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Marsha Blackburn Announces Gubernatorial Run Just Six Months Into Term

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Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

On Wednesday, Tennessee Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn announced she is running for governor despite only being six months into her current Senate term.

Blackburn has emerged as a close ally of President Donald Trump in Tennessee. Her opening pitch to voters in her gubernatorial run highlights her relationship with the president, saying Trump needs “strong conservative governors” to deliver his agenda.

“In his first six months, President Trump has made historic strides in Making America Great Again, but as he sends power back to the states, he’s going to need strong conservative governors who can bring that revolution home,” Blackburn said. “I’m running to serve as Tennessee’s next governor to ensure Tennessee is America’s conservative leader.”

Blackburn’s opening ad aligns with Trump’s priorities, pledging to deport illegal aliens “whether it takes planes, trains, or starships,” “define our boys and girls the way God made them,” and keep the momentum going for Tennessee, which is booming in popularity.

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“Tennessee is the greatest place in the world to rear a family and make a life and a living, and together, we can make our great state even better,” Blackburn says.

Blackburn, who lives in the Nashville area, has been a Tennessee lawmaker since 1999, when she was elected to the state legislature. Before being elected to the Senate, she represented Tennessee in the House of Representatives for nearly two decades.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (R.), who is serving his second term, is term-limited and cannot run for re-election. The state has not been led by a Democrat since 2011.

Blackburn has been openly considering a run for governor since January, however, pressure to pass not only Trump’s signature legislation, but also confirm his nominees, has made launching a statewide campaign in Tennessee a challenge.

The senator is immediately the favorite, with near certainty that she’ll enter the primary with Trump’s endorsement.

Blackburn’s top competitor will be Republican Rep. John Rose, a wealthy businessman who declared in March and is expected to self-fund his campaign.

Musk Donates $5 Million To Trump Super PAC

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Image via Pixabay free images

Tech billionaire Elon Musk donated $5 million to the main super PAC affiliated with President Trump in late June despite an ongoing public feud, according to recent campaign finance filings. 

Musk made the donation to MAGA Inc. on June 27 — the same day he also donated $5 million each to the Senate Leadership Fund and Congressional Leadership Fund, the main super PACs dedicated to boosting Senate and House Republicans. 

The donations appear to have come during a lull in the Tesla CEO’s spat with Trump.  

After spending at least $250 million to boost Trump’s 2024 White House campaign, Musk joined the administration as head of the Department of Government Efficiency. Following a controversial four-month stint, the tech mogul announced his plans to step away in late May. 

The two men appeared to hint at peace in mid-June, with Trump saying he had “no hard feelings” and Musk suggesting he “went too far.” 

However, just one day after his donations to the president and congressional Republicans in late June, Musk was once again lambasting Trump’s tax and spending bill and reigniting the feud. 

The tech billionaire also followed through on threats to launch a new third political party called the “America Party,” though he has done little since to establish it.

Last month, President Trump also famously threatened to deport the South African billionaire by using DOGE.

“We’ll have to take a look,” Trump said when asked about the deportation. “We might have to put DOGE on Elon. You know what DOGE is? DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon! Wouldn’t that be terrible?”

Musk’s most recent donation comes months after he said that he will dial back his spending on future political campaigns.

Asked about his plans for political contributions at Bloomberg’s Qatar Economic Forum, Musk said over video that he’s “going to do a lot less in the future.” Musk spent nearly $240 million through his political action committee, America PAC, helping Trump and Republicans in the 2024 election cycle. His comments on Tuesday, however, indicate that he won’t be as aggressive in pushing Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections.

“I think I’ve done enough,” Musk said, adding, “If I see a reason to do political spending in the future, I will do it. I do not currently see a reason.”

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Nancy Mace Jumps Into Race For South Carolina Governor

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It’s on…

South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace announced she is entering the race to become South Carolina’s next governor.

Mace made her official announcement at her alma mater, The Citadel, a senior military college, on Monday. The congresswoman was the first woman to graduate from the college in 1999. 

“This morning I am making it official. I am running to be your governor of the great state of South Carolina,” Mace said, speaking from the school. “I didn’t come to join the club. They don’t want me and I don’t want them. I came to hold the line.”

“South Carolina is tired of the politicians who smile for the cameras, lie to your face, and then vanish when it’s time to lead,” she said. 

On Sunday, Mace posted a video that concludes with a graphic that reads “Nancy Mace For Governor.”

“Do you like our X header?” she asked in a post on the social media site with the same image.

The firebrand South Carolina congresswoman had teased a potential run for weeks. Last Monday, she released a video highlighting the governor’s race and President Trump’s praise for her. The video included the caption “Coming soon.” 

According to Fox News, Mace told a crowd at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics over the previous weekend that “not only do you pick presidents, maybe you can pick the next South Carolina governor too while we’re here today, because we’re going to be announcing a run very shortly potentially for that as well.”

Mace joins fellow Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), state Attorney General Alan Wilson (R), Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and state Sen. Josh Kimbrell (R) in the primary. 

Since February, Mace has been at odds with South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, criticizing his perceived inaction on prosecuting sex crimes — particularly in relation to video recordings she says were taken of her and other women without their consent by her ex-fiancé.

Mace told Fox News that if she launched a gubernatorial bid, it would be a “two-man race” between her and Wilson. 

In June, Mace went toe-to-toe with failed vice presidential hopeful and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as he struggled to define what a woman is during a House Oversight Committee hearing.

“What is a woman?” Mace asked Walz after several minutes of the two officials going back and forth over various topics. Mace peppered Walz with questions about comparing immigration officials to the Gestapo, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, his time in China in the late 1980s, his time in the military, and other topics.

Walz paused to gather himself before responding.

“I’m not sure I understand the question here,” Walz told Mace. “What do you want me to say?”

Mace then ripped into Walz. 

“I want you to say that a woman like me is an adult human female. That men can’t become women,” Mace shot back. “You guys are the party of violence, and you’re the party erasing women. You don’t respect us. You’re a bigot. You’re a misogynist. You’re a sexist. Mr. Chairman, I yield back.”

“Tampon Tim Walz couldn’t define a woman today in GOP Oversight when I had him in the pressure cooker,” Mace said on social media with a video of the exchange. “He was speechless.

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Report: Pete Hegseth Discussed Leaving Pentagon Post For Public Office

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Missvain, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has reportedly had discussions about resigning from his role in the Pentagon to run for political office next year.

If Hegseth were to follow through with a political campaign, it would amount to a major leadership shake-up at the department that oversees the American military and millions of federal employees. The Defense Department bars civilian employees from running for political office, meaning Hegseth would have to resign to do so.

By Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America – Pete Hegseth, CC BY-SA 2.0

In a statement, Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, said, “Hegseth’s focus remains solely on serving under President Trump.”

NBC reports:

One of the people said their discussion with Hegseth happened within the past three weeks and that it was serious, not simply spitballing ideas. The other person, who also characterized it as serious, wouldn’t say when they had spoken — except that it was since Hegseth became defense secretary in January. The two sources, along with others in this article, were granted anonymity to speak candidly.

The discussions centered on what it would take to run. One person said they discussed the eligibility requirements to run for governor of Tennessee and Hegseth’s chances of winning. The other person said they talked with Hegseth about the realities of a campaign.

The sources said Hegseth has mentioned a 2026 gubernatorial run in his home state of Tennessee, where Governor Bill Lee is term-limited.

David B. Gleason from Chicago, IL, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

However, officials close to Hegseth have strongly refuted the rumors that the Pentagon chief is planning an early exit.

Parnell said in the statement: “Fake news NBC is so desperate for attention, they are shopping around a made up story… again. Only two options exist: either the ‘sources’ are imaginary or these reporters are getting punked. Secretary Hegseth’s focus remains solely on serving under President Trump and advancing the America First mission at the Department of Defense.”

Others in Hegseth’s orbit said he doesn’t plan to launch a campaign. A person who spoke with the secretary last week asked him about speculation that he was looking for an off-ramp from being defense secretary, such as running for political office in Tennessee. This person said Hegseth was “very, very clear” that he wasn’t going to run and denied even considering it. The idea, this person said, is “totally off the table.”

NBC News reported that a longtime Trump adviser familiar with political discussions around Hegseth said he won’t run for office in Tennessee.

Hegseth, a former Army National Guard officer and Fox News host, has campaigned for political office before. He ran for the U.S. Senate in his home state, Minnesota, in 2012 and withdrew after he failed to win the GOP nomination.

Democrat Lawmaker Announces Resignation After Being Convicted on Felony Charges

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Arrest image via Pixabay

Minnesota state Sen. Nicole Mitchell (D) said that she will resign after being convicted last week on two felony charges.

Nicole Mitchell was convicted of felony first-degree burglary and possession of burglary or theft tools for breaking into her stepmother Carol Mitchell’s Minnesota home in April 2024.

Nicole Mitchell pleaded not guilty, and during the trial, her defense argued that she was at the home to check on her stepmother, who lives with Alzheimer’s.

Nicole Mitchell’s stepmother Carol Mitchell reportedly took the stand, saying that she felt “extremely violated” after finding Nicole Mitchell in her home.

Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy said Nicole Mitchell “has gotten the due process she is entitled to and was convicted by a jury of her peers.”

“With the clarity brought by the resolution of this case, the Senate DFL Caucus will continue to focus on issues that improve the lives of Minnesota families and communities,” Murphy said.

GOP Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson criticized her decision to not resign immediately and blamed Democrats for “refusing to hold her accountable during session.” His caucus tried and failed to expel Mitchell from the chamber in the wake of the charges.

“Senator Mitchell was convicted of two felonies; she doesn’t get to give the Senate two weeks’ notice. Democrats shielded Mitchell for 15 months to protect their political power, but a jury needed just three hours to confirm what was already clear: she shouldn’t be a senator,” he said in a statement.

Gov. Tim Walz’s office is expected to announce details about a special election after Nicole Mitchell’s resignation. There is another special election set for September to fill a vacancy left by former House Speaker Melissa Hortman’s politically-motivated assassination.

Trump Cabinet Member Opens Up On VP Vance 2028 Possibility

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Secretary of Defense Marco Rubio signaled he’s in favor of Vice President JD Vance’s potential 2028 run for the White House during a recent interview.

In an interview on Fox News’s “My View with Lara Trump,” Rubio sidestepped a question about his own presidential ambitions when asked by the president’s daughter-in-law whether his own sights are “set outside the State Department.” Last week, Trump announced she would not run for Senate in North Carolina after considering jumping inot the race.

“I think JD Vance would be a great nominee… if he decides he wants to do that,” Rubio said during the Saturday interview.

“I think he’s doing a great job as vice president. He’s a close friend, and I hope he intends to do it,” Rubio added.

Pivoting back to his own political future, Rubio said he loves his job as Secretary of State and intends to serve out his full term. He noted that would likely preclude him from running for president in 2028.

“I know it’s kind of early, but being in the role that I’m in here, as the secretary of State, I really don’t play in politics. There’s actually rules against me being involved in domestic politics,” Rubio said.

“And I want to do this job, as long as the president allows me to do it, and stay in that job, which would keep me here all the way through January of 2028,” he added.

By Office of Vice President of the United States – @VP on X, Public Domain,

Rubio, who ran unsuccessfully for president in 2016, did not shut the door to a future White House bid, but he said he would be satisfied if his career of public service peaks with his tenure at the State Department.

“I feel, honestly, you never know what the future holds. You never rule things out or anything, because you just don’t know. Things change very quickly,” Rubio said. “But that said, I believe that if I am able to be here through the duration of this presidency — and we get things done at the pace that we’ve been doing the last six months — I’ll be able to look back at my time in public service and say, ‘I made a difference, I had an impact, and I served my country in a very positive way.’”

“And I would be satisfied with that as the apex of my career,” Rubio said. “And so that’s what I’m focused on right now because what we’re doing some special things that I think are going to bear dividend and fruit for a generation.”

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AOC Campaign Office Vandalized With Anti-Israel Message

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Police responded after a campaign office for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was vandalized with a painted anti-Israel slogan in New York City.

The slogan, written in red paint, read “AOC funds genocide in Gaza.” The vandals had also spread the paint all over the entrance to the campaign office before police arrived at roughly 1 a.m. Monday.

The incident came just days after Ocasio-Cortez voted against legislation from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) that would have cut funding for the Israeli Defense Forces.

The lawmaker, who has been vocally critical of Israel’s war in Gaza, said she voted against the bill because it only cut funding for the defensive “Iron Dome” and did nothing to cut off the “actual bombs killing Palestinians.”

Greene’s legislation would have cut off roughly $500 million in funding for Israel. Her proposed amendment, which failed on Thursday, came after Israeli Defense Forces bombed the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza.

“Israel bombed the Catholic Church in Gaza, and that entire population is being wiped out as they continue their aggressive war in Gaza,” Greene said.

Voting alongside Greene on the amendment were Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) members of the progressive so-called “squad” to which Ocasio-Cortez also belongs.

READ NEXT: Republican Congresswoman Pushes Mass ‘Amnesty’ Bill For Illegal Migrants

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

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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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Years After Public Feud Trump Endorses South Dakota Senator

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Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

In an unexpected move, President Trump has endorsed Sen. Mike Rounds for re-election despite vowing to “never endorse” him again years ago.

Trump previously endorsed Rounds in 2020, but later eviscerated the senator in 2022 after Rounds appeared on ABC’s “This Week” and described the 2020 election as “fair.”

“‘Senator’ Mike Rounds of the Great State of South Dakota just went woke on the Fraudulent Presidential Election of 2020,” Trump declared at the beginning of a lengthy statement in January 2022.

“Even though his election will not be coming up for 5 years, I will never endorse this jerk again,” Trump later said in the statement.

“The Radical Left Democrats and RINOS, like ‘Senator’ Mike Rounds, do not make it easy for our Country to succeed. He is a weak and ineffective leader, and I hereby firmly pledge that he will never receive my endorsement again!” Trump asserted in that statement several years ago.

But in a surprising turnaround, President Trump is now endorsing Rounds.

In a Monday Truth Social post, the President called the South Dakota Senator “An America First Patriot,” declaring, “Mike Rounds has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”

Sen. Rounds responded to Trump, thanking him for the endorsement.

CNN Commentator Suggests He’ll Run for Senate if Trump Tells Him To

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CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings signaled that he would run for Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) seat in 2026 if President Donald Trump tells him to.

During an interview with Jennings on the Real America’s Voice show Bolling!, host Eric Bolling asked, “A lot of people are floating your name to take over, to jump into Mitch McConnell’s Senate seat next year in ’26. You thinking about it?”

“Yeah, I haven’t made any announcements about that,” replied Jennings, who worked as a special assistant for former President George W. Bush. “There’s three people in the race, I know them all, like them all, have been in and out of their lives in varying degrees over the years. I’ve supported them all in various endeavors, so I’m confident the seat will remain Republican.”

He continued, “I do think politics is a team sport, and I think Trump’s the head coach. And eventually he’s gonna weigh in on this, and my political advice would be to anybody, you know, if he calls a play, we’re gonna have to run it. I wouldn’t want to run against the president in Kentucky. So, I don’t really have any announcement about it at the moment.”

After Bolling pressed, “If Trump taps you, you’re gonna run?” Jennings said cryptically, “I pay very close attention to everything the president says.”

McConnell, who has held his Senate seat since 1985, announced in February he would not seek re-election in 2026 amid growing concerns over his health.

Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, and businessman Nate Morris have all declared their candidacy in the race.