The Trump-led redistricting effort in South Carolina failed in the state senate Tuesday after several Republicans defected to join Democrats in blocking the new map from advancing to a final vote.
The 20-24 vote fell short of the 26 needed to move the map forward, a defeat that came despite Trump&#8217;s public pressure on South Carolina Republicans to follow the lead of red states such as Texas, Florida, and North Carolina and give the GOP a stronger advantage in November&#8217;s pivotal elections.
The new map, which passed the state house last week, would have axed the state&#8217;s lone Democratic district, represented by longtime Democratic Rep. James Clyburn. The failed vote is a significant setback to President Trump&#8217;s redistricting agenda, which suffered an additional defeat Tuesday after a panel of federal judges blocked the use of a Republican-backed map in Alabama.
Several Republican defectors joined all Democrats in voting against advancing the map, a move that closely <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/indiana-senate-rejects-trump-backed-redistricting-bid-dealing-blow-to-gops-2026-outlook">mirrors</a> the Indiana state senate&#8217;s December action after it rejected a map that would likely have flipped two Democratic seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The vote reportedly came as a surprise to the Trump administration, with an administration official <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/south-carolinas-redistricting-effort-fails-state-senate-gop-opposition-rcna346962">telling</a> NBC News that &#8220;the votes were there&#8221; and that the White House had &#8220;no new information&#8221; indicating the map would fail to advance. Another White House adviser called the vote a &#8220;betrayal.&#8221;
GOP leadership in the state senate had shown some resistance to enacting the new map, given that primary elections were already underway across the state.
“Republicans are stronger when the Democrat Party is vibrant and viable,” GOP Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/south-carolina-state-senate-rejects-effort-tackle-redistricting-pressu-rcna344815">said</a> earlier this month, adding that he refused to surrender to Trump on this issue. “I have too much Southern blood in me to surrender. Indeed, as some of you will recognize, it is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid, to think and act for myself.”
Following the vote, several Republican state senators defended their votes on more practical grounds.
“South Carolina citizens are going to the polls today. And neither my conscience or common sense is going to let me stop an election that is already underway,” Republican state Sen. Richard Cash <a href="https://www.southcarolinapublicradio.org/sc-news/2026-05-26/sc-senate-rejects-president-trumps-call-to-redraw-congressional-maps">said</a>.
To proponents of the bill, the &#8220;too late&#8221; rationale expressed by defecting GOP state senators is simply a cover for ducking a tough vote, given that the senators had debated the map for weeks before voting even began. The affected congressional primaries, after all, would merely have been rescheduled to August.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump had personally urged South Carolina lawmakers to move forward with the measure. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he was “watching closely” and called on state Republicans to “be bold and courageous,” citing Tennessee’s recent decision to split up its only deep blue district.
Tuesday&#8217;s vote arrives on the heels of state senate <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-flexes-political-muscle-against-republicans-who-bucked-him-on-redistricting?author=Drew+Berkemeyer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=13&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Flexes+Political+Muscle+Against+Republicans+Who+Bucked+Him+On+Redistricting">primaries</a> in Indiana, where five of the seven Republican state senators who resisted a Trump-aligned redistricting effort were ousted in their primaries by challengers carrying the president’s endorsement — a stark omen for the South Carolina defectors.
Drew Berkemeyer contributed to this report.

trump_southcarolina

Republicans Revolt And Hand Dems Stunning Win Against Trump’s Redistricting Push

Redistricting

Republicans

South Carolina

Los Angeles mayoral candidate and reality TV star Spencer Pratt opened up about the personal experience that led him to register as a Republican.
In an interview that aired Wednesday night, CNN anchor Elex Michaelson asked Pratt point-blank, “Why are you a Republican?”
Pratt, best known for his role on MTV’s 2000s-era reality series &#8220;The Hills,&#8221; teased the revelation by saying, “You want to break some news here? This is the first time I’ve ever said this, so this is breaking news. Everyone’s going to freak out.”
&#8220;When I was a hated reality star, I got so many death threats, I had so much security and police, and what did they tell me to do? Get a gun,&#8221; Pratt said. &#8220;I know people don&#8217;t like guns, but L.A. was dangerous if you&#8217;re hated, so I got a gun. My wife got a gun, and then we needed [concealed carry permits].&#8221; 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Los Angeles mayoral contender and former reality TV star <a href="https://twitter.com/spencerpratt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@spencerpratt</a> tells <a href="https://twitter.com/Elex_Michaelson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Elex_Michaelson</a> the reason why he became a Republican.
This is part of a special series on the top contenders in the race for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LosAngeles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LosAngeles</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mayor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#mayor</a> <a href="https://t.co/mDqglZvE6B">pic.twitter.com/mDqglZvE6B</a>
— The Story Is (@CNNTheStoryIs) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNTheStoryIs/status/2057330131501236610?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2026</a></blockquote>
Pratt said only Republican candidates supported concealed carry rights, a key pillar of the Second Amendment that many Democrats oppose. In 2022, the <a href="https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/597/20-843/case.pdf">U.S. Supreme Court ruled</a> that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to carry a concealed handgun outside the home for self-defense.
&#8220;That was what I aligned with: my safety, my personal safety, my family&#8217;s safety. I know people don&#8217;t like guns, but when people are threatening your life and your own security is telling you, you need to have home protection &#8230; that&#8217;s it,&#8221; Pratt said.
Pratt, running in deep-blue Los Angeles, acknowledged gun rights represent a &#8220;hot button&#8221; issue, but vowed to use law enforcement to protect sensitive sites. 
&#8220;I&#8217;m also going to be the mayor that puts LAPD in front of every school to make schools safe from guns,&#8221; he said, not backing down on his position. &#8220;I know people don&#8217;t like guns, and we need to make everything, especially schools, safe, but that is where I connect to, and once you feel fear, and it&#8217;s real, you want to protect your family.&#8221; 
Beyond the cameras and Hollywood studios, Pratt is criss-crossing the City of Angels, meeting wildfire victims in the Pacific Palisades and <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/05/20/us-news/spencer-pratt-trades-the-debate-stage-for-bbq-in-south-la/">firing up the grill</a> with voters in South L.A. 
One voter, frustrated by what she described as Karen Bass’ inaction, pledged her support for Spencer Pratt.
&#8220;Karen Bass is not doing anything; she&#8217;s been bullsh*tting us,&#8221; the voter said, detailing her daughter&#8217;s painful drug addiction. &#8220;My daughter needs the help. They put her in jail. No treatment, no medicine, and we need more than that.&#8221; 
“She’s not homeless — she has a mother — but she’s downtown right now, walking around, and people probably don’t think she has a mother who loves her,” the emotional woman said as she embraced Spencer Pratt in a hug.
Pratt is set to face incumbent Democratic Mayor Karen Bass and far-Left Councilwoman Nithya Raman in the June 2 mayoral primary.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
She&#8217;s voting for Spencer Pratt because he&#8217;s willing to talk about actual problems facing LA.
The other two just want to hide problems. <a href="https://t.co/sT1D7cINgK">pic.twitter.com/sT1D7cINgK</a>
— Mila Joy (@Milajoy) <a href="https://twitter.com/Milajoy/status/2057313117206700192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2026</a></blockquote>

Lucky’s Montecito 25th Anniversary

Spencer Pratt Reveals The Personal Reason He Became A Republican

California

Los Angeles

News

Spencer Pratt

Georgia’s political future came into focus Tuesday night as voters narrowed crowded primary races down to six major contenders in two of the state’s most consequential races. 
Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones and billionaire dark horse candidate Rick Jackson advanced to a runoff election to decide the Republican nominee for governor. Meanwhile, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms emerged victorious on the Democrat side, setting up a competitive election to succeed Republican Governor Brian Kemp. 
Republican Congressman Mike Collins and former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley also advanced to a runoff to determine who will challenge incumbent Democrat Sen. Jon Ossoff in November. 
Georgia is expected to be one of the most-watched battleground states heading into the 2026 midterms, with national implications for both parties.
Jones, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump and one of Georgia’s most recognizable conservative figures, entered the race with significant momentum after securing the president&#8217;s endorsement. As lieutenant governor, Jones championed lower taxes, increased funding for the education system, and supported law enforcement. 
Billionaire Rick Jackson <a href="https://www.wabe.org/rick-jackson-burt-jones-headed-to-a-runoff-in-the-republican-primary-for-georgia-governor/">spent</a> more than $83 million of his own fortune on the race, vastly outspending the other GOP candidates. Jackson, who made his fortune as a healthcare executive, framed his campaign around government accountability and spending reform.  
“Work brings dignity, purpose, and independence. If you want to sit on your butt, binge-watching Netflix and eating Cheetos, do it with your own money,” he said during the campaign. 
Despite Jackson&#8217;s massive spending advantage, Jones received the endorsement of President Trump, leaving the race neck-and-neck. The runoff election will now decide who advances to the general election against Bottoms. 
Bottoms, who rose to national prominence during her tenure as Atlanta mayor, positioned herself as the establishment Democrat in the governor’s race. Backed by major Democrat donors and party operatives, Bottoms ran on expanding healthcare, protecting abortion, and increasing government investment in social programs.
Her nomination sets her up for her first attempt to win a statewide general election after she served as a senior adviser in the Biden White House following her departure from City Hall.
As mayor, Bottoms oversaw Atlanta during the COVID pandemic and the riots that followed the death of George Floyd. She has been staunchly opposed to President Trump, whom she has described as “a madman in the White House.” Bottoms <a href="https://www.atlantaga.gov/Home/Components/News/News/11448/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">eliminated</a> cash bail requirements for several offenses and pushed policies that restrict police from pursuing misdemeanor suspects. 
On the Senate side, the Republican race in Georgia could become one of the most expensive and nationally significant contests in the country. 
Collins, a conservative congressman and trucking business owner, campaigned as a pro-Trump outsider focused on border security, economic growth, and rolling back Biden-era policies. Dooley decided to get involved after becoming frustrated with &#8220;congressional gridlock and a failure to service the public.&#8221; The primary will determine who will face Ossoff, one of the Democrats’ highest-profile incumbents. 
Ossoff narrowly won his Senate seat in the 2021 runoff elections, which temporarily gave Democrats control of the Senate. With Georgia serving as a swing state in recent elections, both parties are expected to pour significant resources into the race ahead of November.

Georgia Residents Cast Ballots For 2020 U.S. Presidential Election

Two Republican Primaries Advance To Runoffs In Key Swing State

2026 Midterms

Democrats

Election

Georgia

Louisiana Republicans voted to oust Sen. Bill Cassidy on Saturday, rejecting the incumbent who voted to convict President Donald Trump on impeachment charges.
With more than half the vote counted, Cassidy is trailing his conservative primary rivals, Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) and State Treasurer John Fleming. Trump-backed Letlow, buoyed by the president’s endorsement, currently leads the race with 45% of the vote. With no candidate clearing the 50% threshold, Letlow and Fleming will advance to a June 27 runoff. <a href="https://x.com/DecisionDeskHQ/status/2055829975475859625?s=20">Decision Desk HQ called the race 9:56 p.m. ET.</a>
Cassidy’s fall from grace is another sign of Trump’s enduring grip on the Republican base, as the president continues flexing his political clout to target GOP lawmakers he views as disloyal to his agenda.
Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-slams-disloyal-disaster-bill-cassidy-as-louisiana-voters-head-to-the-polls?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Tim+Rice&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Trump+Slams+%E2%80%98Disloyal+Disaster%E2%80%99+Bill+Cassidy+As+Louisiana+Voters+Head+To+The+Polls">took one last shot</a> at Cassidy as Louisiana headed to the polls on Saturday, urging voters to throw their support behind the incumbent Republican’s primary challenger.
“Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana is a disloyal disaster,” the president wrote on <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116584450399753941">Truth Social</a>, noting that the two-term senator voted to impeach him after the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots. “Bill Cassidy is a sleazebag, a terrible guy, who is BAD FOR LOUISIANA. Now he’s going to get CLOBBERED, hopefully, in today’s BIG election, by two great people!!!”
 In January, Trump endorsed Letlow (R-LA) to replace Sen. Cassidy, who was one of seven Senate Republicans who voted to convict Trump after the January 6 Capitol riot. 
In a <a href="https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/article_67fa0a74-6ee1-11eb-8bd4-6bda88cda171.html">February 2021 column that has since come back to haunt him politically</a>, Cassidy wrote that Trump was &#8220;guilty” of inciting the riot and “actively subverting the peaceful transfer of power.” 
Ryan Girdusky, a conservative political consultant, called that vote the &#8220;ultimate betrayal.&#8221; 
&#8220;The impeachment vote against Trump is really what did him in; had he not voted to impeach Trump, he wouldn&#8217;t be in this position,&#8221; Girdusky said. &#8220;If they successfully had a trial against him, he would have been ineligible to run for President. So maybe that&#8217;s what Cassidy was rooting for.&#8221;
That reality, Girdusky said, pushed Trump to get involved. 
&#8220;“Highly Respected America First Congresswoman, Julia Letlow, of the wonderful State of Louisiana, is a Great Star, has been from the very beginning, and only gets better!’ <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116578950880982545">Trump said in a Friday Truth Social post</a>. “Election Day is tomorrow, Saturday, May 16th. Vote for Julia Letlow — She has my Complete and Total Endorsement, and will never let you down!”
In her campaign launch, Letlow said that in “a state as conservative as ours, we shouldn’t have to wonder how our senator will vote when the pressure’s on. Louisiana deserves conservative champions, leaders who will not flinch,” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-slugfest-all-but-inevitable-as-trump-backed-lawmaker-enters-louisiana-race">The Daily Wire previously reported.</a> The congresswoman took office in April 2021, following a special election triggered by her husband’s death.
During the campaign, Cassidy and Fleming targeted Letlow over <a href="blank">past comments praising diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts</a>, questioning her conservative credentials.
&#8220;She&#8217;s as moderate as Bill Cassidy is,&#8221; Girdusky told The Daily Wire. &#8220;So it&#8217;s not like they&#8217;re trading a moderate for a conservative. They&#8217;re trading a moderate for a moderate, but one that Trump approved versus one that Trump didn&#8217;t approve.&#8221; 
Cassidy also faced heat for stalling some of Trump&#8217;s high-profile nominees, including Surgeon General pick Dr. Casey Means.  
A physician and chairman of the Senate health committee, Cassidy stopped short of supporting her, effectively sinking her nomination prospects — a move that infuriated MAHA supporters and the president himself.
“Bill Cassidy is a mindless avatar for his donors and a blind defender of the status quo system that is profiting from American sickness,” Calley Means, Casey Means&#8217; brother, <a href="https://x.com/calleymeans/status/2049893588985638974?s=20">said on social media.</a>
The president piled on, calling Cassidy a “very disloyal person” who “stood in the way” of RFK Jr.’s preferred nominee.
Trump, widely viewed as the GOP’s kingmaker, recently exacted revenge on a handful of Indiana Republicans who bucked his redistricting push. With Cassidy&#8217;s defeat, the White House is already shifting its attention to another bruising primary battle: backing Captain Ed Gallrein, a retired Navy SEAL, against Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/thomas-massie-is-a-political-survivor-but-this-time-might-be-different?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=5&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Thomas+Massie+Is+A+Political+Survivor+%E2%80%94+But+This+Time+Might+Be+Different">Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District.</a>
&#8220;It shows that it&#8217;s really about Trump,&#8221; Girdusky said. &#8220;It shows that voters have this innate belief that he has their best interests at heart, and that he is feeling the anger that they&#8217;re feeling of betrayal from the elected officials.&#8221;

Senate Health Committee Hears Testimony From Fired CDC Director Susan Monarez

Voters Decide Fate Of Senator Who Voted To Convict Trump

2026 elections

bill Cassidy

Politics

Trump

U.S. Senate

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) announced Friday that he is suspending his reelection campaign, ending a nearly two-decade run in Congress after Tennessee Republicans redrew his Memphis-based district into a seat that now heavily favors the GOP.
Cohen, who has represented Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District since 2007, said he signed paperwork requesting that his name not appear on the ballot for the August 6 Democratic primary. The 76-year-old congressman said the newly redrawn district is “nothing like the 9th district that I’ve represented,” signaling that the GOP’s recent redistricting push had effectively ended his path to reelection.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BREAKING: Democrat Rep Steve Cohen ends reelection bid following the passing of Tennessee’s new Congressional map which eliminated his district <a href="https://t.co/9ZVAsPoB73">pic.twitter.com/9ZVAsPoB73</a>
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/2055314998759694738?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2026</a></blockquote>
The Tennessee legislature, controlled by Republicans, approved a new congressional map last week that dramatically altered the longtime Democratic stronghold centered in Memphis. The new 9th District stretches beyond Memphis into more rural areas of southern Tennessee, and transforms what had been a majority-black Democratic seat into one that is expected to go to the Republicans in November. The new district would&#8217;ve been a <a href="https://x.com/VoteHub/status/2055308184873480499">Trump +21</a> in the 2024 election.
Cohen, Tennessee’s only Democrat in Congress, called the decision the most difficult moment of his political career. He said he considered running in one of the new districts but ultimately decided against it, arguing that the redrawn lines erased the constituency he had represented for nearly 20 years. A fourth-generation Memphis resident, Cohen had long been a fixture in city politics before coming to Congress, and his exit marks a major generational shift for Democrats in west Tennessee, who now face an uphill battle to hold a seat that was once considered safely theirs.
His departure opens up a crowded Democratic primary. Still running for the nomination are Justin Pearson, the left-wing state lawmaker who rose to national prominence after his expulsion and reinstatement fight in the state House; M. LaTroy Alexandria-Williams; and community organizer DeVante Hill, who has been associated with Black Lives Matter organizing efforts in Memphis.
On the Republican side, Charlotte Bergmann and Kevin Young are competing in the GOP primary as Republicans eye a rare pickup opportunity in a district Democrats have held for decades. The reshaped district could become one of the clearest examples yet of how aggressive mid-decade redistricting is already reshuffling the 2026 House map, particularly in states where lawmakers moved quickly after recent court rulings opened the door to redrawing seats previously protected under Voting Rights Act precedent.
Friday is the final day for candidates to file for the race, with the deadline extended due to the redistricting overhaul.

US Representative Steve Cohen

10-Term Dem Incumbent Won’t Even Run For Office After Redistricting

Congress

Steve Cohen

Tennessee

U.S. House of Representatives

South Carolina Republicans hit a major roadblock Tuesday in their effort to redraw the state’s congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterm, when Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey joined a handful of Republicans to block a Trump-backed plan that could have eliminated longtime Democratic Rep. James Clyburn’s seat.
The state Senate voted 29-17 for a resolution that would have extended the legislative session to take up congressional redistricting, falling two votes short of the two-thirds threshold needed for passage. Five Republicans sided with Democrats to kill the measure, effectively halting, at least for now, a plan that conservatives hoped would break up South Carolina’s lone majority-black district and potentially flip another House seat for Republicans.
The failed vote comes as Republican-led states across the South move aggressively to redraw congressional maps after a recent Supreme Court ruling sharply limited the use of race in redistricting challenges, opening the door for states to dismantle majority-minority districts previously protected under the Voting Rights Act.
President Donald Trump had personally urged South Carolina lawmakers to move forward. In a Monday post on Truth Social, Trump said he was “watching closely” and called on state Republicans to “be bold and courageous,” citing Tennessee’s recent decision to split up its only deep blue district.
This legislative clash arrives on the heels of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-flexes-political-muscle-against-republicans-who-bucked-him-on-redistricting?author=Drew+Berkemeyer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=13&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Flexes+Political+Muscle+Against+Republicans+Who+Bucked+Him+On+Redistricting">state senate primaries in Indiana</a>, where five of the seven Republican state senators who resisted a Trump-aligned redistricting effort were ousted in their primaries by challengers carrying the president&#8217;s endorsement — a stark omen for the South Carolina holdouts.
But Massey, a Republican from Edgefield and the South Carolina Senate’s top GOP leader, delivered a lengthy floor speech opposing the effort and warning that redrawing the map could backfire politically. “I believe that our state is stronger with vibrant parties,” Massey said. “Republicans are stronger when the Democrat Party is vibrant and viable.” 
Massey also framed his opposition as a rejection of pressure from Washington, indirectly brushing off Trump’s demands while invoking South Carolina’s rebellious political heritage. “I have too much Southern blood in me to surrender,” Massey said on the Senate floor. “Indeed, as some of you will recognize, it is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid, to think and act for myself.”
South Carolina’s current congressional map already heavily favors Republicans, who hold six of the state’s seven U.S. House seats. Clyburn’s 6th District remains the only Democrat-held seat and the only majority-black district in the state. The proposed redraw would have dispersed portions of the district’s Democratic base into neighboring Republican districts, likely making Clyburn’s reelection path far more difficult.
Massey added that redistricting as a gamble was too risky, warning that moving Democratic voters into adjacent districts could accidentally strengthen Democrats elsewhere and potentially reduce the GOP’s current 6-1 advantage. “The numbers are not reliable,” Massey said on the Senate floor. “What I do know is that we are 6-1 today. If we start tinkering with this, my concern is that we could make this a whole lot worse.” 
Other Republican lawmakers <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/12/south-carolina-republicans-defy-trump-redistricting">echoed that argument</a>, noting that South Carolina’s rapid population growth since 2020 means current district modeling may be outdated, and that attempting to redraw the map just days before the state’s primary calendar begins leaves little room for error.
The setback is notable because Republicans nationally have used mid-decade redistricting to shore up their narrow House majority. States like <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/red-state-charges-ahead-with-plan-to-erase-final-dem-seat">Tennessee</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/red-state-wins-massive-supreme-court-victory-on-redistricting">Texas</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/florida-passes-new-maps-that-could-threaten-multiple-democratic-seats">Florida</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/this-is-a-different-era-republican-senator-says-gop-done-playing-defense?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=‘This+Is+A+Different+Era’%3A+Republican+Senator+Says+GOP+Done+Playing+Defense">Missouri</a>, and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/republicans-ramp-up-redistricting-push-after-supreme-court-ruling">Louisiana</a> have already moved to redraw maps in ways that could deliver additional Republican seats before November.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has not ruled out calling a special session to revisit redistricting, leaving open the possibility that the fight over Clyburn’s district is not over yet.

More Republicans May Be Headed For The Indiana Treatment After Redistricting Pushback

Donald Trump

Indiana

A new poll shows Secretary of State Marco Rubio leading a hypothetical 2028 Republican presidential primary to succeed President Donald Trump.
The survey, <a href="///Users/jacobwheeler/Downloads/Atlas%20Poll%20USA%20-%2005.07.2026%20-%20Google%20Slides.pdf">conducted by AtlasIntel</a> between May 4-7 among 2,069 American adults, found Rubio with 45.4% support, followed by Vice President JD Vance at 29.6%. 
The rest of the field trailed significantly.  
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Marco Rubio: 45.4%</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">JD Vance: 29.6% </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Ron DeSantis: 11.2% </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">None of the above 10.3%</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Vivek Ramaswamy: 1.4</li>
</ul>
The AtlasIntel poll is the first to show Rubio ahead, while broader polling still favors Vance.<a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/president/republican-primary/2028/national"> RealClearPolitics</a>, a media company that aggregates national polling, shows the vice president holding a 20-point advantage over other potential candidates.
Rubio and Vance are widely seen as the most serious contenders to succeed Trump and shape the future of the MAGA movement.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-takes-a-spontaneous-2028-presidential-straw-poll-vance-or-rubio">Trump addressed the elephant in the room</a> at the White House on Monday, polling a crowd on whether they would prefer Vance or Rubio to run for president in 2028. 
“I don’t know. Who’s it going to be? Is it going to be JD? Is there going to be somebody else? I don’t know,” Trump told a group of law enforcement officials.
The kingmaker of GOP politics then asked the crowd who they thought should succeed him. 
“Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio? All right. Sounds like a good ticket,” Trump joked.
Applause from those in attendance appeared stronger for Vance, but Trump said he was not yet making any endorsements.
“By the way, I do believe that’s a dream team. But these are minor details. That does not mean you have my endorsement under any circumstance. But you know … I think it sounds like presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate,” Trump said. 
Rubio said last year that he would support Vance if the vice president decided to run for president. 
“If JD Vance runs for president, he’s going to be our nominee, and I’ll be one of the first people to support him,” Rubio <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/trump-susie-wiles-interview-exclusive-part-2?_sp=66ff928d-0547-4be8-9f21-3d5c5d7322ce.1773164665694">told</a> Vanity Fair in an interview. 
On the Democratic side, the field appears more divided and open-ended, with a democratic socialist leading the pack. 
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"> Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: 26%</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Pete Buttigieg: 22.4% </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Gavin Newsom: 21.2% </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Kamala Harris: 12.9% </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Andy Beshear: 4.1% </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Cory Booker: 3.9% </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">None Of The Above: 3.1%</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Josh Shapiro: 2.4%</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Gretchen Whitmer: 1.1%</li>
</ul>
Last Friday, AOC did not rule out a presidential run. 
“They assume that my ambition is a title or a seat, and my ambition is way bigger than that. My ambition is to change this country,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a conversation with Democratic strategist David Axelrod. “Presidents come and go … elected officials come and go, but single-payer healthcare is forever.”
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AOC asked about a potential presidential run
&#8220;My ambition is to change this country.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/Pd770HL9JC">pic.twitter.com/Pd770HL9JC</a>
— Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) <a href="https://twitter.com/DefiantLs/status/2053706667368337506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2026</a></blockquote>

Trump Says Israel And Lebanon To Extend Ceasefire By Three Weeks

New Poll Throws Major Curveball In Race To Succeed Trump

2028 presidential election

JD Vance

Marco Rubio

Poll

A viral AI-generated <a href="https://x.com/TheBabylonBee/status/2049587022629867800">video</a> recently put out by the Babylon Bee imagines a Democrat-free version of America. Families gather around a dinner table, people walk down the clean, “vagrant-free” streets of San Francisco, children marvel at a rainbow that’s “a symbol of God’s promise and nothing else.” 
And, obviously, gun owners wander around aimlessly because there are no criminals left to shoot. 
We are nowhere near this utopian vision, but there are certain states in the union creeping ever closer. Namely, the great state of Tennessee. 
This week, Tennessee Republicans <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/brutal-blow-for-democrats-in-red-state-sparks-leftist-outrage?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Brutal+Blow+For+Democrats+In+Red+State+Sparks+Leftist+Outrage">voted to approve</a> new congressional maps that will likely wipe out the Democrats’ only U.S. House seat in the state, and Republican Governor Bill Lee signed the bill into law shortly after the vote. The special session in Tennessee’s capital was quickly organized after the Supreme Court ruled that certain majority-black districts put in place by the Voting Rights Act amounted to unconstitutional racial gerrymandering.
Simply put, the tiny blue blip in Tennessee has been wiped away, making the state completely, blissfully, red. This change reflects the reality of a state Trump won solidly in 2024. A refuge that blue state Democrats keep moving to.
Low taxes. Functional cities. Country music. SEC football. People who still wave at each other in parking lots. And yes, a state government that takes action when it needs to rather than allowing their political opponents to intimidate them into submission.
Not every state can be Tennessee, but every citizen can dream of a future reality where it’s possible. Show your support for the vision with the one and only <a href="https://store.dailywire.com/products/make-america-tennessee-hat">Make America Tennessee hat</a>, available now for every citizen who believes in that distant dream. 
It’s not a catchphrase – it’s a call to action. A declaration that the rest of America should take notes and follow suit. Offered in crisp white or forest camo, with a structured build, this hat includes blaze orange lettering that demands attention. 
As the leftists melt down over “Jim Crow 2.0,” wear the hat. As they rage that election rigging is their God-given right, wear the hat. On your way to the range, wear the hat. No matter what state you live in right now, or how blue it looks, wear the hat. 
It’s time to make one thing clear: You stand with Tennessee. You stand for sanity. You stand for America.
Now is the time to finally MAKE AMERICA TENNESSEE.
<a href="https://store.dailywire.com/products/make-america-tennessee-hat"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1091931 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/MakeAmericaTNHat-DistrictMap-TNFlag-4x5-1-461x576.jpg" alt="" width="461" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/MakeAmericaTNHat-DistrictMap-TNFlag-4x5-1-461x576.jpg 461w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/MakeAmericaTNHat-DistrictMap-TNFlag-4x5-1-240x300.jpg 240w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/MakeAmericaTNHat-DistrictMap-TNFlag-4x5-1-768x960.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/MakeAmericaTNHat-DistrictMap-TNFlag-4x5-1.jpg 1230w" sizes=" (max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px" /></a>

America’s Conservative Bastion Has Democrats Seeing Red

Daily Wire Shop

House Lawmakers Work On Funding Deal As Possible Government Shutdown Looms

Kevin McCarthy Tells The GOP How To Not Get Crushed In 2026

DW Opinion

Kevin McCarthy

The National Republican Senatorial Committee is launching a new advertising blitz to boost Republican candidates with six months remaining until Election Day.
Running in North Carolina, Michigan, Ohio, Iowa, Alaska, and New Hampshire, the ads focus on affordability and highlight the tax cuts enacted in President Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill.’ 
“Joe Biden and Democrats’ wasteful spending wrecked the economy,” the ad supporting Michigan&#8217;s Republican candidate states. “But Mike Rogers is fighting back – working to cut government spending and advocating for working-class Americans.” 
“Republicans are making life more affordable. That means lower costs on groceries, housing, and utilities. Huge tax cuts for hard-working families and more money for our seniors,” the advertisements say.<iframe style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; max-width: 100%; width: 100%; margin: 20px auto 5px; border: 0;" src="https://player.mux.com/L02oaFum7nGsnqFQmni2h13EoMCw01ZpoC?metadata-video-content-type=embed_video&amp;metadata-video-id=65c76139-c981-410e-9520-075474578f6e&amp;metadata-video-stream-type=on-demand&amp;metadata-video-title=EXCLUSIVE%3A%20Republicans%20Choose%20Their%20Midterm%20Battleground%20In%20&amp;poster=https%3A%2F%2Fdailywireplus-v2.imgix.net%2Fimages%2Fembedded-videos%2Fcdf9a7b3-4134-40ff-96d3-c35b0a5e9f0d.jpg&amp;autoplay=false&amp;accent-color=%23DB3D3B&amp;primary-color=%23ffffff&amp;secondary-color=%23000000" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
The other five ads — supporting Senator John Husted in Ohio, Senator Dan Sullivan in Alaska, Michael Whatley in North Carolina, Ashley Hinson in Iowa, and John Sununu in New Hampshire — use the same script.
The messaging highlights how central affordability has become, as polls show growing voter dissatisfaction with prices and the state of the economy.
“Working families and seniors are still paying the price for Democrats’ reckless spending spree,” NRSC National Press Secretary Bernadette Breslin told The Daily Wire. “Senate Republicans are fighting to make life more affordable by cutting wasteful spending, reversing Democrats’ inflation, and delivering historic tax relief for hardworking Americans.”
With tax season underway, many Americans are seeing larger refunds. As of Feb. 6, 2026, average tax refunds stood at $2,290 — up nearly 11%, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/filing-season-statistics-for-week-ending-feb-6-2026">according to the IRS.</a>
Rising fuel prices, however, may be hitting consumers at the pump. On Wednesday, the national average gas price stood at $4.536, <a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/">according to AAA.</a>  In battleground Michigan — where Republican Mike Rogers is hoping to flip the seat — gas prices are averaging even higher at $4.805.
<a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/708905/affordability-dominates-americans-financial-worries.aspx">A Gallup poll</a> released on April 28 found that a record 55% of Americans say their financial situation is getting worse. One in three respondents cited inflation and high prices as their top financial concern.
Retaining control of the U.S. Senate is a critical priority for the White House and Congressional Republicans. The upper chamber is responsible for confirming Supreme Court nominees and deciding President Trump’s fate should a Democratic-led House of Representatives vote to impeach him a third time. <a href="https://kalshi.com/markets/controls/senate-winner/controls-2026">Prediction markets</a> currently give Republicans a narrow advantage in retaining control. 
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Republicans hold a 53–47 majority, meaning Democrats would need to flip four seats to take control. If the chamber were split 50–50, Vice President Vance could cast tie-breaking votes.
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Maine Senator Susan Collins — who is set to face off against Graham Platner — is not included in the NRSC’s advertisement blitz. 
Platner, who was exposed for having a Nazi tattoo, also faced backlash for past <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-senate-hopeful-called-himself-a-communist-made-racist-comments-in-reddit-posts">Reddit posts</a>, including ones where he called himself a “communist” and said, “cops are bastards.”
Chuck Schumer’s candidate of choice, Gov. Janet Mills, dropped out of the race after failing to gain traction with left-wing primary voters. 
Her exit from the race was welcome news to Republicans.
“Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats just coronated a phony who is too extreme for Maine. Susan Collins has always put in the work for her constituents and delivered. Washington Democrats always fall short in Maine and will again, because they just nominated a dishonest radical,” NRSC Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/maine-dem-who-sparred-with-trump-over-trans-athletes-ends-campaign">said in a statement.</a>

EXCLUSIVE: Republicans Home In On Affordability In Midterm Battleground Ad Push

Economy

Midterms

California’s already volatile race for governor took on a sharper edge Tuesday night, as a crowded field of candidates turned a nationally televised debate into a sustained exchange of attacks, cross-talk, and ideological contrasts that underscored just how unsettled the contest remains weeks before the June 2 primary.
With seven candidates on stage and no clear frontrunner, the debate quickly took on the feel of a pivotal moment in the race, less about introducing platforms than defining — and swinging at — opponents. Moderators pressed candidates on affordability, energy, immigration, and healthcare, but answers often gave way to direct clashes, particularly between Republicans and Democrats and within the Democratic field itself.
Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco framed the night around a broader indictment of Democratic governance, arguing that years of one-party control has driven up costs and worsened quality of life. The Democrats; former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, former Rep. Katie Porter, businessman Tom Steyer, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, largely countered by tying Republican critiques to President Donald Trump and defending the state’s policy direction, though not without visible fractures among themselves.
The most consistent throughline of the evening was the cost of living, particularly gas prices, which hovered above $6 per gallon statewide. Hilton argued that regulatory policy and environmental mandates were artificially inflating costs, at one point accusing Steyer of supporting policies that burden working Californians to benefit “rich friends” invested in climate initiatives. Steyer fired back, calling Hilton an “apologist for fossil fuels” and arguing that global markets, not state policy, drive fuel costs.
That exchange set the tone for much of the night: blunt, personal, and often spilling beyond the moderators’ control.
At another point, Becerra claimed that Trump is responsible for raising the cost of living in California, singling out the war in Iran and rising gas prices. Villaraigosa shot back, reminding Becerra that Californians have dealt with the highest gas prices in the country &#8220;for a very long time.&#8221; 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Xavier Becerra gets OWNED by his own party:
BECERRA: “Let’s focus on who’s raising the cost of living in California…that’s Donald Trump.”
VILLARAIGOSA: “That’s not true, we’ve had the highest gas prices over $2 than the rest of the nation for a very long time…” <a href="https://t.co/dM7khLVi4J">pic.twitter.com/dM7khLVi4J</a>
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/2051841155453612241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Healthcare proved similarly divisive, especially around the question of a single-payer system. Porter pushed Becerra to give a direct answer on whether he supported such a system, while Villaraigosa and Mahan cast doubt on its feasibility, citing cost concerns. Steyer, by contrast, argued the system’s current strain leaves little alternative. Republicans used the moment to frame the debate itself — as Hilton put it — as a choice between “going Left or going farther Left.”
Porter and Steyer also said they want the state to provide free healthcare to illegal immigrants. Hilton shot back at that argument, saying, &#8220;The actual way we deal with healthcare in this state is to at least stop spending twenty billion dollars a year on healthcare for illegal immigrants who shouldn&#8217;t even be in the country in the first place.&#8221;
Immigration and law enforcement added another layer of intensity. Bianco positioned himself as uniquely familiar with the effects of California’s sanctuary policies, while Villaraigosa dismissed his claims outright, calling him a “bully” and referencing past affiliations that Bianco defended. The exchange highlighted not only partisan divides, but the willingness of candidates to escalate rhetoric in a crowded field competing for attention.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Candidates vying to be the next California governor clashed over a question on immigration enforcement.
Watch the California Governor Primary Debate live NOW on CNN and the CNN app: <a href="https://t.co/U9JEkCJj1E">https://t.co/U9JEkCJj1E</a> <a href="https://t.co/01Cb2f3Rob">pic.twitter.com/01Cb2f3Rob</a>
— CNN (@CNN) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNN/status/2051847247197798903?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2026</a></blockquote>
Within the crowded Democratic ranks, friction was difficult to ignore. Becerra and Mahan sparred over healthcare records, while Becerra and Steyer traded accusations tied to campaign funding and past business dealings. Porter, at one point attempting to police the tone, criticized the “bickering” on stage, only to be drawn back into the ongoing war of interruptions and rebuttals.
The presence of Trump loomed over the debate with Democrats repeatedly casting him as a central threat to California, while Republicans argued that fixation on Trump was a way to deflect from state-level failures. When asked how they would work with him, the divide sharpened further, with some candidates emphasizing resistance and others calling for pragmatic engagement.
Beneath the exchanges, a more structural reality remained clear: the race is still wide open. Polling has shown no dominant candidate, and Tuesday’s debate did little to consolidate the field. Instead, it reinforced the sense of fragmentation — ideologically, stylistically, and strategically — as candidates search for a path into the top two spots that will advance to the general election.
At times, the debate approached disorder, though moderators kept it from devolving into the kind of chaos seen in earlier debates in the race. Still, frequent interruptions, overlapping answers, and pointed one-liners gave the event a combative rhythm that reflected the melodrama of California politics.
With mail voting already underway and the primary less than a month away, Tuesday’s debate served less as a clarifying moment than a snapshot of a race still in flux. For now, the only clear takeaway is the absence of clarity itself.

c-cagovernor-2

Candidates Trade Brutal Blows In Wild California Governor Debate

Healthcare

Immigration

The Supreme Court’s ruling narrowing the scope of the Voting Rights Act is already prompting calls from Republicans to redraw congressional maps, a move that could create more GOP-friendly seats, particularly across the South.
In Tennessee, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) on Wednesday encouraged state lawmakers to reconvene and redraw district lines in a way that could flip a Democratic-held seat.
“I urge our state legislature to reconvene to redistrict another Republican seat in Memphis. It&#8217;s essential to cement [Donald Trump’s] agenda and the Golden Age of America,” Blackburn, who’s running to succeed Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee, posted to X following the decision.
“I’ve vowed to keep Tennessee a red state, and as Governor, I&#8217;ll do everything I can to make this map a reality,” she added.
Memphis is currently represented by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) in a heavily Democratic district.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I urge our state legislature to reconvene to redistrict another Republican seat in Memphis. It&#8217;s essential to cement <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>’s agenda and the Golden Age of America.
I&#8217;ve vowed to keep Tennessee a red state, and as Governor, I&#8217;ll do everything I can to make this map a… <a href="https://t.co/qljW0mxiqG">pic.twitter.com/qljW0mxiqG</a>
— Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) <a href="https://twitter.com/VoteMarsha/status/2049515547910381782?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2026</a></blockquote>
The court’s 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais found that the state violated constitutional limits by drawing a majority-minority district predominantly on the basis of race. Writing for the majority, Justice Samuel Alito said Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act “was designed to enforce the Constitution — not collide with it,” adding that “lower courts have sometimes applied this Court’s […] precedents in a way that forces States to engage in the very race-based discrimination that the Constitution forbids.”
“The State’s attempt to satisfy the Middle District’s ruling, although understandable, was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander,” Alito wrote.
The full implications of the ruling remain unclear, but it could open the door for challenges to similar race-based districts in other states.
In Alabama, Attorney General Steve Marshall, a Republican, <a href="https://www.alabamaag.gov/attorney-general-marshall-applauds-momentous-supreme-court-redistricting-decision/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the state would move quickly to ensure its maps &#8220;reflect the will of the people, not a racial quota system the Constitution forbids.&#8221;
&#8220;The Court rightly acknowledged that the South has made extraordinary progress, and that laws designed for a different era do not reflect the present reality,&#8221; Marshall stated.
Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves signaled even before the ruling that he was prepared to call a special session to redraw maps, particularly affecting the state’s deep blue 2nd Congressional District.
“It is a decision that could (and in my view should) forever change the way we draw electoral maps,” Reeves wrote last week.
In Georgia, Republican state Sen. <a href="https://x.com/DolezalForGA/status/2049508266175062141?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Greg Dolezal</a> called on lawmakers to revisit district lines, arguing that the current maps should be redrawn to benefit Republicans.
“The last thing that Republicans need to do is be weak-kneed in this moment. This is a time to be bold. This is a time to be aggressive,” Dolezal, who’s running for lieutenant governor, said in a video.
Democrats, meanwhile, blasted the decision. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said the court “just turned its back on one of the most sacred promises in American democracy—the promise that every voice counts.”
The ruling lands amid an already intensifying redistricting battle ahead of the 2026 midterms, with both parties seeking an edge in the fight for control of the House during the final stretch of President Donald Trump&#8217;s term.

Sen. Lankford Speaks To The Press On “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act”

Republicans Ramp Up Redistricting Push After Supreme Court Ruling

Mississippi

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