, who is running against former Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., for Michigan's open Senate seat, said on Wednesday.

"And so I’ll take seriously what they’re up in arms about when they start taking themselves seriously around what Donald Trump is doing and every other congressional Republican just looks away," El-Sayed continued. "They’re not serious people."

President Donald Trump said roughly half of the moves he said he has taken since returning to the Oval Office were never mentioned during his 2024 campaign, including efforts to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

"When I make a promise, promises made, promises kept. Another pundit who is not a Republican-type person said whether you like Trump or not, he made promises, but he kept more promises than he made," Trump said during a rally in South Carolina. "Half of the things that I'm telling you I did, I never discussed on the campaign."

"But I never told you that most of these things, I would say, but probably half of them, I never discussed. And we did them and we did them successfully. I never said we're going to take over Venezuela beautifully. I never said we're going to stop Iran from having a nuclear weapon. You know, we have to do it. I think if they had a nuclear weapon, we would be a tinderbox. We would be not knowing. I mean, our lives would be very different because they are nuts. They are nuts. They don't play games with me. They don't play games," he continued.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris urged voters to make their voices heard in the upcoming midterm elections during a campaign appearance in Las Vegas on Wednesday night, emphasizing the stakes of races in Nevada and across the country.

Speaking at a union event, Harris told attendees that the Nov. 3 elections would give voters an opportunity to influence the direction of government.

"In that era of feeling powerless, like, what can we do? This just keeps happening. That era is over because we are now 13 days away from doing something about it to stop the pain," Harris said.

The former vice president also highlighted the importance of Nevada's gubernatorial race and control of Congress, pointing to the impact elected officials have on everyday issues.

Harris' appearance in Las Vegas comes as she campaigns for Democratic candidates across several states in the closing stretch of the midterm elections.

Incumbent Republican Sen. Roger Marshall and Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton, a Kansas pastor, faced off Wednesday night in a U.S. Senate debate, less than two weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

The candidates took the stage in Kansas City, Missouri, to discuss issues facing Kansas voters. Marshall is seeking a second term, while Hamilton serves as senior pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas.

The debate comes as the Kansas Senate race has drawn increased national attention, with recent polling showing a close contest in a state that has not elected a Democratic U.S. senator since 1932.

Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany and Democratic Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley faced off Wednesday night in Wisconsin's gubernatorial debate, less than two weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

The candidates, who are competing to succeed outgoing Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, took the stage in Milwaukee to discuss issues facing Wisconsin voters.

Recent polling has shown a close race, with Crowley holding a slight edge over Tiffany.

During Wednesday night’s Michigan Senate debate, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed passionately denied ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and admonished Republican Sen. Mike Rogers for attempting to link him to the organization.

"[El-Sayed] was passionate about defunding the police," Rogers said, responding to a question about law enforcement funding. "As a matter of fact, he asked the Muslim Brotherhood, excuse me, head Morsi in Egypt, to defund the police there, too. I mean, it's unbelievable."

Rogers was referencing a letter that the Washington Free Beacon reported El-Sayed signed in 2012 calling on the Egyptian president, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, to purge his nation’s police force.

"To bring into question my commitment to the Constitution is really beneath you," El-Sayed responded. "I am proud of America. I'm proud to be an American. I'm proud of our Constitution that guarantees all of us the right to pray as we choose to pray. And the question that you would ask that, I think is actually really quite shameful. As somebody who's actually served under that Constitution, it is shameful."

El-Sayed also caught flak after social media posts from his half-sister alleging that their mother was involved in Muslim Brotherhood activism in the 1970s resurfaced. El-Sayed has denied personal or family ties to the organization and maintained that he was not raised by his biological mother.

"He keeps raising this question about this association with the organization," El-Sayed said at the debate. "I've never been a part because my mom, who's a nurse in Missouri, it doesn't make any sense. And it's actually really quite beneath you, Mike. It's really quite beneath you."

This is an excerpt of an article by Fox News Digital's Robert Schmad.

NORAD F-16 fighter jets intercepted a civilian aircraft that violated temporary flight restrictions over Clemson, South Carolina, on Wednesday evening as President Donald Trump visited the area for a midterm campaign rally.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command said the aircraft entered restricted airspace at approximately 5:39 p.m. and was intercepted by military jets.

The aircraft landed safely at a nearby airfield while being monitored by NORAD, according to a statement released Wednesday.

The incident occurred near Pendleton, where Trump was scheduled to rally support for Republican Senate candidate Darline Graham ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

NORAD warned that pilots who violate temporary flight restrictions could face federal authorities upon landing and potential enforcement action.

Officials did not identify the pilot or provide additional details about the circumstances surrounding the airspace violation.

President Donald Trump called for Democratic Senate candidate Annie Andrews to have her medical license revoked Wednesday night during a midterm campaign rally in South Carolina, accusing her of supporting gender transition treatments for minors.

Trump made the remarks while campaigning for Republican Sen. Darline Graham, who is facing Andrews in the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

The president criticized Andrews' positions on transgender-related medical care, alleging that she supports providing puberty blockers to children and using taxpayer money to fund such treatments.

Trump also accused Andrews of portraying herself as a moderate while holding more progressive positions on the issue.

"Annie Andrews should have her medical license revoked," Trump said during the Wednesday night rally.

Former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown holds a 5-point lead over Republican Sen. Jon Husted in Ohio's closely watched U.S. Senate race, according to a new Fox News Poll released Wednesday, less than two weeks before Election Day.

The survey found Brown leading Husted 52% to 47% among likely voters, with economic concerns and a significant gender gap shaping the contest.

Women favor Brown by 14 points, while men back Husted by 4 points, creating an 18-point gender gap.

The poll also found that 46% of Ohio voters say their financial situation is worse than two years ago, compared with 19% who say they are better off. Voters reporting worsening finances favor Brown by 49 points.

President Donald Trump's approval rating in Ohio stands at 43%, with 57% disapproving of his job performance, according to the survey.

In the governor's race, Democrat Amy Acton leads Republican Vivek Ramaswamy 50% to 48%. The survey was conducted before Ramaswamy's controversial campaign ad featuring Acton's estranged mother became public.

The Fox News Poll surveyed 1,592 Ohio likely voters from Oct. 15-19 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico are tied in Texas' closely watched U.S. Senate race, according to a new Fox News Poll released Wednesday, less than two weeks before the midterm elections.

The survey found both candidates receiving 49% support among likely voters, compared with 51% for Talarico and 49% for Paxton in September.

Despite the deadlock, Texas voters favor Republican control of the U.S. Senate by 4 points, 51% to 47%, according to the poll.

Talarico holds a substantial advantage among Hispanic voters, who favor him 64% to 34%, while nearly 3 in 10 Republicans who do not identify with the MAGA movement support the Democrat.

The poll also found Democrats holding an enthusiasm advantage, with 69% extremely interested in the election compared with 61% of Republicans.

The Fox News Poll surveyed 1,398 likely voters from Oct. 15-19 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

Top congressional Democrats sued the Trump administration Tuesday, alleging unlawful efforts to remove suspected noncitizens from state voter rolls and intimidate election officials just two weeks before the midterm elections.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., includes Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., among the plaintiffs.

The complaint alleges that the Department of Homeland Security has pressured states to review unreliable lists of suspected noncitizens, while federal officials have threatened state and local election administrators to secure compliance.

Schumer accused Trump of attempting to interfere with Americans' voting rights in a Wednesday post on X.

"Trump knows he can’t win a fair fight, so he's resorted to bullying election officials into stripping Americans of their right to vote. It’s illegal, it’s un-American, & we’re taking him to court to stop it. The voters decide who wins elections. Not Trump," Schumer wrote.

The lawsuit argues that the administration lacks authority to dictate which voters remain registered or whose ballots are counted, asserting that those responsibilities belong to states under federal law.

The Trump administration has defended its election integrity efforts as lawful measures to prevent noncitizen voting. 

With Election Day less than two weeks away, Minnesota’s leading candidates for governor meet for their second debate, with Democrat Amy Klobuchar and Republican Lisa Demuth making their case to lead a state grappling with fraud, affordability and government oversight.

Klobuchar and Demuth debated earlier this week, discussing the economy, business climate and workforce; both pledged not to raise taxes.

The candidates also clashed over Minnesota’s fraud scandal and who should be held accountable. Klobuchar said she would have caught the fraud, while Demuth vowed to fire state commissioners she says failed to prevent it. The scandal has become a central line of attack against outgoing Democratic Gov. Tim Walz’s administration. Walz is not seeking reelection.

Klobuchar, a longtime U.S. senator, is emphasizing affordability and restoring trust in state government. Demuth argues voters should choose new leadership after years of Democratic control.

Minnesotans vote Nov. 3.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he was unfamiliar with the controversy surrounding an attack ad by Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy featuring the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said he had heard about the advertisement but did not believe Ramaswamy was responsible for the strained relationship between Acton and her mother.

"I don't know about it, I heard that there's something where... her mother went against her. I don't know what that has to do with Vivek," Trump said.

The president also suggested the controversy was receiving attention because it involved a Republican candidate.

"The fact is, I know nothing about it, but, I hear the mother went, very rogue on the daughter, doesn't have a lot of respect for the daughter. And I think the mother is a witness to things also. So, who knows? And you'll have to figure that out," Trump said.

"It's a very unusual situation to have a mother hate a daughter that much. But I don't think that has anything to do with Vivek," he added.

The advertisement features Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, criticizing her daughter. Acton has publicly discussed experiencing childhood sexual abuse, and the ad has drawn criticism from Republicans and Democrats, including GOP Sen. Jon Husted, who said he would not have run it. 

Republican Sen. Darline Graham accused Democratic challenger Annie Andrews of misleading South Carolina voters with campaign advertisements Wednesday as President Donald Trump prepared to rally support for Graham in the increasingly competitive Senate race.

Appearing on Fox News' "America Reports," Graham claimed Andrews was spending approximately $1 million a week on advertising and questioned the sources of her campaign funding.

"84% of her donors are from out of the state. So that tells me that they want to flip our state from a red state to a blue state," Graham said.

The Republican senator also accused Andrews of misrepresenting her professional background, claiming she had been fired from the University of South Carolina and criticizing her ties to a gun control organization.

Andrews, meanwhile, has argued that South Carolina needs a senator willing to challenge Washington rather than align closely with the president.

"We need someone in this seat who will wake up and fight for South Carolina first," Andrews said in a clip played during the interview.

Graham also addressed rising living costs, supporting a temporary suspension of gas taxes while arguing that easing regulations on oil drilling and refineries would provide longer-term relief.