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    Former NATO Commander Goes On CNN To Mock Trump’s Plea To Putin

    By
    Patrick Houck
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    2
    CNN Headquarters via Wikimedia Commons

    Retired U.S. Gen. Wesley Clark, a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, took a swipe at President Donald Trump’s Truth Social message to Vladimir Putin, calling the public plea unlikely to influence Russian military behavior.

    Clark’s comments came during a Thursday appearance on CNN’s “Situation Room,” shortly after Trump had posted:

    “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!”

    “Do you think a post from President Trump on social media will actually wind up stopping Putin from launching more attacks on civilians, like in Kyiv, for example, where civilian men, women and children were just killed in big numbers?” asked CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.

    Clark replied bluntly: “Well, I think it would be very surprising if President Trump’s tweet would have any real impact on President Putin.”

    The retired Army officer argued that Putin sees a strategic opening, particularly as the U.S. appears to be retreating from some of its longstanding commitments in Europe.

    Mediaite further reports:

    “So this is a moment for Putin, really. It’s what he’s been waiting for,” he continued. “This gives him a clear field to bring pressure to bear against Ukrainian population like this missile strike, and also to go to his allies, China, North Korea, and Iran, and say, ‘Give me more, give me more. This is the moment we can go.”

    “We know there are exercises being prepared for this summer in Belarus. Rumors of brigades being ready to attack from Belarus into Kaliningrad to open that gate. This is a really perilous time for Europe. And it’s the opposite time to be pulling back,” he said.

    “What President Trump should be saying is, ‘Since you did this, I’m reinforcing U.S. Military assistance to Kyiv, and you can forget about it. We’re going to stay with it until you realize you’re not going to win militarily,’” Clark advised Trump. That’s what it’s going to take to bring peace to Ukraine.”

    Trump had pledged to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine within 24 hours of being elected, but he and his diplomatic team have thus far found it difficult to broker a peace agreement with Russia and Ukraine, going so far as to suggest they will give up any efforts recently.

    READ NEXT: Trump Pushes To Revive Sweeping Ban – Supreme Court Now Involved

    Former Georgia Republican Lawmaker Officially Ditches GOP For Dems

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    5

    A Republican lawmaker is jumping ship…

    Geoff Duncan, who previously served as Georgia’s Lt. Governor, revealed he has officially registered as a Democrat.

    Duncan, who served as lieutenant governor as a Republican from 2019 until 2023, wrote in an op-ed in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday that his path to becoming a Democrat began before President Donald Trump attempted to overturn his loss to former President Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, which Duncan criticized at the time.

    “My journey to becoming a Democrat started well before Donald Trump tried to steal the 2020 election in Georgia,” Duncan wrote in the newspaper.

    “There’s no date on a calendar or line in the sand that points to the exact moment in time my political heart changed, but it has,” he continued. “My decision was centered around my daily struggle to love my neighbor, as a Republican.”

    Duncan pointed to several policy issues that played a part in his decision to change parties, criticizing Republicans for their handling of issues such as health care, Medicaid, gun safety, immigration and how to help poor people.

    The former Republican said GOP lawmakers have argued for decades that the solution to not having health insurance is to have a job, but noted that most uninsured people in the Peach State live in working households yet do not have insurance because of affordability or eligibility. 

    “So, the reality is they have a job, just the wrong job,” Duncan wrote. “One that doesn’t offer health insurance or generate enough spare money each month to afford their own health insurance plan.”

    Duncan’s party switch comes after the Georgia Republican Party expelled him from the party earlier this year over alleged disloyalty. The party’s resolution cited his endorsement of Biden in the 2024 presidential election and, once he dropped out, his endorsement of former Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as alleged efforts to undermine and sabotage some Republican candidates, including current Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and failed 2022 Senate candidate Herschel Walker. 

    The former Republican also spoke at the Democratic National Convention in August in support of Harris.

    The clock is ticking! GOP victory is only possible because of YOU but Trump needs your help. Will you stand with Trump before his critical deadline?

    House Speaker Called Trump to Apologize After Criticizing 2024 Campaign

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    3
    House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy delivers remarks at the 2021 Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony in Washington DC, December 1, 2021. USDA Forest Service photo by Tanya E. Flores.

    Warning: This article contains graphic language.

    House Speaker Kevin McCarthy(R-Calif.) is begging Donald Trump for forgiveness.

    McCarthy reportedly called the 2024 White House hopeful on Tuesday to apologize for casting doubt on the strength of Trump’s campaign against President Joe Biden.

    McCarthy appeared on CNBC Tuesday morning and was asked if Trump could win the election.

    “Can he win that election? Yeah, he can,” McCarthy said. “The question is, is he the strongest to win the election? I don’t know that answer.”

    “We’re told top aides to the former president and allies who know both men quickly traded messages asking, in short: What the fuck? Some called McCarthy a ‘moron,’ we’re told. Others looked to Trump campaign hand Brian Jack, who also advises the speaker and has been a critical bridge between both men, to play mediator as Trump hit the trail in New Hampshire,” Politico reported.

    On CNN’s News Central Wednesday, reporter Lauren Fox called Tuesday a “a day of cleanup” for the House Speaker. She continued:

    He held a call, called the former president yesterday to apologize, according to new reporting from our colleagues Melanie Zanona and Kristen Holmes. He told the former president he misspoke, and, of course, he blamed reporters for taking the comments out of context, according to McCarthy, but that isn’t where it ended…He had an exclusive interview with Breitbart News, a right-leaning news agency, to try to talk more about why he believed Donald Trump was the strongest candidate to beat Joe Biden. Later, his campaign sent out a fundraising email saying that Donald Trump was stronger than ever.

    This just goes to show you that Kevin Mccarthy knows that his right flank is so important for him to hold on to his speakership. He cannot anger people in his conference who are getting behind the former president, who are fervently behind him at all times, no matter what that means in term of defending Donald Trump, and that is why Kevin McCarthy went out of his way yesterday to go ahead and apologize to the former president, and then in subsequent interviews, make it clear that he does believe Donald Trump could be a strong contender to beat Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential election.

    Trump-Endorsed Candidate Launches Primary Challenge Against Massie

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0

    Veteran Navy SEAL and businessman Ed Gallrein officially launched his campaign Tuesday to challenge Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s strongly Republican 4th Congressional District. With President Trump’s full endorsement, Gallrein declared:

    “This district is Trump Country. The President doesn’t need obstacles in Congress – he needs backup. I’ll defeat Thomas Massie, stand shoulder to shoulder with President Trump, and deliver the America First results Kentuckians voted for.”

    Indeed, Trump had already thrown his weight behind Gallrein in a Truth Social post on Friday:

    “I hope Ed gets into the Race against Massie, who is now polling at about 9% because the Great People of Kentucky are wise to him — He only votes against the Republican Party, making life very easy for the Radical Left.”
    “Unlike ‘lightweight’ Massie, a totally ineffective LOSER who has failed us so badly, CAPTAIN ED GALLREIN IS A WINNER WHO WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN.”

    Trump’s endorsement is the latest chapter in a bitter intra-party battle. Massie, a libertarian-leaning Republican, has diverged repeatedly from Trump’s agenda — most notably by breaking with the former president on major policy items, including the massive reconciliation package known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and by teaming with progressive Rep. Ro Khanna (D–Calif.) to demand the release of files connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The split has sharpened over time into an explicit effort by Trump and his allies to unseat Massie.

    Massie responded to Trump’s move by slamming Gallrein:

    “After having been rejected by every elected official in the 4th District, Trump’s consultants clearly pushed the panic button with their choice of failed candidate and establishment hack Ed Gallrein.”

    Massie enters the race with more than $2 million cash on hand for his reelection bid and reported contributions of $768,000 from July to September. That level of fundraising shows he is not backing down.

    Kentucky’s 4th District is reliably Republican, meaning the winner of the GOP primary is extremely likely to win the general election. With President Trump’s base still the backbone of the party, his move to back Gallrein is a clear signal: he wants reliable allies in Congress who will advance the “America First” agenda without dissent.
    Massie’s independent streak—once an asset to those who prize policy purity—has now become a liability in the Trump era of the party. For Republicans concerned about unified action and legislative wins, the message is simple: stand with Trump or be replaced.

    We’ve secured major victories for America’s future PLEASE help us secure one more! Congressman Jeff Crank needs YOUR Help to deafeat the woke Left. Your voice powers our movement. Complete the Survey TONIGHT!

    Biden Remains Defiant In Letter Shared With Congressional Democrats

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    6
    Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    He’s in it to win it…

    Despite a bevy of public pleas, President Joe Biden informed colleagues that he would not bow out of the race according to a letter sent to Congressional Democrats.

    “I want you to know that despite all the speculation in the press and elsewhere, I am firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump,” the president wrote in the letter.

    Biden posted the letter himself to his X account.

    Biden, 81, said he’s had “extensive” talks with Democrat leaders and he’s heard the “concerns” about his chances at beating Trump amid concerns about his age.

    Numerous lawmakers have publicly called for Biden to remove himself from the ballot this November.

    Texas Democrat Rep. Lloyd Doggett became the first sitting Member of Congress to publicly encourage Biden to step down earlier this week. In a more damning appearance, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi switched from accusing Trump of having dementia to validating questions about Biden’s mental acuity, further fueling the debate over his capacity to lead. 

    Last Monday, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D) seemed to signal support for the idea of Biden stepping away from the race and seemed to promote himself as an alternative candidate. 

    Read the full text of the letter below:

    JOSEPH R. BIDEN, JR.
    July 8, 2024

    Fellow Democrats,

    Now that you have returned from the July 4th recess, I want you to know that despite all the speculation in the press and elsewhere, I am firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Trump.

    I have had extensive conversations with the leadership of the party, elected officials, rank and file members, and most importantly, Democratic voters over these past io days or so. I have heard the concerns that people have — their good faith fears and worries about what is at stake in this election. I am not blind to them. Believe me, I know better than anyone the responsibility and the burden the nominee of our party carries. I carried it in 2020 when the fate of our nation was at stake. I also know these concerns come from a place of real respect for my lifetime of public service and my record as President, and I have been moved by the expressions of affection for me from so many who have known me well and supported me over the course of my public life. I’ve been grateful for the rock-solid, steadfast support from so many elected Democrats in Congress and all across the country and taken great strength from the resolve and determination I’ve seen from so many voters and grassroots supporters even in the hardest of weeks.

    I can respond to all this by saying clearly and unequivocally: I wouldn’t be running again if I did not absolutely believe I was the best person to beat Donald Trump in 2024.
    We had a Democratic nomination process and the voters have spoken clearly and decisively. I received over 14 million votes, 87% of the votes cast across the entire nominating process. I have nearly 3,900 delegates, making me the presumptive nominee of our party by a wide margin. This was a process open to anyone who wanted to run. Only three people chose to challenge me. One fared so badly that he left the primaries to run as an independent. Another attacked me for being too old and was soundly defeated. The voters of the Democratic Patty have voted. They have chosen me to be the nominee of the party.

    Do we now just say this process didn’t matter? That the voters don’t have a say?

    I decline to do that. I feel a deep obligation to the faith and the trust the voters of the Democratic Party have placed in me to run this year. It was their decision to make. Not the press, not the pundits, not the big donors, not any selected group of individuals, no matter how well intentioned. The voters — and the voters alone — decide the nominee of the Democratic Party. How can we stand for democracy in our nation if we ignore it in our own party? I cannot do that. I will not do that.

    I have no doubt that I — and we — can and will beat Donald Trump. We have an historic record of success to run on. From creating over 15 million jobs (including 200,000 just last month), reaching historic lows on unemployment, to revitalizing American manufacturing with 800,000 jobs, to protecting and expanding affordable health care, to rebuilding America’s roads, bridges, highways, ports and airports, and water systems, to beating Big Pharma and lowering the cost of prescription drugs, including $35 a month insulin for seniors, to providing student debt relief for nearly 5 million Americans to an historic investment in combatting climate change.

    More importantly, we have an economic vision to run on that soundly beats Trump and the MAGA Republicans. They are siding with the wealthy and the big corporations and we are siding with the working people of America. It wasn’t an isolated moment for Trump to stand at Mar-A-Lago and tell the oil industry they should give him $1 billion and he will do whatever they want.

    That’s whose side Trump and the MAGA Republicans are on. Trump and the MAGA Republicans want another $5 trillion in tax cuts for rich people so they can cut Social Security and Medicare. We will never let that happen. It’s trickle-down economics on steroids. We know the way to build the economy is from the middle out and the bottom up, not the top down. We are finally going to make the rich and big corporations pay their fair share of taxes in this country. The MAGA party is also still determined to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which could throw 45 million Americans off their coverage. We will never let that happen either. Trump got rich denying rental housing to Black people. We have a plan to build 2 million new housing units in America. They want to let Big Pharma charge as much as they want again. What do you think America’s seniors will think when they know Trump and the MAGA Republicans want to take away their $35 insulin — as well as the $2,000 capon out-of-pocket prescription costs we Democrats just got them? Or what do you think American families are going to think when they find out Trump and the MAGA Republicans want to hit them with a new $2,500 national sales tax on all the imported products they buy.

    We are the ones lowering costs for families — from health care to prescription drugs to student debt to housing. We are the ones protecting Social Security and Medicare. Everything they’re proposing raises costs for most Americans — except their tax cuts which will go to the rich.

    We are protecting the freedoms of Americans. Trump and the MAGA Republicans are taking them away. They have already for the first time in history taken away a fundamental freedom from the American people by overturning Roe v. Wade. They have decided politicians should make the most personal of decisions that should be made by women and their doctors and those closest to them. They have already said they won’t stop there — and are going after everything from contraception to IVF to the right to marry who you love. And they have made it clear they will ban abortion nationwide. We will let none of that happen. I have made it clear that if Kamala and I are reelected, and the nation elects a Democratic House and Senate, we will make Roe v. Wade the law of the land again. We are the ones who will bring real Supreme Court reform; Donald Trump and his majority want more of the same from the Court, and the chance to add to the right-wing majority they built by subverting the norms and principles of the nomination and confirmation process.

    And we are standing up for American democracy. After January 6th, Trump has proven that he is unfit to ever hold the office of President. We can never allow him anywhere near that office again. And we never will.

    My fellow Democrats — we have the record, the vision, and the fundamental commitment to America’s freedoms and our Democracy to win.

    The question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now. And it’s time for it to end. We have one job. And that is to beat Donald Trump. We have 42 days to the Democratic Convention and 119 days to the general election. Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only helps Trump and hurts us. It is time to come together, move forward as a unified party, and defeat Donald Trump.

    Sincerely,

    Joseph R. Biden Jr.
    President of the United States of America

    Politician Who Left The Democrat Party Endorses Trump For President

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    3
    Date: 03-26-2024 Location: Bldg 30 MCC, FCR-1, Bldg 9N Subject: Texas Governor Gregg Abbott tour of JSC on March 26 Photo Credit: NASA/James Blair

    Another Democrat is calling it quits and backing Donald Trump for President…

    A Texas state lawmaker from the Houston area announced Friday that she is leaving the “almost unrecognizable” Democratic Party.

    In an announcement Friday, State Rep. Shawn Tierry explained that she made the switch because the Democratic Party has “veered so far left, so deep into the progressive abyss, that it now champions policies that I cannot, in good conscience, support,” the Texas Tribune reported.

    “As a woman, a mother, and a lawmaker, I have dedicated my life to championing the values that fortify our families and uplift our communities. After much reflection, prayer, and soul-searching, I have come to a decision that aligns with my core values and the best interests of our beloved country,” Tierry further explained in an X post.

    “For my entire adult life, I have voted as a Democrat. I was raised in a household with my amazing parents who believed the Democratic Party was the party of the people—a beacon of justice and opportunity for all,” she continued. “But as the years have passed, I have watched with dismay as the party I once knew has drifted far from its roots. It has become almost unrecognizable—radicalized and increasingly out of touch with the values that millions of everyday Americans hold dear.”

    Thierry also noted how the left stifles debate, silences dissent, and demands “blind allegiance to ideology.”

    The former Democrat received a standing ovation on Friday night when she formally announced her decision at a Moms For Liberty event.

    “The Democratic Party has moved so far back, so deep into the progressive abyss, that it now champions policies that I cannot, in good conscience, support. Policies like promoting sex changes for vulnerable children, dismantling Title IX protections for women and girls in sports. This is not the party that I grew up with,” Thierry explained.

    “And so it’s today, at such a time as this, that I am officially announcing that I am leaving the race and the life of the Democratic Party.”

    Thierry was recently defeated in a primary election after she voted to ban gender reassignment surgeries for children and bar biological men from competing in women’s sports.

    Trump Ally Kid Rock Jumps Into Key Governor’s Race With Major Endorsement

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    0
    By Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley - This image was released by the United States Navy with the ID 071220-N-0696M-280 (next).This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing.العربية ∙ বাংলা ∙Bahaso Jambi ∙Deutsch ∙ Deutsch (Sie-Form) ∙ English ∙ español ∙ euskara ∙ فارسی ∙ français ∙ italiano ∙ 日本語 ∙ 한국어 ∙ македонски ∙ മലയാളം ∙ Plattdüütsch ∙ Nederlands ∙ polski ∙ پښتو ∙ português ∙ русский ∙ slovenščina ∙ svenska ∙ Türkçe ∙ українська ∙ 简体中文 ∙ 繁體中文 ∙ +/−photo essay http://www.defense.gov/photoessays/photoessayss.aspx?id=554, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21467653

    Famed musician and outspoken patriot Kid Rock is throwing his support behind Republican Rep. John James in the high-stakes 2026 race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

    The Michigan governor’s office is expected to be one of the top battlegrounds in next year’s midterm elections, as Republicans look to flip key leadership positions in a state that has become central to the national political fight over jobs, manufacturing, public safety, and the future direction of the country.

    Kid Rock, whose real name is Robert James Ritchie, offered his endorsement in a statement first shared with Fox News Digital on Sunday.

    “As our next Governor of Michigan, I know you will bring many victories to our GREAT STATE!” the entertainer said.

    John James, now serving his second term representing a competitive suburban Detroit congressional district, welcomed the support from the Michigan-born star.

    “Kid Rock is a good friend. We share our love for Detroit, the state of Michigan and the United States of America!” James said.

    “I’m honored to have the endorsement of this unapologetic freedom-loving patriot and I look forward to working with him and every other Michigander to make Michigan great again!” added James, a West Point graduate, Iraq War veteran, businessman, and former Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in both 2018 and 2020.

    Kid Rock’s backing comes at a pivotal moment as Republicans seek to regain momentum in Michigan after years of Democrat control in Lansing. Conservatives argue the state needs a return to strong leadership focused on economic growth, protecting constitutional freedoms, and standing up to the progressive agenda that has dominated under Whitmer.

    A Cultural Moment for Conservatives

    Kid Rock’s endorsement arrived just hours before the singer headlined Turning Point USA’s “All-American Halftime Show” during the Super Bowl — an event that drew nearly five million viewers and offered an alternative to the NFL’s increasingly politicized entertainment choices.

    The show also featured a tribute to Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. As Kid Rock finished a song, the screen displayed:

    “In remembrance of Charlie Kirk,” alongside photos of Charlie’s wife Erika and their children.

    Kid Rock has long been a prominent supporter of President Donald Trump, backing him in all three of his presidential campaigns. He performed his hit “American Bad Ass” at the 2024 Republican National Convention with lyrics altered to highlight his support for Trump and the America First movement.

    Trump, whose influence over the Republican Party remains unmatched, has not yet endorsed anyone in Michigan’s gubernatorial race. However, James has positioned himself as one of Trump’s most consistent allies.

    A release from James’s campaign emphasized that “John James has stood with President Trump consistently since 2018, and every subsequent election, maintaining a clear and steady alignment when others backed his opponents, ran against him, or stayed silent.”

    Did you miss the halftime show? Tune in below to watch:

    Shared Detroit Roots and a Pro-Worker Message

    The campaign also highlighted the bond between Kid Rock and James, noting that both share “deep Detroit roots and a common view of Michigan as a state defined by hard work, manufacturing, culture, and natural beauty — from the Great Lakes to the communities that power the Midwest economy.”

    James has built his political brand around economic opportunity, strengthening American manufacturing, supporting law enforcement, and pushing back against Washington overreach — themes that resonate strongly with Michigan’s working-class voters.

    Crowded Republican Field, Clear Front-Runner

    James currently stands as the clear polling front-runner in a crowded Republican primary field ahead of the August nominating contest.

    Other GOP candidates include:

    • Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox
    • Michigan Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt
    • Former state House Speaker Mike Leonard
    • Businessman Perry Johnson, who previously made a longshot bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination

    On the Democratic side, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is widely viewed as the front-runner among three candidates competing for her party’s nomination.

    Michigan in the National Spotlight

    With Michigan expected to play a major role in shaping the future of the Midwest — and possibly the country — the governor’s race is drawing intense national attention. Republicans see 2026 as a chance to restore conservative leadership in a state long known for its manufacturing strength, blue-collar values, and patriotic spirit.

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    Mike Lawler Announces Re-Election Campaign As Republicans Seek To Defend Razor-Thin Majority

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1
    Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Republicans are breathing a sigh of relief…

    On Wednesday morning, Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York announced he will seek re-election in next year’s midterms in his crucial battleground House district, which covers a large swath of New York City’s northern suburbs.

    Lawler, who announced his news in an interview Wednesday morning on Fox News’ “Fox and Friends,” had been seriously considering a bid for New York State governor.

    “There’s no question Kathy Hochul is the worst governor in America,” Lawler told Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade, before adding, “In 2026, she needs to be defeated. But after months of deliberating over this and really working through it, I’ve decided the right thing to do for me and my family and my district is to run for re-election.”

    His news is seen as a major relief to the White House and congressional Republicans, who are defending their razor-thin House majority in the 2026 midterms. 

    Top House Republicans as well as President Donald Trump had pressed Lawler to seek re-election, and Fox News confirmed that Lawler met with Trump last week at the White House to discuss his 2026 plans and other issues.

    “While I fundamentally believe I am best positioned to take on Kathy Hochul and offer New Yorkers a real choice for Governor, I have made the decision to run for re-election to the House and continue the important work I’ve been doing over the past two and a half years,” Lawler shared in a statement with Fox News Digital Wednesday morning. 

    The Democratic Governors Association called Lawler’s decision a “humiliating setback” for Republicans, arguing that his choice means he doesn’t believe a Republican can win statewide.

    However, Republicans now seem likely to avoid a hotly contested primary, as they said they hoped only one of Lawler or Elise Stefanik would go forward with a gubernatorial run.

    Elise Stefanik released a statement Wednesday morning, calling Republicans “more unified than ever in our mission to fire the Worst Governor in America Kathy Hochul in 2026” and Lawler a “great, effective, and hardworking Representative for New York’s 17th Congressional District.”

    “As I have previously stated, I am focused on supporting strong Republican local and county candidates on the ballot this November to lay the groundwork with a strong team for next year. I will make a final decision and announcement after this year’s November election which we are all focused on,” Stefanik added. 

    Stefanik seems all but certain to run for governor, with a source familiar with her thinking telling The Hill last month that “it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.”

    Republicans have been hopeful that they could seriously compete for the office in 2026 after impressive performances in recent years. Hochul only won reelection in 2022 by about 6 points, a much closer margin than observers expected.

    Trump also made significant gains in New York in last year’s presidential election, while still falling short by double digits of victory in the state.

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    AOC Says She Would ‘Stomp’ JD Vance In A Presidential Election

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    6

    Tensions are already high…

    Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has claimed she would “stomp” JD Vance in a presidential election.

    Ocasio-Cortez, the Left-wing congresswoman, made the claim hours after sharing a poll — conducted by The Argument and Verasight and released Tuesday — found Ocasio-Cortez leading Vance 51% to 49%, a difference within the survey’s 2.7-percentage-point margin of error, making the two candidates statistically tied. Respondents were asked how they would vote if the election were held between the New York Democrat and the Republican vice president.

    When asked about the poll as she left the US Capitol on Wednesday evening, she initially downplayed its significance.

    “These polls like three years out… they are what they are,” she told a reporter, who filmed the encounter.

    “But let the record show I would stomp him – I would stomp him!” she added, laughing as she walked off and entered a waiting car.

    Ocasio-Cortez, often known by her initials “AOC”, is seen as one of the frontrunners in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.

    The poll — conducted by The Argument and Verasight and released Tuesday — found Ocasio-Cortez leading Vance 51% to 49%, a difference within the survey’s 2.7-percentage-point margin of error, making the two candidates statistically tied. Respondents were asked how they would vote if the election were held between the New York Democrat and the Republican vice president.

    Neither Ocasio-Cortez nor Vance has formally announced a 2028 campaign, but both are widely viewed as potential contenders to lead their respective parties. Ocasio-Cortez, first elected to Congress in 2018, has become one of the most prominent progressive voices in national politics. Vance, a former U.S. senator from Ohio and bestselling author, joined the GOP ticket in 2024 and became vice president after Donald Trump returned to the White House.

    Demographic Splits Highlight Each Candidate’s Base

    The poll found that Vance maintains a substantial advantage with white voters, leading Ocasio-Cortez 57% to 43% in that demographic. Ocasio-Cortez, however, holds wide leads among voters of color, including 79% support among Black voters and 64% among Hispanic voters. (RELATED: Democrats Win Miami Mayor’s Office After Nearly 30 Years Out Of Power)

    Those patterns reflect longstanding partisan alignments: Republicans have consistently performed strongly with white voters in recent presidential contests, while Democrats have relied heavily on support from Black and Hispanic voters, though margins among the latter group have narrowed in recent years.

    Standings Within Their Parties

    Although Ocasio-Cortez polls competitively in a general election hypothetical, recent Democratic primary surveys show her trailing more established national figures, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. This suggests she would face a difficult path in a crowded primary field.

    Another recent survey testing a three-way hypothetical between California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Vance, and Ocasio-Cortez found Newsom leading with 36%, with Ocasio-Cortez and Vance tied at 34% each.

    On the Republican side, speculation around the 2028 field remains fluid. Asked in October which Republicans might consider a future presidential run, President Donald Trump told reporters, “We have great people… We have JD, obviously, the vice president is great. I think [Secretary of State] Marco’s [Rubio] great. I think I’m not sure if anybody would run against those. I think if they ever formed a group, it would be unstoppable. I really do. I believe that. I would love to do it. I have my best numbers ever.”

    Trump, who returned to the presidency in 2025 after previously serving from 2017 to 2021, remains subject to the constitutional limits of the 22nd Amendment, which states that “no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” The provision clearly bars any individual from winning a third term, but its application to Trump’s unique electoral history has become a matter of legal dispute.

    Constitutional scholars and legal analysts differ on how the amendment should be interpreted in Trump’s case, particularly whether his two election victories — in 2016 and 2024 — preclude him from pursuing future campaigns. Several lawsuits filed in 2025 seek judicial rulings enforcing the 22nd Amendment against Trump’s eligibility to appear on future ballots. Those cases are pending in federal courts and are expected to draw appeals, potentially reaching the Supreme Court. (RELATED: President Trump’s Legal Battle With The Pulitzer Prize Board Escalates)

    Vance Addresses Speculation About His Future

    Vice President Vance has attempted to downplay discussions about his potential 2028 ambitions.

    In an interview earlier this month with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Vance said, “I would say that I’ve thought about what that moment might look like after the midterm elections. But I also, whenever I think about that, I try to put it out of my head and remind myself the American people elected me to do a job right now, and my job is to do it.”

    President Trump wants to honor true patriots like yourself who fuel the MAGA movement! Will you please take a moment to accept the 2025 Patriot of the Year MAGA Gold Medal? [Click HERE]

    Pro-Trump Impeachment Republican Eyes New Public Office

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1

    Former U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, the Republican who was ousted last year from her Southwest Washington congressional seat after voting to impeach then-President Donald Trump, plans to reignite her failed political career by running for state commissioner of public lands.

    The Seattle Times reports:

    Herrera Beutler announced her intentions at a meeting Monday morning with supporters of Future 42, a conservative political group, a meeting participant told The Seattle Times.

    “1,000% — she’s in,” the source said.

    Herrera Beutler was one of 10 House Republicans to cross party lines and vote to impeach Trump for allegedly inciting the mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

    In an address on the House floor, Herrera Beutler called on her colleagues to embrace the moral clarity that comes with accepting the truth.

    “I rise today to stand against our enemy. And to clarify, our enemy isn’t the president, or the president-elect. Fear is our enemy. It tells us what we want to hear, it incites anger and violence and fire, but it also haunts us into silence and inaction. What are you afraid of?” she asked.

    “My vote to impeach our sitting president is not a fear-based decision. I am not choosing a side, I’m choosing truth. It’s the only way to defeat fear,” Herrera Beutler concluded, to a smattering of applause on the House floor.

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    © Great America News Desk 2022