Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, is raising concerns about what he claims could be an effort by President Donald Trump and his allies to influence the 2026 midterm elections.
Speaking with reporters on Capitol Hill Thursday, Warner suggested that Trumpโs recent comments about Republicans needing to โtake overโ elections from the states could signal broader plans to challenge state-run election systems.
โIt appears there may be a coordinated effort to try to interfere in the โ26 midterms,โ Warner said. He added that he is concerned, โThey may even start to interfere in the primaries.โ
Watch:
Trump and many Republicans have argued for years that election administration should be strengthened through tighter oversight and more uniform standards, particularly after disputes over voting procedures in 2020. Democrats, however, have increasingly framed these efforts as threats to democracy.
Warner Criticizes Tulsi Gabbardโs Role in Georgia Investigation
Warner also expressed anger over Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbardโs reported involvement in a federal raid in Fulton County, Georgia, where officials seized ballots and voter information as part of an investigation.
While details surrounding the raid remain unclear, Warner compared the situation to Watergate-era abuses of power โ an analogy Democrats have frequently used in recent years when criticizing Trump.
In a clip posted to social media, Warner said:
โThe Nixon era is back. What do I mean? Richard Nixon is most infamously known for Watergate, where he intervened in a domestic political effort under the guise of the Watergate break-in. He knew what was going on before the fact. Well, it appears the same is true.โ
Trump is reviving Nixon-style scandalsโฆ and Iโm worried our elections are at risk of interference because of it. pic.twitter.com/BLsnYe1FqF
Warner claimed testimony suggested Gabbard traveled to Atlanta because Trump personally asked her to.
โIt appears the same is true. We got testimony yesterday that Tulsi Gabbard was down in Atlanta for that crazy raid on the voting machines because Trump asked her to go.โ
Warner then questioned how Trump would have known about the investigation ahead of time:
โWell, how the hell did Trump know there was about to be a warrant issued in a lame criminal investigation before the act took place? How did he let Gabbard know to go there?โ
He also criticized reports that Trump spoke directly with FBI agents involved in the case:
โThis is not how American justice should work. When, when, when will any of my Republican colleagues find a spine?โ
Democrats Claim Raid May Have Been Improper
In another clip posted Wednesday, Warner suggested the FBI raid itself may have been unlawful, pointing to leadership changes under FBI Director Kash Patel.
โWe have seen Kash Patel basically decimate the leadership of the FBI to the point that that raidโฆ the FBI agent in charge of that office got fired because I donโt believe he felt this was legal.โ
Warner also argued that Gabbard, as DNI, should not have been involved in what he called a โdomestic criminal investigation.โ
โThe director of national intelligence, who showed up at that domestic criminal investigation where she had no right to be thereโฆโ
He continued by questioning whether anyone in the administration attempted to stop Trump from contacting agents directly:
โI know Trump doesnโt know the law, but wasnโt there anybody in the White House Counsel that said, โMr. President, you shouldnโt be talking to FBI agentsโฆโโ
Warner concluded with a sharp personal attack on Gabbard:
โThis is a guy thatโs being enhanced by a rogue DNI whoโs way over her skis in terms of knowledge or competency.โ
How far is this administration willing to go to attack our free, fair, and settled elections? pic.twitter.com/LECRngoven
Warnerโs comments come as Democrats increasingly warn of authoritarianism and election manipulation, themes expected to dominate campaign messaging heading into 2026.
Republicans, meanwhile, have argued that ensuring election integrity โ including investigating irregularities and enforcing stricter standards โ is a legitimate government responsibility, not โinterference.โ
A Maryland man has been accused of attempting to murder Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought, according to NewsNation.
Court records from Arlington General District Court show that Colin Demarco was arrested on Jan. 22 and arraigned the following day. Records indicate he faces multiple charges, including first-degree attempted murder, first-degree solicitation to commit murder, wearing a mask in certain places, and carrying a concealed firearm, a misdemeanor.
Demarco is accused of plotting to kill Vought, a law enforcement source briefed on the case told NewsNation.
Police say they were called to a Virginia residence on Aug. 10 after a witness reported that a man wearing a surgical mask and rubber gloves appeared to be standing on Voughtโs porch while possibly concealing a firearm under his shirt.
According to authorities, the suspect approached the witness and asked about Vought before leaving the scene.
Investigators later identified Demarco as the man described and executed search warrants that reportedly uncovered evidence tying him to the alleged plot. NewsNation reported that authorities found Demarco had obtained directions to the budget directorโs home, had posted online about the victim, and had engaged in online discussions that appeared to solicit others to murder Vought.
Demarco is currently being held without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Feb. 23 for a preliminary hearing. Court records list him as being represented by a public defender.
BREAKING: A 26-year-old Maryland man, Colin Demarco, has been arrested and charged with attempted murder after allegedly showing up at OMB Director Russell Voughtโs home.
The case comes amid heightened concern nationwide over threats directed at public officials. In recent years, federal authorities have warned of an increase in violent rhetoric and plots targeting government figures across the political spectrum, including presidents, members of Congress, and senior administration officials.
Earlier this week, Ryan Routh was sentenced to life in prison plus seven years over his attempt to assassinate Donald Trump on a Florida golf course.
Prosecutors argued that Routh, 60, should get a life sentence after a jury last year convicted him on five counts for allegedly plotting โpainstakingly to kill President Trump, and [taking] significant steps toward making that happen.โ
โRouthโs crimes undeniably warrant a life sentence โ he took steps over the course of months to assassinate a major presidential candidate, demonstrated the will to kill anybody in the way, and has since expressed neither regret nor remorse to his victims,โ prosecutors argued in a court filing.
Attempted Trump assassin Ryan Routh sentenced to life in prison + 84 months by Judge Aileen Cannonโฆ.. rot in hell POS pic.twitter.com/tPevPykrGs
During the September trial, a jury quickly found Routh guilty on five felony counts, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer.
Routh allegedly hid in the bushes of the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach and pointed a military-grade SKS rifle towards Trump and a Secret Service agent.
Republicans are reportedly growing uneasy in Georgiaโs 14th Congressional District, where a chaotic special election to replace former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has created an unexpected opening for Democrats in what has long been considered safe GOP territory.
The anxiety comes as Republicans hold the U.S. House by just one vote, following the swearing-in of Democrat Christian Menefee earlier this week after his special election win in Texas. With margins this tight, even unlikely threats are being taken seriously. (RELATED: Another House Republican Exits As Loudermilk Declines Reelection Bid)
A Chaotic Special Election With No Primary
The March 10 special election features 21 candidates โ including 16 Republicans, three Democrats, an independent, and a Libertarian โ with no party primary to narrow the field. Because no candidate is expected to secure a majority, the race is widely expected to advance to an April 7 runoff between the top two finishers.
Why Republicans Are Worried
With GOP voters splintered among so many candidates, party activists fear Democrats could consolidate their vote and slip into a runoff slot โ or, in a nightmare scenario, win outright.
That would be a political shock in a district Donald Trump carried by a wide margin and where Greene previously won about 63% of the vote. (RELATED: Utah Republicans Sue To Block New House Districts)
Democrats Rally Around a Single Candidate
Democrats are coalescing behind retired Army Brig. Gen. Shawn Harris, who has mounted a visible campaign complete with a staffed local headquarters and an experienced political operation. His messaging has focused on affordability and health care costs, aimed at peeling off moderates and independents.
Ringgold showed up tonight! 100+ people, packed room, real energy.
Thank you to everyone in Catoosa County who came out and is ready to vote. This is how we win.
The contest shifted Wednesday night when President Donald Trump issued a โComplete and Total Endorsementโ of Republican Clay Fuller, a move widely viewed as an effort to consolidate MAGA voters and narrow the GOP field.
โClay Fuller has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Representative from Georgiaโs 14th Congressional District โ HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!โ Trump wrote on Truth Social.
๐จBREAKING: President Trump ENDORSES Clay Fuller for Congress to Represent Georgia District 14, Marjorie Taylor Greene's old district!
"It is my Great Honor to endorse America First Patriot, Clay Fuller, who is running to represent the wonderful people of Georgiaโs 14thโฆ pic.twitter.com/4AiF67HjBc
— ๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ก๐๐๐ฃ ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐จ ๐บ๐ธ (@GoldenAgeTimes2) February 4, 2026
A Safe Seat โ But Not a Comfortable One
Republican strategists say Trumpโs endorsement should help restore order, but some privately warn that the unusual election format, combined with voter fatigue and GOP infighting, has made the race more fragile than expected.
Most observers still view a Democratic upset as unlikely โ but even a forced runoff would drain resources and attention as a challenging midterm cycle heats up.
MTG’s Eyes Next Steps
While Greene has framed her resignation from Congress as a rejection of Washington politics, speculation has continued to swirl within conservative circles that she may be positioning herself for a future national run. Allies and critics alike have noted that her recent media appearances, broader ideological critiques, and willingness to challenge Trump directly resemble the early stages of a potential presidential or third-party campaign.
Greene has not formally announced any plans to run for president, but she has also declined to rule it out โ fueling rumors that her break with Trump may be less about stepping away from politics and more about redefining the post-Trump conservative movement on her own terms.
According to a November report from Notus, Greene has privately expressed interest in following in Donald Trumpโs footsteps to the White House. The outlet cites four sources familiar with her thinking, saying Greene believes she represents the โreal MAGAโ faction โ the core conservative movement that has reshaped the GOP since 2016 โ and that many Republican leaders have drifted away from those grassroots values. (RELATED: Marjorie Taylor Greene Reportedly Prepping For 2028 Presidential Run)
One source told Notus that Greene feels confident she has built the national donor network and grassroots support needed to mount a serious primary campaign, especially as the GOPโs base remains loyal to Trumpโs populist agenda.
President Donald Trump endorsed Republican candidate Clay Fuller on Wednesday evening to succeed former Republican Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in the House of Representatives following her public resignation and break with the President.
Fuller, an Air National Guard officer and district attorney for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, is one of 21 candidates competing for the open seat โ a contest that has drawn national attention because of its unusual size and the political drama surrounding Greeneโs resignation.
โHe is strongly supported by the most Highly Respected MAGA Warriors in Georgia, and many Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives,โ Trump wrote on Truth Social. โClay Fuller has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Representative from Georgiaโs 14th Congressional District โ HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!โ
Fuller responded immediately, thanking Trump and embracing the America First agenda that has defined the district in recent years.
โThis is the honor of a lifetime. I will not let you or Georgiaโs 14th District down,โ Fuller wrote on X. โOur work to put America first is just getting started!โ
THANK YOU, Mr. President.
This is the honor of a lifetime. I will not let you or Georgiaโs 14th District down.
Georgiaโs 14th District remains one of the most Republican areas in the country, but the special election format has raised concerns among GOP strategists. With no primary to narrow the field, all candidates โ Republican and Democrat โ will appear on the same ballot March 10.
If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, the race will advance to an April 7 runoff between the top two vote-getters.
Fuller previously placed fourth in the crowded 2020 Republican primary when Greene first rose to prominence.
Greeneโs Sudden Departure โ And Her Falling Out With Trump
Greeneโs resignation in January shocked many conservatives, particularly given her years as one of Trumpโs most outspoken defenders in Congress.
However, the split came after what insiders described as a growing rift between Greene and Trumpworld allies. Greene reportedly clashed with Trump advisers over strategy heading into 2025, and the relationship deteriorated publicly after she criticized aspects of Trumpโs campaign operation and signaled frustration with party leadership dynamics.
The break marked a rare moment of separation between two figures long viewed as aligned in the MAGA movement.
Greene has not endorsed any candidate in the race, leaving an opening for Trump to assert influence directly.
GOP Concern Over Runoff Possibility
Trumpโs endorsement also comes as some Republicans worry that the fractured Republican field could allow a Democrat to slip into the runoff.
Democrat Shawn Harris โ who lost to Greene by roughly 30 points in 2024 โ is running again and could benefit if GOP voters split among multiple candidates.
Republicans currently hold a narrow House majority, adding urgency to the race. Speaker Mike Johnson has only a two-vote margin, meaning every seat matters in party-line fights.
Other Republicans in the Race
Fuller faces competition from several other well-known conservatives, including:
Georgia State Sen. Colton Moore
Former FEMA official Star Black
District GOP chairman Jim Tully
With the field wide open, Trumpโs endorsement could prove decisive in consolidating Republican support behind a single candidate.
On Tuesday, Michael Cohen, once President Donald Trumpโs personal lawyer and later one of his fiercest critics, appeared on Dan Abramsโ SiriusXM show to discuss a wide range of topicsโfrom his treatment in prison to a plea for pardons.
During the interview, Cohen revealed that he has written letters to both President Joe Biden and Donald Trump urging sweeping clemency for Americans with criminal records who have paid their debt to society. Reading from the letter he sent to Trump, Cohen said:
โIt is urged clearly, unequivocally, and without delay that the president issue an executive order granting a full and unconditional pardon to all non-violent felons who have completed their sentences. This act would be more than a gesture of compassion.โ
He continued:
โIt would be a defining stroke of moral leadership. Over 70 million Americans carry the lifelong burden of a criminal record, despite having fulfilled their legal debt to society. They are our neighbors, coworkers, parents, veterans, and citizens who live under silent exile, denied employment, housing, education, and the right to fully participate in the country they call home. With a single act, the burden can be lifted.โ
Cohen even coined a name for the plan: โTEPO, the Trump Emancipation Proclamation Order.โ He argued that such a move could be โthe single most important act of kindness that any president can bestow on 70 million Americans and their families.โ
While this appeal may surprise some given their adversarial past, it comes amid a historically expansive use of Trumpโs clemency powers in his second presidential term. Since returning to the White House in January 2025, President Trump has issued thousands of pardons and commutations, including blanket clemency for roughly 1,500 individuals connected to the January 6, 2021, Capitol events and a number of high-profile figures such as Ross Ulbricht and others.
Trumpโs defenders argue these pardons are part of his ongoing fight against what he describes as a politicized justice system, correcting overreach and restoring fairness where the courts or prosecutors exceeded their bounds. Opponents often frame the clemency spree as politically motivated, though Trumpโs supporters see it as a restoration of constitutional pardon authority to benefit everyday Americans and loyal citizens alike.
Cohenโs Prison Treatment and Claims About Bill Barr
Cohen also recounted his own prison experience after being sentenced in 2018 to three years for tax evasion, bank fraud, and lying to Congress. He described harsh conditions and claimed that then-Attorney General Bill Barr had him sent back to prison under what he characterized as โdraconian conditions,โ with extreme cold and heat in holding areas that made his time there especially difficult.
Break with MeidasTouch and Media Fallout
Cohen addressed his recent departure from the MeidasTouch Network, a left-leaning media company that cut ties with him after a Substack post in which he suggested prosecutors coerced him into testifying against Trump. Cohen insisted:
โIt is true, not personal. โฆ I specifically state that I am not here to defend Donald Trump. That is not the intention of this statement which I wrote or my Substack article.โ
He described the split as a misunderstanding driven by headlines rather than the full context of his words.
The TrumpโCohen History
The rift between Trump and Cohen runs deep. Once a loyal lawyer who said he would โtake a bulletโ for Trump, Cohen later turned on his former boss, cooperating with prosecutors and ultimately testifying in Trumpโs New York criminal caseโwhere Trump was convicted on business-record charges related to reimbursements made to Cohen during the 2016 campaign.
At the time Cohen was seeking a pardon from Trump, that relief never materialized. Trump publicly brushed off questions about pardoning Cohen, reportedly saying, โmost people will flip if the Government lets them out of trouble.โ
Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, once one of President Donald Trumpโs most outspoken allies on Capitol Hill, has escalated her public break with the former presidentโthis time taking direct aim at the Make America Great Again movement itself.
In a lengthy interview with independent political commentator Kim Iversen published on YouTube Thursday, Greene accused Trump of abandoning the grassroots voters who fueled his rise, branding MAGA a betrayal of the very people it promised to serve.
โMAGA is โ I think people are realizing it was all a lie. It was a big lie for the people,โ Greene said.
The Georgia Republican, who resigned from Congress last fall, argued that Trump has shifted his focus away from everyday Americans and toward wealthy donors and entrenched interests. According to Greene, political loyalty is now driven by money rather than principle.
โHeโs more worried about serving the big big donors,โ she said, referring to donors who contribute to Trump-aligned PACs and high-dollar projects, including his newly announced ballroom. โThose are the people that get the special favors, the government contracts, they get the pardons.โ
Greene went on to argue that foreign governments and multinational corporations now wield disproportionate influence over U.S. policy.
โAnd itโs the foreign countries that are running the show here,โ she added. โItโs the major big corporations and what is best for the world. Thatโs really what MAGA is.โ
Her criticism extended to foreign policy, particularly Trumpโs focus on Iran and the Middle East. Greene suggested domestic unrest is being ignored in favor of overseas conflicts.
โIโm sorry, weโve got civil war practically breaking out in Minnesota, can we not care about that?โ she said.
Greene reserved her sharpest criticism for U.S. involvement in Israel and Gaza, accusing Trump of prioritizing foreign interests over American lives and values.
โWeโre seeing war on behalf of Israel,โ Greene said. โWeโre seeing the people in Gaza โ innocent people in Gaza, hundreds of thousands of them completely murdered, so that they can build some new real estate development and money can pour in and everyone can get rich there in New Gaza.โ
The remarks mark a dramatic evolution for Greene, who was once considered among Trumpโs most reliable defenders in Congress. Her relationship with the former president began to fracture publicly after she accused him of dragging his feet on releasing government files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epsteinโan issue popular among the GOP base skeptical of elite accountability.
Following those comments, Trump publicly distanced himself from Greene, dubbing her โMarjorie โTraitorโ Greeneโ and claiming she had โsome sort of act going on.โ Their feud intensified in the months that followed, culminating in Greeneโs decision to leave Congress altogether.
While Greene has framed her resignation as a rejection of Washington politics, speculation has continued to swirl within conservative circles that she may be positioning herself for a future national run. Allies and critics alike have noted that her recent media appearances, broader ideological critiques, and willingness to challenge Trump directly resemble the early stages of a potential presidential or third-party campaign.
Greene has not formally announced any plans to run for president, but she has also declined to rule it outโfueling rumors that her break with Trump may be less about stepping away from politics and more about redefining the post-Trump conservative movement on her own terms.
According to a November report from Notus, Greene has privately expressed interest in following in Donald Trumpโs footsteps to the White House. The outlet cites four sources familiar with her thinking, saying Greene believes she represents the โreal MAGAโ faction โ the core conservative movement that has reshaped the GOP since 2016 โ and that many Republican leaders have drifted away from those grassroots values. (RELATED:Marjorie Taylor Greene Reportedly Prepping For 2028 Presidential Run)
One source told Notus that Greene feels confident she has built the national donor network and grassroots support needed to mount a serious primary campaign, especially as the GOPโs base remains loyal to Trumpโs populist agenda.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), Kamala Harrisโs running mate in the 2024 election, said this week that he now believes he mishandled his vice-presidential debate with Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) โ and resorted to profane bravado while attempting to explain why.
Appearing Tuesday on The Bulwark podcast with host Tim Miller, Walz was asked whether he gave Vance โtoo much benefit of the doubtโ during their widely watched debate and whether assuming good faith was a mistake.
โLook, Iโll own it,โ Walz said. โBut youโve been around this long enough. When youโre on a ticket, you take your orders. Look, I have agency on that, meaning I could have done this, but I am a good team player. And I will say this: I never kidded anybody about debates.โ
Walz went on to express frustration that he failed to more aggressively challenge Vance, who emerged from the debate with bipartisan praise for his composure, clarity, and command of the issues.
Though Walz claimed he does not โget joy out of beating someone,โ he added, โYes, I would beat the s— out of him now if I could, and I would call that out. I mean, thatโs just different. In verbally going at it, my argument is much better.โ
Walz specifically objected to Vanceโs arguments on housing and immigration โ positions that align closely with mainstream Republican policy priorities and resonate strongly with working-class voters.
โMaking the case that housing prices are up because of immigration and that we should build on federal lands โ it was such a crazy thing,โ Walz said. โBut then when I watched him, I got sucked into that.โ
Walz admitted he veered off message during the debate, particularly when reacting to controversial media narratives circulating at the time.
โIf you remember, this was right in that moment of eating dogs and cats,โ Walz said. โI took that bait and thought that that was the argument of how outrageous it was. That was not the argument.โ
A Debate That Elevated Vance
The October 2024 vice-presidential debate was widely viewed as a breakout moment for Vance, who surprised many observers with a calm, confident, and policy-focused performance. While Democrats had expected an aggressive partisan clash, Vance struck a cordial tone while forcefully defending conservative positions on immigration enforcement, housing affordability, energy independence, and federal overreach.
Polling afterward showed Vanceโs favorability rising, particularly among independents and blue-collar voters โ a key reason many Republicans now see him as the natural heir to the post-Trump GOP coalition.
Since the election, Vance has continued to build his national profile, maintaining close ties to President Donald Trump while also positioning himself as a next-generation conservative leader capable of winning Rust Belt states and expanding the Republican map. Many party insiders already consider him the likely Republican presidential nominee in 2028, if not sooner.
Harris Privately Criticized Walz Performance
Former Vice President Kamala Harris confirmed Walzโs shaky debate showing in her post-campaign memoir, 107 Days, revealing that she was deeply disappointed by his performance.
โWhen Tim fell for it and started nodding and smiling at J.D.โs fake bipartisanship, I moaned to Doug, โWhat is happening?โโ Harris wrote, referring to her husband, Doug Emhoff.
Harris acknowledged that the debate ultimately had little impact on polling but suggested Walz should have been better prepared.
โI reassured him that the election would not be won or lost on account of that debate, and in fact it had a negligible effect on our polling,โ she wrote. โIn choosing Tim, I thought that as a second-term governor and twelve-year congressman he would know what he was getting into. In hindsight, how could anyone?โ
A Telling Contrast
For many Republicans, Walzโs comments highlight a broader contrast between the two men: Vanceโs disciplined, message-driven approach versus Democratsโ increasing reliance on emotional rhetoric and post-hoc excuses.
While Walz now says he wishes he had been more combative, Republican voters saw something different in 2024 โ a Republican candidate who didnโt need theatrics to win the argument, and who looked every bit like a future president.
President Donald Trump warned Tuesday that Democrats would waste no time pursuing impeachment if they manage to retake the House of Representatives in November, arguing that their opposition is driven more by hostility than policy disagreements.
โTheyโll find something. Thereโll be something,โ Trump said during an exclusive interview on โThe Will Cain Show.โ
โI made the wrong turn at an exit, and letโs impeach him. They did that before. They impeached me on a perfect phone call, turned out. They impeached me twice and, by the way, I won the impeachments very easily and quickly, but they impeach. Theyโre very nasty people [and] they have bad policy.โ
Trumpโs comments reflect long-standing frustration among Republicans with what they view as Democratsโ reliance on investigations and impeachment rather than legislative solutions. During his first term, Trump became the only president in U.S. history to be impeached twiceโonce over a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and later over events surrounding January 6. In both cases, the Senate declined to convict, outcomes Trump and his supporters cite as vindication.
The president joined Will Cain live from Iowa, where he kicked off a push toward the 2026 midterm elections. The visit included interactions with voters and culminated in a campaign-style event in Clive, underscoring the administrationโs early focus on maintaining Republican momentum and defending narrow congressional margins.
Republicans currently hold a razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives, with 218 seats to Democratsโ 213. That slim advantage has heightened concerns within the GOP about historical trends that tend to favor the out-of-power party during midterm elections.
History suggests Trump and Republicans face an uphill battle heading into November. Since the 1930s, midterm elections have almost always resulted in the presidentโs party losing House seatsโand frequently losing control of the chamber altogether. Political analysts often attribute the pattern to voter complacency among the presidentโs supporters and heightened motivation among the opposition.
Trump acknowledged that reality while speaking to Cain.
โWhether itโs Republican or Democrat, when they win, it doesnโt make any difference. They seem to lose the midterms, so thatโs the only thing I worry about,โ he said.
โMaybe they [voters] want to put up a guard fence. You just donโt know. It doesnโt make sense. Even if a president did well, they seemed to lose the midterms, but hopefully weโre going to change that around.โ
Republicans argue that the stakes of the upcoming midterms are especially high, pointing to Democratic calls for renewed investigations, aggressive regulatory policies, and expanded government spending. Trumpโs message to voters in Iowa centered on the need for unified Republican turnout to prevent what he described as partisan gridlock and politically motivated impeachment efforts from resurfacing.
Florida state Sen. Ileana Garcia (R), a longtime supporter of former President Trump and co-founder of Latinas for Trump, is publicly criticizing the tone and tactics surrounding the administrationโs latest immigration crackdownโwarning that internal divisions and inflammatory rhetoric could cost Republicans in the midterms.
โI do think that he will lose the midterms because of Stephen Miller,โ Garcia told The New York Times in an interview published Tuesday, referring to Trumpโs White House deputy chief of staff and one of the architects of the administrationโs hard-line immigration strategy.
Garcia, who has consistently supported strong border enforcement and backed Trumpโs efforts to regain control of the southern border, stressed that her concern is not with securing the border itself, but with how the policy is being communicated and executed. She placed particular blame on Miller for what she described as unnecessarily aggressive rhetoric that risks alienating persuadable votersโincluding Hispanic Republicans who favor border security but reject what they see as dehumanizing language.
The comments follow a volatile weekend in Minneapolis, where federal agents shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti during a protest tied to the administrationโs immigration actions. The incident came just weeks after another fatal shooting involving federal authorities in the same city, when ICE officers shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good earlier this month.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Pretti โattackedโ federal law enforcement officers, while Miller went further, describing Pretti as โa would-be assassinโ who โtried to murder federal law enforcement.โ
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later sought to distance President Trump from Millerโs remarks, telling reporters Monday that she had not heard the president โcharacterize Mr. Pretti in that wayโ and emphasizing that the incident remains under investigation.
Garcia pushed back sharply on Millerโs framing in a post Monday on X.
โDistorting, politicizing, slandering โ justifying what happened to Alex Pretti contradicts the American values the administration campaigned on. He was neither a domestic terrorist nor an assassin,โ Garcia wrote.
โAllowing individuals like Stephen Miller, among others, who represent the government and make hard-line decisions, to make such comments will have long-term consequences. โฆ This is not what I voted for!โ she added.
Garciaโs criticism carries weight within Republican circles. She helped rally Latina voters for Trump during his 2016 campaign and later served in the Department of Homeland Security during his first term. While she has consistently supported deportations of criminal illegal immigrants and stronger border controls, she has previously warned against what she called โinhumaneโ tactics used to meet deportation quotas, arguing that they undermine public trust and conservative messaging on law and order.
Her remarks highlight a broader debate within the GOP as Republicans campaign on border security ahead of Novemberโs high-stakes midterms. While voters continue to rank immigration and public safety among their top concerns, some party leaders are increasingly wary that overheated rhetoricโespecially following deadly confrontationsโcould distract from Republicansโ core argument: restoring order at the border, enforcing the law, and keeping communities safe.
As fallout from the Minnesota shootings continues, political observers warn that how Republicans handle immigration enforcementโand how they talk about itโmay prove just as important as the policies themselves in determining control of Congress this fall.
Retired Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a former National Security Council official best known for his role in President Donald Trumpโs first impeachment, announced Tuesday that he is entering Floridaโs 2026 U.S. Senate race as a Democrat, challenging Republican Sen. Ashley Moody.
Vindman rose to national prominence in 2019 after testifying against President Trump over a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyโtestimony that became central to Democratsโ first impeachment effort. That impeachment ultimately failed, with the Senate acquitting Trump in a 52โ48 vote largely along party lines.
In his campaign launch video, Vindman leaned heavily on footage from the impeachment proceedings, framing his candidacy as an extension of his opposition to Trump. โThe last time you saw me was here,โ Vindman said, referring to the impeachment hearing. โSwearing an oath to tell the truth about a president who broke his.โ
Vindman went on to describe Trump as a โwannabe tyrantโ and claimed the former president unleashed a โreign of terror and retributionโ against him and his familyโlanguage that underscores how central anti-Trump activism is likely to be to his campaign pitch.
A political newcomer with no prior electoral experience, Vindman faces steep odds in Florida, a state that has moved decisively to the right in recent election cycles. Trump carried the Sunshine State by 13 points in November 2024, and Republicans currently hold every statewide elected office. Florida has not elected a Democratic senator since Bill Nelsonโs narrow reelection victory in 2012.
Vindman, an Iraq War veteran, retired from the Army in 2020 after a decades-long military career. He later filed a lawsuit against Trump and several former aides, alleging โintimidation and retaliation,โ but the suit was unsuccessful. His wife, Rachel Vindman, publicly criticized former President Joe Biden for declining to issue pardons to the couple at the end of his term.
โWhatever happens to my family, know this: No pardons were offered or discussed,โ Rachel Vindman wrote in a post on Bluesky. She added that she โcannot begin to describe the level of betrayal and hurtโ she felt toward the Biden administration.
Sen. Ashley Moody, a Republican and former Florida attorney general, was appointed to the Senate by Gov. Ron DeSantis to fill the seat vacated by Marco Rubio after Rubio became secretary of state. Moody is running for reelection with the backing of President Trump and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, giving her a significant institutional and fundraising advantage.
The Cook Political Report currently rates the race as โsolid Republican,โ its strongest rating for GOP-held seatsโreflecting Floridaโs recent political realignment and Democratsโ continued struggles to remain competitive statewide.
The 2026 contest is a special election to serve the final two years of Rubioโs term. The winner will need to run again in 2028 to secure a full six-year term.
Vindman has lived in Broward County since 2023, a Democratic stronghold in South Florida. His twin brother, Eugene Vindman, represents a safely Democratic House district in northern Virginia, further highlighting the familyโs close ties to Democratic politics.
Nationally, Democrats face a difficult map in 2026 as they attempt a longshot effort to retake control of the Senate. To do so, they would need to defend vulnerable seats in states like Michigan and Georgia while flipping at least four Republican-held seatsโan outcome most analysts consider unlikely.
