Florida socialist Angie Nixon, the Democrat nominee for U.S. Senate, is facing renewed scrutiny after declining to say whether she considers Cuba’s communist regime a dictatorship.
In an interview with CBS News that aired Monday, Nixon was asked directly whether she considered the regime a dictatorship.
“That is what people have told me. I have never been to Cuba, and so I will have to take their word for it,&#8221; Nixon told the outlet. 
The remarks drew immediate backlash, raising fresh questions about whether Nixon’s ties to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) could alienate Latino voters, a key demographic Democrats are counting on to make gains in November.
“This is how Democrats lose elections in Miami-Dade. And they need to win Miami-Dade to win Florida,” Axios reporter Marc Caputo <a href="https://x.com/MarcACaputo/status/2114849096133447793?s=20">wrote</a> on X. 
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Nixon’s GOP rival, Florida Sen. Ashley Moody, also <a href="https://x.com/AshleyMoodyFL/status/2114867509253861568?s=20">responded</a> to the clip. 
“Socialist Angie can’t answer if Cuba is a dictatorship? I guess now we know why she voted against the Florida law to require schools to teach the dangers of communism.” 
In response to the backlash, Nixon <a href="https://x.com/AngieNixon/status/2114887353391054992?s=20">accused</a> CBS of committing what she called a “serious failure of editorial reporting.”
&#8220;I clearly state in this clip that while I have not personally been to Cuba, I have spoken with Cubans who have described it as a dictatorship, and I believe them,” Nixon said in a follow-up statement. “To claim I declined to answer the question is categorically false. That is not journalism. It is misinformation.”
After Nixon called out CBS News, the network deleted its original post that stated Nixon &#8220;declined to say&#8221; whether the Cuban regime is a dictatorship. In a <a href="https://x.com/CBSNews/status/2114914644846354771">second post</a>, CBS News included an editor&#8217;s note stating that the previous post &#8220;did not accurately portray Rep. Nixon‘s answer.&#8221;
During the interview, the leftist also criticized the longstanding embargo and the Trump administration’s economic crackdown on Cuba, spearheaded by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Nixon called for a return to the Obama-era stance toward the communist nation.
“We need to allow the Cubans over there to have access to businesses and to be able to fully trade with, you know, their American loved ones and also to have the opportunity to see them,” she said.
It’s not the only comment <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-pushes-back-on-claims-she-wants-to-abolish-prisons-argues-for-jailing-opponent">landing the Senate hopeful in hot water</a>. Earlier this month, Nixon went on CNN to push back on claims that she supported abolishing prisons because she wants her opponent, Sen. Moody, thrown behind bars.
“They are spreading, like, a lot of disinformation and lies on commercials about me, of saying things like, I want to abolish prisons and I want to defund the police,” Nixon claimed. “Why would I want to do that when I want her [Moody] locked up and punished in jail for what she has done?”
Before her stunning primary win, the state representative spent months attacking slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk — calling his supporters tools of “white supremacy” and comparing a bill honoring the Turning Point USA founder to something “brought straight by the KKK,” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/socialist-senate-nominee-called-charlie-kirk-supporters-tools-of-white-supremacy">The Daily Wire previously reported</a>. 
Millions have already voted early in the Sunshine State. <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/senate/race/488556">Cook Political Report</a> ranks the Senate race as &#8220;Solid Republican.&#8221;

Sen. Bernie Sanders Campaigns For Senate Candidate In Florida Angie Nixon In Tampa

Socialist Senate Nominee’s Cuba Comments Spark Controversy Ahead Of Midterms

2026 midterm election

angie nixon

ashley moody

cuba

democratic socialists of america

florida senate race

An undercover video caught Democratic congressional candidate Stefany Shaheen calling to dismantle ICE and put federal agents “out of work.” Just two days later, she flatly denied advocating for abolishing immigration enforcement during a debate with her Republican opponent.
Shaheen, the daughter of longtime Democrat senator Jeanne Shaheen, made the remarks in an undercover video obtained by The Daily Wire. The footage contradicts her exchange with Republican opponent Anthony DiLorenzo <a href="https://team1sports.com/athleticsnec/?bfplayvid=1265080">during an Oct. 19 debate</a> for New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District.
“My opponent has advocated for abolishing immigration enforcement,” DiLorenzo said during the ‘live free or die’ debate.
“That is not true,” Shaheen fired back.
“You said it,” DiLorenzo countered, referring to her previous campaign comments where she <a href="https://nhjournal.com/shaheen-denies-abolish-ice-stance-after-calling-to-dismantle-agency/">called for dismantling ICE, according to the New Hampshire Journal.</a>
“I did not,” Shaheen insisted.
But in the Oct. 17 undercover footage, Shaheen explicitly endorsed abolishing ICE while discussing how Democrats could strip the agency of funding and bring deportations to a screeching halt. 
The undercover journalist asks Shaheen how Democrats would be able to stop ICE, referencing her mother’s willingness to work with Republicans and recent government shutdown battles.
“I think we have to pull back the funding for Homeland Security,” Shaheen says. “And we need to dismantle ICE.”
She goes on to identify sweeping funding cuts as the most effective way to achieve that goal.
“I think the number one thing we can do is pull back the funding,” Shaheen says, adding that the cuts would eventually “put them out of work.”
The Daily Wire reached out to Shaheen’s campaign for comment. The<a href="https://stefanyshaheen.com/meet-stefany/"> entrepreneur </a>is running to represent New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District. Her mother, Jeanne Shaheen, is a longtime Democratic senator from the state but is <a href="http://google.com/search?q=Jeanne+Shaheen+daily+wire&amp;oq=Jeanne+Shaheen+daily+wire&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyCQgAEEUYORigATIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRigATIHCAUQIRiPAtIBCDIxMzJqMGo3qAIAsAIA&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;source=chrome.ob&amp;ie=UTF-8">not seeking reelection</a> this cycle. In 2024, the district narrowly voted for Kamala Harris. The Cook Political report <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/house/race/483491">ranks the race as “Likely Democrat.”</a>
Meanwhile, Shaheen&#8217;s campaign website calls for ICE to be <a href="https://stefanyshaheen.com/meet-stefany/">&#8220;completely overhauled.&#8221;</a>
&#8220;Agents must adhere to the same basic standards we demand from our local police departments here in New Hampshire. This includes requiring body cameras, banning masks, stopping warrantless searches, and ending ICE raids in schools, churches, and hospitals,&#8221; her policy states. &#8220;And there will be no ICE warehouses anywhere in New Hampshire.
ICE operates under the Department of Homeland Security and is responsible for enforcing federal immigration laws, including carrying out arrests and deportations. Thanks to the One Big Beautiful bill, Republicans secured unprecedented DHS funding to hire thousands of new agents and supercharge deportations. 
Still, immigration is emerging as a political vulnerability for some Republicans ahead of the November elections. High-profile shootings involving ICE agents and leadership turmoil at DHS have given Democrats an opening to revive hard-line opposition to immigration enforcement — a position that hurt the party at the ballot box just two years ago.

EXCLUSIVE: Undercover Video Catches Dem Calling To Put ICE Agents ‘Out Of Work’

immigration enforcement

new hampshire

politics

stefany shaheen

First Lady Melania Trump is helping broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the front-line city of Oleshky, her office <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2026/10/first-lady-melania-trump-secures-ceasefire-between-russia-and-ukraine-localized-to-oleshky/">announced</a> Friday, amid a growing humanitarian crisis.
The agreement is set to take effect on October 29 to allow humanitarian aid deliveries and civilian evacuations. Under the truce, both countries will temporarily halt military operations in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city. Civilian representatives will then assess residents’ needs and coordinate assistance and transportation for those who want to leave, according to a statement from the first lady.
“The situation in Oleshky is dire,” Melania Trump said, describing the city’s remaining population as primarily elderly people in urgent need of medical care, medicine, food, and clean water. “Oleshky is a front-line war city on the brink of disaster.”
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She said residents continue to endure electricity shortages, dangerous mined roads, and ongoing military attacks.
“It was abundantly clear that without my intervention, the possibility to bring humanitarian aid into the city and to evacuate the elderly would be impossible,” she said.
Oleshky, a southern Ukrainian city across the Dnipro River from Kherson, has been largely emptied by the war. Once home to roughly 24,000 people, it now has an estimated 1,700 to 2,000 residents, including about 50 children. No formal population count has been conducted since 2022. 
The city has remained on the front line since the war began, with much of its population displaced or evacuated. Following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in 2023, approximately 90% of Oleshky’s territory was flooded.
At the White House Friday, a reporter <a href="https://x.com/RedWavePress/status/2113647486925418821?s=20">asked</a> Trump whether Melania should join the expected trilateral peace talks.
“No, but it&#8217;s not the worst idea I&#8217;ve ever heard,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;What she wants to do is save children. And that&#8217;s her focus. And both sides are cooperating with her. So, doing a very good job.&#8221;
The first lady said she and her envoy negotiated the ceasefire directly with Russian and Ukrainian leaders, setting its terms and timeline in what her statement called an “Exclusive Intermediary” role.
“Non-military, civilian leaders from both countries will work together to visit Oleshky residents in their homes and determine the level of assistance they require. Residents who wish to evacuate will receive coordinated support and transportation to their preferred destination. I anticipate some will want to go to Russia, and some to Ukraine,” Trump said.  
The effort began after Trump learned of conditions in Oleshky during a private discussion at her Fostering the Future Together event in New York during the 81st United Nations General Assembly. 
“My representative and I immediately leveraged the communication channel we established with Russia and Ukraine through the previous six reunifications of 34 children,” she explained. “Both nations promptly assigned teams to coordinate the complex mechanics involved, including demining. All parties have worked around the clock since that moment.” 
Last year, Trump also led efforts to reunite Ukrainian children displaced by the war with their families, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/melania-trump-says-7-more-ukrainian-children-reunited-with-their-families">The Daily Wire reported.</a>

President Trump And First Lady Melania Attend Executive Order Signing For Women’s Health Office

Melania Trump Plays Key Role In Ceasefire To Evacuate Elderly From War Zone

ceasefire

donald trump

melania trump

oleshky

russia ukraine war

world

President Donald Trump appeared to concede defeat in a key U.S. Senate race with just 11 days to go before Election Day.
At a rally Tuesday night in Greenville, North Carolina, the president predicted that Republican Michael Whatley, his handpicked candidate for the open Senate seat, would lose to former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper, WHQR <a href="https://www.whqr.org/2026-10-21/trump-campaigns-in-north-carolina-as-gop-stops-on-air-spending-for-senate-candidate">reported</a>.
“He’s going to become your senator, and it’s crazy,” Trump <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/2112711897422373156?s=20">said</a> of Cooper while discussing his record on violent crime and public safety.
It was the clearest sign yet that the North Carolina Senate seat held by retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis could be slipping out of reach for the GOP, potentially handing Democrats a pickup on Election Day. Cooper leads Whatley, the former Republican National Committee chairman, by nearly 10 points in the <a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/senate/general/2026/north-carolina/cooper-vs-whatley">RealClearPolitics</a> average, 50.6% to 40.7%. Republicans in Washington have pulled back resources, and Whatley’s campaign has gone dark on television.
Whatley’s last broadcast television ad aired October 7, according to political ad-tracking firm <a href="https://x.com/AdImpact_Pol/status/2110372169251512439?s=20">AdImpact</a>. His campaign had no additional linear TV reservations scheduled through Election Day, November 3, according to <a href="https://archive.is/NPDeq#selection-3231.0-3231.97">NBC</a>.
Whatley’s campaign previously said the pause was temporary and insisted it had the resources to compete, The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gop-senate-campaign-goes-dark-during-home-stretch">reported</a>. “It’s a temporary pause, and we’ll be back on the air shortly with our closing message,” campaign spokesman DJ Griffin <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/10/14/congress/whatley-pauses-tv-ads-north-carolina-senate-01118342">said</a>.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who is leading Democratic efforts to retake the majority, scored a recruiting victory with Cooper, who served two terms as governor and remains relatively popular. Whatley, by contrast, entered the race with little name recognition or established political infrastructure in a state Trump narrowly carried in all three of his presidential runs.
“The biggest obstacle to overcome for the Republicans was that Roy Cooper had an institutional identity established,” Paul Shumaker, a longtime Republican strategist in the state, told NBC. “And we had no Republican candidate with any type of identity established. The price point to get to where Cooper was was such a high bar, and it had to be done early.”
But for now, Trump is sticking by his guy.
“I’m here for two things. I want to tell you how bad Cooper is, and I want to tell you how great Michael Whatley is,” Trump <a href="https://dukechronicle.com/article/duke-university-president-trump-rallies-in-greenville-midterm-elections-supports-michael-whatley-critcizes-roy-cooper-senate-20261021">said</a> at the rally, calling Cooper a “super-liberal sociopath” and “a disgrace to this state.”
“You must get out and vote, and you have to vote Republican,” Trump told the North Carolina crowd.
With a 53-47 majority, Republicans can afford to lose no more than three seats before surrendering control of the Senate.

President Trump Holds Midterm Election Rally In North Carolina

Trump’s Prediction About GOP’s Senate Chances With Just 11 Days To Go

michael whatley

north carolina senate race

roy cooper

With less than two weeks until Election Day, Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed faced off Wednesday night in a second high-stakes debate that laid bare their sharp differences on key issues. 
Rogers repeatedly challenged his rival over his alleged foreign ties, while El-Sayed accused the Republican of crossing a line with attacks on his patriotism and character.
From a clash over alleged Muslim Brotherhood ties to a testy exchange over the Second Amendment, here are five of the debate’s most explosive moments.
<h3>1. Rogers Presses El-Sayed On Muslim Brotherhood Ties</h3>
During a discussion on policing and crime, Rogers<a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/2113088062435565630?s=20"> turned up the heat</a> by raising questions about El-Sayed’s alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. He pointed to reporting that El-Sayed<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/even-the-new-york-times-is-reporting-el-sayed-backed-muslim-brotherhood-power-grab?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Even+The+New+York+Times+Is+Reporting+El-Sayed+Backed+Muslim+Brotherhood+Power+Grab"> signed a 2012 letter</a> urging Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood president to “purge the media and police”— a revelation previously reported by The Washington Free Beacon.
Rogers also accused El-Sayed of deleting material related to his past positions on policing.
“He did call for defunding the police,” Rogers said of his Democratic rival. “And how we found it is he deleted all of this material. Why would you do that? Why would you go through and take all of that time to delete all of the material?”
Rogers then brought up the 2012 letter as he continued attacking El-Sayed’s statements on policing. “I mean, it&#8217;s unbelievable,” he said.
El-Sayed fired back, taking personal offense at Rogers’ line of attack and insisting he was a proud American.
“He keeps raising this question about this association with an organization I&#8217;ve never been a part of because my mom, who&#8217;s a nurse in Missouri, it doesn&#8217;t make any sense, and it&#8217;s actually really quite beneath you, Mike. It&#8217;s really quite beneath you,” the Democrat said.
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When Rogers attempted to interrupt, El-Sayed invoked a line reminiscent of former Vice President Kamala Harris’ retort during the 2024 presidential debate: “I am talking!”
“To bring into question my commitment to the Constitution is really beneath you. I am proud of America. I&#8217;m proud, and to be an American, I&#8217;m proud of our Constitution that guarantees all of us the right to pray as we choose to pray,” El-Sayed said. “And the question that you would ask that, I think, is actually really quite shameful.”
<h3>2. El-Sayed’s Iran Dodge </h3>
Whether Iran poses a threat to the United States and the global order continues to be a flashpoint. El-Sayed, who does not consider Israel an American ally, has previously dismissed questions about the Iranian regime’s threat as a “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/el-sayed-asked-if-iran-or-israel-is-the-bigger-threat-then-comes-the-dumb-remark">dumb</a>” hypothetical.
On Wednesday, he appeared to <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/2113083764427665429?s=20">walk</a> some of that back.
“No doubt that Iran has posed a threat,” El-Sayed said. “Here&#8217;s the problem with it, though, is that that threat had been contained back during the Obama administration when he used diplomacy and not war to contain the threat.”
El-Sayed then pivoted to attack Rogers over his support for President Donald Trump and the ongoing war in Iran, an unpopular conflict that has raised fuel prices and created national political headwinds for Republicans across the country. 
“Mike Rogers has been promoting this war since before he was in Congress. He&#8217;s got a war for everything, and he won&#8217;t back off the war now,” El-Sayed said. “They are hip to hip on this war, and you are paying the cost.”
Rogers, meanwhile, called his opponent’s foreign policy positions a “non-starter” for someone seeking to serve in the U.S. Senate. He also warned of the economic consequences of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon.
“My opponent can&#8217;t even condemn the IRGC, which is the terrorist enforcement arm of Iran, and doesn&#8217;t believe Iran is any more dangerous than Israel. This is an absolute non-starter if you&#8217;re going to send somebody back to the United States Senate,” Rogers said.
“You want to pay $8 a gallon for gas, let Iran get a nuclear weapon. You lose control of that whole region,” he added.
<h3>3. Rogers Courts Democrats and Jewish Voters</h3>
Rogers is making an unprecedented play for Michigan’s black voters, according to Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), who<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/16/haley-stevens-talks-abdul-el-sayed-01122744"> told Politico</a> that Rogers is engaging the community “harder and more successfully” than any Republican she can remember.
That<a href="https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2113059361861898666?s=20"> outreach was on full display</a> Wednesday night, as Rogers sought to win over traditionally Democratic constituencies, including Jewish voters and Democrats who backed Stevens in the bruising summer primary.
“If you think about what’s at stake in this election, it really isn’t about Left versus Right anymore. It really is about the heart and soul of the country and who we are as Americans,” Rogers said.
The Republican said his campaign is attracting a broader coalition, including Democrats and Jewish voters concerned about antisemitism and their children’s safety on Michigan’s college campuses.
“My opponent’s rhetoric is vitriol. It is having consequences. We need to stand up now to make sure we are going in that right direction for this country,” Rogers said.
Rogers also made a direct appeal to Stevens supporters, many of whom remain deeply skeptical of El-Sayed.
“You&#8217;re a Haley Stevens voter, and you came out of this, and you said, ‘Man, I just can&#8217;t do it. He&#8217;s too extreme,’” Rogers said, describing voters who have turned away from the Democrat.
“Well, guess what? You have a home with us,” he added.
“We cannot afford Abdul El-Sayed’s policies, and we can’t risk his ideology,” Rogers said.
<h3>4. Voter ID Sparks Another Fiery Clash</h3>
Voter ID requirements triggered<a href="https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2113055651823759466?s=20"> another heated exchange</a> as the candidates squared off over the SAVE Act and whether voters should have to prove their citizenship or present identification at the polls.
El-Sayed suggested he would be a hard &#8220;no&#8221; on Trump’s signature legislative proposal, which has failed to gain momentum in Congress.
“Let’s be clear, this is about voter suppression. You know, the SAVE Act would require women who change their names to go back and find their birth certificates just to be able to vote in our election. I mean, I think that&#8217;s pretty crazy,” the Democrat said.
“And you pile that on to the voter suppression tactics we&#8217;ve seen out of the Supreme Court, backed by Donald Trump, backed by Mike Rogers,” he added.
Rogers shot back, arguing that voter identification is a reasonable safeguard.
“Yeah. I think it’s very reasonable and rational to ask for a voter ID,” Rogers said, before accusing El-Sayed of supporting policies that would extend government services to illegal immigrants.
“My opponent calls for open borders, wants to give illegals driver&#8217;s licenses, and then avail them to all of the services of the United States of America,” Rogers said.
<h3>5. “Okay, Guy”: Candidates Trade Barbs In Rapid-Fire Round</h3>
By the<a href="https://x.com/wxyzdetroit/status/2113088025408204812?s=20"> end of the debate</a>, the mutual disdain between the candidates was on full display as moderators put them through a rapid-fire round of questions on the Supreme Court and the Second Amendment.
Asked whether he supports expanding the Supreme Court, El-Sayed answered, “Yes, but fairly.” Rogers gave a firm no.
The candidates clashed again over universal background checks for gun purchases. El-Sayed offered an unequivocal yes, while Rogers gave a more qualified response.
“It all depends,” Rogers said. “In the middle, there’s different cases for that.”
El-Sayed seized on the answer, sarcastically calling Rogers “so dependable,” prompting a sharp retort from the Republican.
“Well, you want to ban the Second Amendment? Why don’t you talk about that?” Rogers shot back.
“Okay, guy,” El-Sayed replied.
“Yeah, okay, guy,” Rogers fired back.

Michigan Senate Candidates Abdul El-Sayed And Mike Rogers Debate In Detroit

5 Explosive Moments From Michigan Senate Debate As Race Enters Final Stretch

abdul el-sayed

michigan senate race

mike rogers

second amendment

Federal agents arrested Virginia Democrat powerbroker Louise Lucas in a &#8220;large-scale&#8221; racketeering and money laundering conspiracy tied to a cannabis business she co-owns.
Lucas, a state senator and one of the most powerful figures in Virginia’s Democratic Party, surrendered to authorities Thursday, according to the Justice Department. The 82-year-old was indicted on five counts: racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, conspiracy to launder money, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and maintaining a drug-involved premises. 
Six others, including Lucas’ daughters and grandson, were also charged and arrested in connection with the alleged scheme.
&#8220;The Department of Justice intends to prove that Senator Lucas violated the trust of the people of Portsmouth and Chesapeake, Virginia, and of her state Senate colleagues,&#8221; U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said at a press conference Thursday morning. &#8220;Through her elected office, Senator Lucas has been a public servant of the people of Virginia. Her first duty should have been looking out for her constituents before herself. But the charges listed in the indictment reflect the alleged behavior of a public servant who put her own financial interests before the people she was elected to serve.&#8221;
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FBI Director Kash Patel said Lucas &#8220;accumulated nearly $5 million in ill-gotten gains through her criminal enterprise.&#8221;
In a <a href="https://x.com/SenLouiseLucas/status/2113278306992988568?s=20">social media statement</a>, Lucas said: &#8220;The full weight of the federal government has been wielded against an 82-year-old grandmother.&#8221;
&#8220;I grew up under Jim Crow. I&#8217;ve seen what happens when people in power try to silence those who stand up to them,&#8221; Lucas said, without denying the merit of the charges. &#8220;I spent my life fighting back, and I&#8217;m not stopping now.&#8221;
&#8220;I will not be intimidated. I will not be bullied. And I will not back down,&#8221; she added.
In May, the FBI raided an office and a cannabis dispensary linked to Lucas as part of the public corruption investigation, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/feds-raid-high-powered-democrats-office-and-cannabis-dispensary-in-corruption-probe">The Daily Wire previously reported</a>.
The probe into Lucas, who represents the city of Portsmouth, was launched during former President Joe Biden’s administration.
Lucas, president pro tempore of the Virginia Senate, played a prominent role in her party’s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/virginia-supreme-court-strikes-down-redistricting-in-brutal-blow-to-democrats">failed</a> efforts to redraw Virginia’s congressional map to give Democrats a significant midterm advantage. She has also repeatedly criticized newly elected Virginia Democrat Governor Abigail Spanberger, accusing her of having a “credibility problem.”
The top Democrat also threw her support behind Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones, who was caught fantasizing about murdering Republicans. In the weeks leading up to the election, Virginia Democrats insisted they condemned political violence and argued that Jones was remorseful for expressing a desire to shoot a Republican. But just hours after their election victories, their tune appeared to change.
Lucas suggested her issue with the controversy was less about Jones’ violent remarks than about the fact that Virginians learned of them in the first place, thanks to a “snitch,&#8221; <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/feds-arrest-powerful-virginia-democrat-in-cannabis-corruption-probe?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Feds+Arrest+Powerful+Virginia+Democrat+In+Cannabis+Corruption+Probe">The Daily Wire reported.</a>
“Virginia is for lovers, not snitches,” she <a href="https://x.com/lashrecseaird/status/1985925971837403338">posted</a> on social media, alongside an AI-generated video showing Jones <a href="https://x.com/SenLouiseLucas/status/1985915607540216144">kicking his opponent</a>, Jason Miyares, who was depicted as a dog.
Thursday&#8217;s announcement is not Lucas’ first brush with the law. In 2020, she was charged with felony conspiracy and damaging a monument valued at more than $1,000 following a protest during which a Confederate monument was vandalized. A judge later dismissed the charges.
This is a developing story. Stay with The Daily Wire for updates.

Friday Virginia State Capitol

Feds Arrest Powerful Virginia Democrat In Cannabis Corruption Probe

cannabis

louise lucas

public corruption

virginia

virginia senate

Vice President JD Vance has a message for Republicans complaining about Republican Vivek Ramaswamy’s explosive ad targeting Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton: Stop whining and win the race.
“Politics is a tough business, and my message to my fellow elected Republicans is: If you actually believe in the things you say you believe in, stop whining about an advertisement and go win the race in 13 days,” Vance <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/2112940309034451000?s=20">said</a> at a Wednesday press conference.
Vance didn&#8217;t hold back, saying he was “disgusted” with the reactions of some elected Republicans, who publicly condemned the ad with just 13 days to go until election day. 
“If you think it wasn&#8217;t tough enough, say that. But I have to admit that I&#8217;m a little bit disgusted when I see Republicans across the country who are whining more about that advertisement than they are about what the congressional Democrats and other Democrats want to do to the United States of America,” he said. 
Vance is campaigning with Ramaswamy and Republican Sen. Jon Husted in Cincinnati as the ad featuring Acton’s estranged mother continues to roil the state’s gubernatorial race.
Ramaswamy’s campaign has accepted responsibility for the ad and is pouring $4 million behind the bombshell spot, which features Donna Arthur calling her daughter a “liar” and accusing her of fabricating stories about her childhood, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ramaswamy-bets-millions-on-bombshell-ad-featuring-dems-estranged-mother?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=4&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Ramaswamy+Bets+Millions+On+Bombshell+Ad+Featuring+Dem%E2%80%99s+Estranged+Mother">The Daily Wire reported</a>. 
“It’s not easy for a mother to say this, but Amy has a serious problem. She is a liar. She lies about her past. She says she grew up living in a tent. None of that is true. She’s lied her entire life,” Arthur says in the one-minute ad. “Don’t vote for people who lie. Don’t let her become your governor. If you think she’ll make your life better, you’re fooling yourself. It will only get worse.”
Sources close to Ramaswamy’s campaign <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/10/21/ramaswamy-ad-acton-mother-ohio">told Axios</a> the ad tested well with “persuadable” voters, leading to the multimillion-dollar statewide blitz that began Tuesday night.
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“This is part of a pattern,” Ramaswamy <a href="https://fox8.com/news/ramaswamy-says-his-campaign-is-responsible-for-ad-with-actons-mother-acton-responds/">told</a> reporters at a Tuesday campaign event in Columbus. “Someone else who appears to know her well … says the same thing, and I do think that is important for voters to take that into account, especially because Amy Acton has hid from debate and ducked questions.”
Trailing candidates often turn to negative ads to erode their opponents’ standing and shake up a stagnant race. Ramaswamy is trailing Acton by nearly four points, according to the <a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/governor/general/2026/ohio/ramaswamy-vs-acton">RealClearPolitics polling average</a>.
But Ramaswamy feels it’s fair game.
“What I do know [is] that Amy Acton has been repeatedly and serially dishonest during this campaign and for much of her record in public service, and I do think that record deserves to be scrutinized,” he told <a href="https://fox8.com/news/ramaswamy-says-his-campaign-is-responsible-for-ad-with-actons-mother-acton-responds/">WJW</a>.
On Tuesday morning, Acton’s <a href="https://x.com/amyactonoh/status/2112523636733341874?s=20">campaign condemned</a> Ramaswamy over what it described as an “attempt to platform their estranged and abusive mother.” Acton also <a href="https://www.facebook.com/amyactonoh/posts/pfbid032jLzcdbWK8WUYyapocvDfVVyLxZQQkrDWh3iK8Lv6SVvD89NBBrgn9ib6KxfD5wPl">released a statement</a>, saying she and her brother endured “abuse, hunger, and neglect” in their mother’s care.
“We were often kept in a dark basement, were frequent-fliers with child protective services, and lived in fear of our birth mother’s violent and erratic temper,” Acton said. “Between the ages of 10 and 12, I was sexually abused by her husband, while my birth mother did nothing to protect me.”
“I’ve always known that she was deeply sick and unwell, and it’s sad to see Vivek Ramaswamy exploit her all for his own political gain,” she added.
The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/20/us/politics/ramaswamy-campaign-ad-acton-estranged-mother-donna-arthur.html">reported</a> that Youngstown police and court officials “could not immediately produce records” from the 1970s to corroborate Acton’s account. However, the Acton campaign provided documents showing that her stepfather pleaded not guilty, was indicted by a grand jury, and fled the state before trial, according to the Times. A subsequent arrest warrant was issued, but he never appeared before a judge. He died in Pennsylvania in 2004.
Acton and Ramaswamy are locked in a tight race to succeed Ohio’s term-limited Republican Governor Mike DeWine. With just two weeks until Election Day, <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/ohio-becomes-midterm-battleground-after-years-of-republican-wins">Cook Political Report</a> lists the race as a toss-up.

Vice President Vance Holds Midterm Rally In Michigan

Vance Has A Message For ‘Whining’ Republicans After Explosive Ramaswamy Ad

amy acton

jd vance

ohio governor race

vivek ramaswamy

With just 13 days until Election Day, Texas Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton said he would debate Democratic rival James Talarico &#8220;if the terms were right,&#8221; prompting Talarico to suggest a TMZ-hosted showdown.
The entertainment site caught up with both candidates on the campaign trail, pressing Paxton, who has repeatedly rebuffed calls to debate his Democratic rival.
“Look, if the terms were right, I&#8217;d have no problem,” Paxton <a href="https://x.com/TMZ/status/2112673589832917077?s=20">told</a> TMZ’s Charlie Cotton, who followed up by asking what those terms would be.
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“So in terms of debating, I don&#8217;t want to end up with a CNN reporter covering the debate. So, you know, I don&#8217;t know what all the terms are, but I do know I don&#8217;t want a CNN reporter covering our debate, which initially was talked about,” Paxton said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Ken Paxton shares a bag of beef jerky with TMZ DC’s @hicharliecotton and reveals what it would take for him to debate his opponent, James Talarico. https://t.co/cNDP1zHdei
— TMZ (@TMZ) <a href="https://x.com/TMZ/status/2112673589832917077?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
President Donald Trump has previously said the Republican nominee was “ready, willing and able” to debate. Paxton told TMZ that characterization “is always true.”
Talarico, meanwhile, has challenged Paxton to debate at any time or place, even offering to meet on Fox News, and took a swipe at the attorney general for refusing to agree to a showdown.
“Well, I mean, Ken Paxton has refused to debate, and that&#8217;s pretty low-T behavior in my book,” Talarico <a href="https://x.com/TMZ/status/2112838900519485816?s=20">told</a> a TMZ reporter. “But I actually challenged him to do it on Fox News on his home turf in his safe space. But maybe, this is now just occurring to me, TMZ should host this debate. You seem to get a hold of Ken Paxton easier than most journalists do.” 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 James Talarico is taking Ken Paxton up on his offer to debate under the right conditions, and he’s proposing the perfect venue: a TMZ-hosted showdown.
🎥: @jacob_wass https://t.co/Fh6LDd0ViB
— TMZ (@TMZ) <a href="https://x.com/TMZ/status/2112838900519485816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Early voting is underway in the Lone Star State, with<a href="https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/lone-star-politics/record-turnout-on-first-day-of-2026-early-voting-in-north-texas/4093325/"> preliminary reports</a> showing several North Texas counties, including Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, and Denton, with record first-day turnout for a midterm. Both candidates are crisscrossing the state in a race that could help determine control of the Senate. Talarico holds a <a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/senate/general/2026/texas/talarico-vs-paxton">two-point lead</a> in the RealClearPolitics polling average, threatening to hand Republicans their first statewide defeat in Texas in decades.
TMZ also pressed Paxton about the prospect of losing, asking if he would feel “ashamed” for not pulling out a victory. 
“No, look, I know that I&#8217;ve worked hard, and I know that we have done everything that we possibly could to make sure that we win the race,” Paxton said. “I truly believe we&#8217;re going to win this race, but in the end, it&#8217;s the voters that decide. And I trust them. I trust that they will make a good decision. I believe in them, and so you know what? We just see what happens on election day.”
The Cook Political Report ranks the race as a toss-up.

Texas Senate Rivals May Finally Have To Say It To Each Other’s Faces

james talarico

ken paxton

texas

texas senate race

A 44-year-old California woman is accused of watching pornography moments before causing a multi-vehicle crash that left a Utah man dead. 
Christine Chao was charged Tuesday with automobile homicide, a second-degree felony, in connection with the fatal June 12 crash, local outlet <a href="https://kutv.com/news/local/woman-accused-of-viewing-porn-in-moments-before-deadly-i-15-crash-in-juab-county">KUTV</a> reported.
The three-vehicle collision occurred on I-15, where traffic was slowing for ongoing construction, according to charging documents cited by KUTV. Chao allegedly struck the rearmost of two cars slowing ahead, triggering a chain-reaction crash that sent all three vehicles off the road.
A passenger in the rear vehicle was hospitalized in critical condition and later died from his injuries. Local outlet <a href="https://www.ksl.com/article/51638707/driver-allegedly-looking-up-porn-charged-in-fatal-i-15-crash">KSL</a> identified the victim as Scott LaVar Lichfield, a 66-year-old Utah man who was riding in the backseat of one of the vehicles. Lichfield suffered a fatal head injury in the crash. 
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Charging documents state that Chao told officers at the scene that she “was at fault.” 
&#8220;Traffic had been slowed due to ongoing construction. Two vehicles were traveling at a slower speed when a vehicle driven by the defendant, Christine Chao, struck the rearmost vehicle, causing it to crash into the vehicle ahead of it,&#8221; charging documents state. &#8220;Officers did not observe any brake marks on the road to indicate the defendant slowed before the crash.&#8221;
Police later seized and examined Chao’s phone after obtaining a warrant. Investigators said she had browsed a pornography website less than two minutes before the crash, according to charging documents.
&#8220;An examination of the phone pursuant to the warrant showed that (Chao) had accessed the website xvideos.com less than two minutes before the crash occurred. This website is commonly used to view pornographic videos,&#8221; charging documents state, according to KSL.
Lichfield had just celebrated his 39th wedding anniversary with his wife the day before, according to his obituary. The couple has five children.
&#8220;The very best thing he loved was just being with his children and grandchildren. He would see a grandchild and say to them, &#8216;Come give me a hug.&#8217; He loved them so very much. He read to them, watched movies with them, played chess, and built legos. They all loved their Papa/Pop Pop,&#8221; the <a href="https://www.millardccp.com/articles/obituaries/scott-lavar-lichfield/">obituary</a> stated.

highway_porn_crash

Woman Watched Porn Just Before Causing Fatal Crash, Police Say

distracted driving

fatal car crash

pornography

traffic accident

utah

Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is going all in on the explosive ad rocking the ugly race for the governor’s mansion.
Ramaswamy’s campaign accepted responsibility and is pouring $4 million behind the bombshell ad, which features the estranged mother of his opponent, Ohio Democrat gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton, calling her daughter a “liar” and accusing her of fabricating stories about her childhood.
“It’s not easy for a mother to say this, but Amy has a serious problem. She is a liar. She lies about her past. She says she grew up living in a tent. None of that is true. She’s lied her entire life,” Donna Arthur says in the one-minute ad. “Don’t vote for people who lie. Don’t let her become your governor. If you think she’ll make your life better, you’re fooling yourself. It will only get worse.”
Sources close to Ramaswamy’s campaign <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/10/21/ramaswamy-ad-acton-mother-ohio">told Axios</a> the ad tested well with “persuadable” voters, leading to the multi-million-dollar statewide blitz that began Tuesday night. 
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“This is part of a pattern,” Ramaswamy <a href="https://fox8.com/news/ramaswamy-says-his-campaign-is-responsible-for-ad-with-actons-mother-acton-responds/">told</a> reporters at a Tuesday campaign event in Columbus. “Someone else who appears to know her well &#8230; says the same thing, and I do think that is important for voters to take that into account, especially because Amy Acton has hid from debate and ducked questions.”
The ad quickly sparked a firestorm online, with liberal and conservative commentators alike warning it could backfire and boost Acton’s campaign in the homestretch. Trailing candidates often turn to negative ads to erode their opponents’ standing and shake up a stagnant race. Ramaswamy is trailing Acton by nearly four points, according to the <a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/governor/general/2026/ohio/ramaswamy-vs-acton">RealClearPolitics polling average</a>.
But Ramaswamy feels it&#8217;s fair game. “What I do know [is] that Amy Acton has been repeatedly and serially dishonest during this campaign and for much of her record in public service, and I do think that record deserves to be scrutinized,” he told <a href="https://fox8.com/news/ramaswamy-says-his-campaign-is-responsible-for-ad-with-actons-mother-acton-responds/">WJW</a>.
On Tuesday morning, Acton’s<a href="https://x.com/amyactonoh/status/2112523636733341874?s=20"> campaign condemned</a> Ramaswamy over what it described as an “attempt to platform their estranged and abusive mother.” Acton also<a href="https://www.facebook.com/amyactonoh/posts/pfbid032jLzcdbWK8WUYyapocvDfVVyLxZQQkrDWh3iK8Lv6SVvD89NBBrgn9ib6KxfD5wPl"> released a statement</a>, saying she and her brother endured “abuse, hunger, and neglect” in their mother’s care.
“We were often kept in a dark basement, were frequent-fliers with child protective services, and lived in fear of our birth mother’s violent and erratic temper,” Acton said. “Between the ages of 10 and 12, I was sexually abused by her husband, while my birth mother did nothing to protect me.”
“I’ve always known that she was deeply sick and unwell, and it’s sad to see Vivek Ramaswamy exploit her all for his own political gain,” she added.
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/20/us/politics/ramaswamy-campaign-ad-acton-estranged-mother-donna-arthur.html">The New York Times</a> said Youngstown police and court officials “could not immediately produce records” from the 1970s to corroborate Acton’s account. However, the Acton campaign provided documents showing that her stepfather pleaded not guilty, was indicted by a grand jury, and fled the state before trial, according to the Times. A subsequent arrest warrant was issued, but he never appeared before a judge. He died in Pennsylvania in 2004. 
Meanwhile, Connie Luck, a spokesperson for Ramaswamy’s campaign, accused Acton of misrepresenting her record and dodging voters. 
“We don’t know what happened between Amy and her mother, who first spoke out about Amy in 2020, but we know that Amy Acton is a serial fabulist who has some serious problems with the truth that the public needs to be aware of before deciding who to entrust as governor,” Luck said in a statement to The Daily Wire. 
Acton, a physician who served as director of the Ohio Department of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic, has previously described her childhood as “rough.”
“I am from Youngstown. I had a pretty rough childhood and experienced what it was like to live in a tent, to experience abuse and neglect, not have the heat on, not have a home,” Acton<a href="https://www.cleveland19.com/video/2026/10/19/full-interview-ohio-governor-race-dr-amy-acton-addresses-affordability-schools-debate-concerns/"> said in an interview</a> with local outlet 19 News. “So that all motivated me to become a doctor.”
Acton has also described an “out of control” and “nomadic” childhood with her mother, saying she lived in more than a dozen different places during her first 12 years. According to Acton, she eventually moved in with her father and his relatives.
“I have so many crazy stories … I spent so much time being scared as a kid, but also navigating the adult world,” Acton told The Vindicator in 2019. 
Acton and Ramaswamy are locked in a tight race to succeed Ohio’s term-limited Republican Governor Mike DeWine. With just two weeks until Election Day, the<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/ohio-becomes-midterm-battleground-after-years-of-republican-wins"> Cook Political Report</a> lists the race as a toss-up.
Ramaswamy and Republican Sen. Jon Husted will campaign with Vice President JD Vance in Cincinnati on Wednesday. Vance had a message for Republicans criticizing the ad.
“Politics is a tough business, and my message to my fellow elected Republicans is: If you actually believe in the things you say you believe in, stop whining about an advertisement and go win the race in 13 days,” Vance <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/20/politics/amy-acton-mother-video">said</a>.

Untitled-design-9

Ramaswamy Bets Millions On Bombshell Ad Featuring Dem’s Estranged Mother

It&#8217;s desperation time as campaigns take their final swings two weeks ahead of Election Day. Here&#8217;s the latest you need to know about the midterm elections. For more, check out The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/election-hub">Daily Wire Election Hub</a>.
<h2>Candidate Moves</h2>
Mama Acton Speaks Out — An ad featuring Donna Arthur, the estranged mother of Democrat Ohio Gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/shocking-ad-featuring-ohio-dems-estranged-mom-throws-governors-race-into-chaos?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Shocking+Ad+Featuring+Ohio+Dem%E2%80%99s+Estranged+Mom+Throws+Governor%E2%80%99s+Race+Into+Chaos">spontaneously appeared Monday night</a>. In the ad, Arthur accuses her daughter of being a liar and encourages Ohioans to vote against her.
It&#8217;s not clear at the time of this publication what entity is behind the ad, which is already causing a firestorm in Ohio. Acton has said she grew up in an environment of abuse and neglect where she had to live with her mother in a tent. She left the custody of her mother around age 12. Some observers have questioned whether the ad will backfire on the Ramaswamy campaign if it is seen as an act of desperation.
Rogers Courts The Black Vote — Republican Mike Rogers is making an unprecedented push to win over Michigan’s black voters, according to Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens, who <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/16/haley-stevens-talks-abdul-el-sayed-01122744">told Politico</a> that Rogers is engaging the community “harder and more successfully” than any Republican she can remember.
Stevens’ remarks underscore growing concerns among Democrats that El-Sayed has yet to repair the divisions left by a bruising primary campaign. El-Sayed’s campaign tactics, association with Hasan Piker, and harsh criticism of Israel may have alienated key voting blocs as Rogers works to build a broader coalition.
Over the weekend, Rogers’ campaign released an ad featuring exclusively black voices criticizing El-Sayed’s focus on the Middle East. The <a href="https://x.com/MikeRogersForMI/status/2111466127847305459?s=20">ad</a> frames El-Sayed’s obsession with Gaza as a sign he will abandon Michigan in Washington, with Rogers declaring: “He wants to represent Palestine. I want to represent Michigan.”
Still, Rogers faces an uphill battle in a traditionally blue state in an increasingly Democratic-friendly year. El-Sayed is hoping his left-wing populist platform will mobilize younger voters and progressive white voters to the polls.
Trump Campaign Blitz — President Donald Trump will be on the campaign trail <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2111968354089226572?s=20">every day this week</a>, representing a remarkable effort to turn out his MAGA base across key battlegrounds and deep-red territory.
Trump’s campaign schedule:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Monday: Park City, Kansas</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Tuesday: Greenville, North Carolina</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Wednesday: Clemson, South Carolina</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Thursday: Sioux City, Iowa</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Friday: Fort Myers, Florida</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Saturday: Macon, Georgia</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sunday: St. Clair County, Michigan</li>
</ul>
Vice President JD Vance will also hit the trail, with visits planned for:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Monday: Hendersonville, North Carolina</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Wednesday: Cincinnati, Ohio</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Thursday: North Platte, Nebraska</li>
</ul>
Over the weekend, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/vance-drops-bomb-on-2028-presidential-race-lights-fuse?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Virginia+Kruta&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=JD+Vance+Drops+2028+Bombshell+In+CBS+Townhall">Vance held a town hall with CBS</a> where he said he might not run for the presidency in 2028. 
“Of course there’s a chance!” Vance told CBS’s Tony Dokoupil. “Yeah, man, we’ve got four little kids, my wife has never loved politics. She loves public service. I think you know you can do a lot of good in this job, and I’ve tried to do as much good as possible.”
The Christian Vote — Republicans are <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-familiar-group-holds-the-key-to-gop-hopes-in-november?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=14&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=A+Familiar+Group+Holds+The+Key+To+GOP+Hopes+In+November">increasingly worried</a> that soft turnout among conservative evangelicals could cost them winnable races nationwide this November, giving Democrats an opening to pull off upsets in deep-red territory. 
Nowhere is that concern more acute than in Texas, where Republican Ken Paxton is struggling to pull ahead of Democrat James Talarico, a progressive Presbyterian who has described God as “non-binary” and said Jesus is not the only way to God.
Dr. Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, said the November ballot represents a choice between “the lesser of two evils” and described the high-stakes Senate race as a jump ball.
“Well, to be honest, I’m seeing more concern this time around than I have in any other recent election. Conservative Christians are troubled by Ken Paxton’s past, and I think they’re weighing right now whether they’re going to vote for the lesser of two evils or just stay at home,” Jeffress said in an interview with The Daily Wire.
“A few weeks ago, I was concerned about the number of people going to stay at home. I’m seeing a little shift in that. I think more are drifting toward Paxton now, but I think right now it’s a toss-up,” he added.
Polling shows white evangelicals oppose Talarico the most. Still, some Republicans fear party leaders are <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/13/politics/evangelicals-republicans-midterm-losses">doing too little</a> to mobilize one of the GOP’s most reliable voting blocs.
A Republican strategist familiar with Texas told The Daily Wire that the GOP no longer targets individual demographic groups as aggressively as it once did, instead seeking to reach voters broadly through its messaging.
White evangelicals are the only religious group of registered voters in which a majority favors Republican House candidates, according to new<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/10/13/religious-groups-differ-widely-in-their-2026-midterm-preferences/"> Pew Research data</a> released Tuesday. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of white evangelicals say they would vote for the Republican in their district if the election were held today, compared with just 12% who would back the Democrat.
White Catholic voters also favor Republicans over Democrats in their districts, though by a narrower margin of 50% to 32%. Other religious groups are roughly split or favor Democrats, while atheists and agnostics overwhelmingly back Democrats.
<h2>The Latest Polls</h2>
Democrats hold a substantial 8.3-point lead on the national congressional ballot, 50.7% to 42.4%, a margin reflected in some key battlegrounds even as other races remain far more competitive.
North Carolina: Former Gov. Roy Cooper leads former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley by nearly 10 points in the <a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/senate/general/2026/alaska/peltola-vs-sullivan">RealClearPolitics average</a>, 50.7% to 41.1%. The race represents a major Democratic pickup opportunity. Republicans have pulled back resources, and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gop-senate-campaign-goes-dark-during-home-stretch">Whatley’s campaign has gone dark</a> on television despite President Trump’s visit to the state this week.
Georgia: The Peach State’s Senate race appears increasingly difficult for Republicans. Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff leads Republican Rep. Mike Collins by nine points, 52% to 43%, in the polling average. The gubernatorial contest is tighter, with billionaire Rick Jackson holding a narrow lead over former Atlanta Democratic Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Reports of strong Black turnout, coupled with weaker get-out-the-vote efforts in rural areas, point to the potential for historic ticket-splitting in a state where the Senate and governor’s races could produce sharply different outcomes.
Kansas: Republican Sen. Roger Marshall holds a narrow advantage over Democrat Adam Hamilton, 46.0% to 45.7%, in the RCP average. The race is effectively tied, leaving Marshall vulnerable in a state Republicans would normally expect to hold.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-dem-pastor-running-for-senate-urged-church-to-declare-black-lives-matter?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=5&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=WATCH%3A+Dem+Pastor+Running+For+Senate+Urged+Church+To+Declare+%E2%80%98Black+Lives+Matter%E2%80%99">The Daily Wire</a> uncovered a 2018 video last week of Hamilton, a liberal Methodist pastor, urging his mostly white congregation to declare “black lives matter” and saying it’s difficult to preach against racism in rural America.
Texas: Democrat James Talarico holds a narrow two-point lead over Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, 48.5% to 46.3%. Individual polls have varied, with some showing a dead heat or a slim Paxton advantage. Early voting began Monday across the Lone Star State, as both campaigns blitz the campaign trail and airwaves in a final push to win over voters.
Ohio: Former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown leads Republican Sen. Jon Husted by 2.8 points, 47.4% to 44.6%. The race has remained relatively steady despite repeated visits from the White House, as Republicans pivot to an anti-socialist message amid concerns about lagging GOP turnout in a state President Trump won three times.
“I wouldn’t like that,” said Nikki Cvetkovic, 77, after opening her door in a working-class suburb of Youngstown and examining a pamphlet featuring Brown alongside the words “SOCIALISM THREATENS YOUR FREEDOM.” Cvetkovic said she planned to vote for Husted, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/19/us/politics/republicans-ohio-turnout-election.html">according to The New York Times.</a>
Maine: Democrat Troy Jackson holds a narrow 1.6-point lead over Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Jackson faced backlash last week after telling Collins to “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/shut-up-dem-snaps-at-susan-collins-in-fiery-maine-senate-debate">shut up</a>&#8221; when a protester interrupted their final debate. The remark went viral, drawing scrutiny from mainstream media, including CNN, which pressed Jackson on the comment. He doubled down, prompting a Collins-aligned group to launch an attack ad against him. 
“Troy Jackson is a creep. We can’t trust him,” the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/shut-up-dem-snaps-at-susan-collins-in-fiery-maine-senate-debate?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=6&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98Shut+Up%E2%80%99%3A+Dem+Snaps+At+Susan+Collins+In+Fiery+Maine+Senate+Debate">30-second spot says. </a>
Former West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin is also <a href="https://www.semafor.com/article/10/19/2026/manchin-to-campaign-with-collins-in-maine">set to campaign</a> for Collins, underscoring their relationship and Collins’ longstanding bipartisan appeal.
Iowa: The race between Democrat Josh Turek and Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson is effectively tied, with individual polls showing mixed results and some giving Hinson a narrow advantage. In recent days, political journalist and commentator Mark Halperin has said Republicans are feeling more optimistic about the contest, which is shaping up to be a must-win seat for the GOP to retain control. 
Michigan: Polling shows a tightening race between Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers. El-Sayed holds a narrowing 2.6-point lead, 48.1% to 45.5%. National Democrats, including former President Barack Obama, have stepped up efforts to shore up support among key constituencies, particularly black voters, as El-Sayed’s foreign ties draw increasing scrutiny from voters and the national media.  
Alaska: Democrat Mary Peltola leads Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan by 2.5 points in the RCP average, 49.5% to 47.0%. The race remains highly competitive in a state where polling can be difficult. Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system adds another layer of uncertainty and could mean the final outcome is not determined on Election Night.
&nbsp;
<h2>One Story to Watch: Could The Polls Be Wrong? </h2>
Will The Polls Be Wrong? — If polls hold and prove accurate, Democrats could be on the cusp of the type of electoral tsunami the mainstream media has been predicting. But in the Trump era, surveys have repeatedly missed the mark, sometimes dramatically. In 2016, 2020 and 2024, pollsters repeatedly undercounted GOP support — a narrative national Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have leaned on in recent weeks. However, they&#8217;ve been more accurate in midterm elections when Trump is not on the ballot. 
“I’m telling you the polling is wrong,” Johnson (R-LA) said during an <a href="https://thehill.com/newsletters/morning-report/6149917-gop-battleground-ambitions-midterms-polling-trump-administration-russia-ukraine/">interview</a> on Fox News. “They have a lot of polling organizations right now acknowledging that they’re under-sampling Republicans because Republicans don’t want to respond to polls anymore.”
But what do the data gurus say? CNN’s <a href="https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2111102859907416117?s=20">Harry Enten</a> recently noted that since 1998, final Senate polling aggregates have missed the mark by nearly four points on average. He emphasized that polls offer snapshots in time, not predictions, and even a modest polling error this cycle could dramatically reshape the Senate map.
“Polls are a tool. Poll aggregates are a tool. When you have all of these close races, you have to keep this in mind… Those races on the last screen are well within that average error rate, and that is why the Senate at this point is too close to call if these poll averages hold,” Enten said.
“And this to me is the big siren warning sign for Democrats right here, because I know you feel like it&#8217;s Lucy in the football. You&#8217;ve seen yourselves ahead before, and then Election Day the votes are cast and counted, and the Republicans come out ahead,” he added. “If, in fact, Republicans outperform the averages by 3.75 points, look at this… Republicans would get 52 seats.”

Democratic Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed Campaigns Across Michigan

2 Weeks To Stop The Wave: All You Need To Know About The Midterm Latest

An ad featuring the estranged mother of Ohio Democrat Amy Acton has thrown a dramatic wrench in the state&#8217;s gubernatorial race just two weeks before Election Day, putting family drama and accusations of campaign malfeasance at the heart of the race for the governor&#8217;s mansion.
In the one-minute video, Donna Arthur urges Ohioans to reject her daughter at the ballot box, calling her a liar and accusing her of fabricating stories about her childhood.
“It’s not easy for a mother to say this, but Amy has a serious problem. She is a liar. She lies about her past. She says she grew up living in a tent. None of that is true. She’s lied her entire life,” Donna Arthur says. &#8220;Don’t vote for people who lie. Don’t let her become your governor. If you think she’ll make your life better, you’re fooling yourself. It will only get worse.”
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The ad quickly caused a firestorm on X, where users began pointing out that Acton and her mother have long been estranged.
On Tuesday morning, Acton’s <a href="https://x.com/amyactonoh/status/2112523636733341874?s=20">campaign condemned</a> Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy over what it described as an “attempt to platform their estranged and abusive mother.” The Democratic campaign released a statement from Acton’s brother, Phillip Stearns.
“It is not surprising that Vivek Ramaswamy has stooped to such a despicable low as to attempt to turn the sexual abuse Amy endured at twelve years old from our birth mother’s husband into a political talking point,” Stearns said. “After he was arrested and Amy and I were removed from their custody, our birth mother stayed married to Amy’s rapist until he died.”
Stearns argued that the ad says more about Ramaswamy than it does about Acton.
“This desperate, disgusting attack reveals exactly who Vivek Ramaswamy is at his core – a pathetic excuse for a man who is willing to hurt anyone as long as it gets him what he wants,” he said.
There is no evidence that Ramaswamy or his campaign were behind the ad, which does not identify when the video was produced, who financed it, or whether it is airing on television. Independent journalist Walter Curt <a href="https://x.com/wcdispatch/status/2112388948563554668?s=20">posted the clip</a> on X late Monday night.
Connie Luck, a spokesperson for Ramaswamy’s campaign, accused Acton of misrepresenting her record and avoiding scrutiny.
“We don&#8217;t know what happened between Amy and her mother, who first spoke out about Amy in 2020, but we know that Amy Acton is a serial fabulist who has some serious problems with the truth that the public needs to be aware of before deciding who to entrust as governor,&#8221; Luck said in a statement to The Daily Wire. &#8220;Ohioans are struggling with rising costs and need a governor who can help them.&#8221;
“Vivek wants this election to focus on solutions, but Amy Acton has repeatedly lied about Vivek and his family, misrepresented her own record, and hidden from debates and voters,&#8221; she added.
Acton, a physician who served as director of the Ohio Department of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic, has previously described her childhood as “rough.”
“I am from Youngstown. I had a pretty rough childhood and experienced what it was like to live in a tent, to experience abuse and neglect, not have the heat on, not have a home,” Acton <a href="https://www.cleveland19.com/video/2026/10/19/full-interview-ohio-governor-race-dr-amy-acton-addresses-affordability-schools-debate-concerns/">said in an interview</a> with local outlet 19 News. “So that all motivated me to become a doctor.”
Acton has also described an “out of control” and “nomadic” childhood with her mother, saying she lived in more than a dozen different places during her first 12 years. According to Acton, she eventually moved in with her father and his relatives.
“I have so many crazy stories &#8230; I spent so much time being scared as a kid, but also navigating the adult world,” Acton <a href="https://vindyarchives.com/news/2019/aug/31/ohio-leaders-passion-comes-from-youngsto/">told another local outlet</a>. 
“It’s hard to tell people about this because it makes kids uncomfortable,” she said of her childhood. “So you just keep it all in.”
Acton and Ramaswamy are locked in a tight race to succeed Ohio&#8217;s term-limited Republican Governor Mike DeWine. With just two weeks until election day, the <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/ohio-becomes-midterm-battleground-after-years-of-republican-wins">Cook Political Report</a> lists the race as a toss-up.

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Shocking Ad Featuring Ohio Dem’s Estranged Mom Throws Governor’s Race Into Chaos

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Jacob Wheeler