OTTAWA (Reuters) — The leader of Canada&#8217;s official opposition Conservatives, Pierre Poilievre, secured a return to Parliament and a chance to grill Prime Minister Mark Carney over U.S. tariffs, staging a comeback after unexpectedly losing his seat in an April election.
Unofficial results from Elections Canada on Tuesday showed Poilievre had easily won a special election on Monday in the parliamentary constituency of Battle River-Crowfoot in the western Canadian province of Alberta, a Conservative stronghold. Poilievre secured about 80% of the vote, according to Elections Canada.
Poilievre, who accuses the Liberal government of botching its handling of U.S. relations, will be able to confront Carney when the House of Commons returns on September 15.
Carney, who took over as prime minister in March, secured a strong minority government in April&#8217;s federal election, while Poilievre lost the Ottawa-area seat he had held for 21 years.
Carney won on a promise to stand up to U.S. President Donald Trump but has since moderated his approach even as Washington imposed more tariffs.
&#8220;Mark Carney has been failing. He&#8217;s failed, he&#8217;s backed down, he&#8217;s made concession after concession vis-a-vis the Americans,&#8221; Poilievre told a press conference last Thursday.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_campaign=summer&amp;utm_content=editorialsummersale&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">End of Summer Sale – Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
Carney, however, is in no immediate danger politically. Although the Liberals fell three seats short of a majority in April, they should be able to rely on the support of smaller parties to survive confidence votes.
A Nanos Research poll earlier this month put the Liberals at 44% popular support compared with 33% for the Conservatives.
Carney has pulled the Liberals more to the center, and Poilievre will find it harder to draw a sharp contrast, said pollster Nik Nanos, CEO of Nanos Research.
&#8220;Poilievre needs to articulate what he learned from the last federal election and how his government would be different than a Carney government,&#8221; he said via email.
At the start of the year, the Conservatives looked set for a crushing election victory over the Liberals of then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who were far behind in polls after more than nine years in power.
But Liberal fortunes soared after Trudeau announced he was stepping down and Trump began threatening Canada with tariffs and annexation.
(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Caroline Stauffer and Edmund Klamann)

By-election in Alberta’s Battle River-Crowfoot riding

Canada Opposition Leader Poilievre Secures Return To Parliament After Shocking Defeat In April

Canada

Election

Mark Carney

Pierre Poilievre

Former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is ready to run for office again after losing his Senate seat to Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) in the 2024 election amid reported controversies.
Brown will challenge Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) in the 2026 election, cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer first <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/news/2025/08/sherrod-brown-to-run-for-us-senate-in-2026-challenging-jon-husted.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on Tuesday, citing Ohio labor leaders. As of press time, Brown had not formally announced his campaign, but other news outlets have confirmed his plans.
In a story published last month, Brown told <a href="https://www.semafor.com/article/07/03/2025/former-ohio-sen-sherrod-brown-weighs-next-political-move" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Semafor</a> that &#8220;everything&#8217;s on the table&#8221; while &#8220;talking to family and friends&#8221; and deciding whether he “want[s] to get back in and do this.&#8221; He also said, &#8220;I’m concerned about the direction of my state; I’m concerned about the direction of my country. So I don’t know.&#8221;
Brown, a former Ohio secretary of state and congressman, first <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/politics-july-dec06-oh_sen_11-07" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won election</a> to the Senate in 2006 against incumbent Mike DeWine, who went on to become governor. During his three terms in the Senate, Brown served as chairman of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
The Daily Wire covered Brown a number of times while he was in the Senate, including reports on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ohio-democrat-senator-took-thousands-of-dollars-in-donations-from-pharma-companies-at-center-of-opioid-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">donations</a> from drug companies at the center of the opioid crisis and how he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/east-palestine-is-still-suffering-but-ohios-democrat-senator-took-time-for-a-hollywood-fundraiser" target="_blank" rel="noopener">attended</a> a ritzy Hollywood fundraiser while constituents worried about the water quality at their home after the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine.
In the 2024 election, Brown ran for a fourth term against Moreno, a businessman who was endorsed by now-President Donald Trump. Estimates show roughly <a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-senate-ohio-brown-moreno-74c4b91e5866215d4201377fefcadad0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$500 million</a> was spent on that Senate contest, which POLITICO <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/11/05/2024-election-results-live-coverage-updates-analysis/bernie-moreno-wins-ohio-senate-00185143" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dubbed</a> the most expensive non-presidential election in U.S. history.
Moreno <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/11/05/us/elections/results-ohio-us-senate.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defeated</a> Brown 50.1%-46.5%. Trump&#8217;s margin of victory over then-Vice President Kamala Harris in Ohio was much larger, with the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/11/05/us/elections/results-ohio.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">final </a>results coming in at 55.2%-43.9%.
Brown will now face off against Husted, who was selected by Governor DeWine to temporarily replace JD Vance after he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/vice-president-elect-jd-vance-submits-resignation-from-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resigned</a> from his seat in the Senate in order to become vice president. The winner will serve out the remainder of the term that ends in 2029.
Axios <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/28/schumer-sherrod-brown-ohio-senate-meeting-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) had been urging Brown to get back in the ring, a push that comes as Democrats hope to retake control of the upper chamber. But Husted&#8217;s team shrugged off the pending challenge.
&#8220;Should Brown enter the race as Schumer&#8217;s handpicked candidate he will be starting in the biggest hole of his political career,&#8221; Husted campaign spokesman Tyson Shepard <a href="https://x.com/jpelzer/status/1955287609938190756" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a statement posted to X by Jeremy Pelzer, the reporter who broke the story.
&#8220;He has never faced a candidate like Jon Husted,&#8221; Pelzer continued. &#8220;Brown&#8217;s slogans will ring hollow as his coalition walks away, tired of the radical policies he&#8217;s forced to support to appease his coastal bosses in California and New York.&#8221;

Sherrod Brown

Ohio Dem Sherrod Brown Plots Senate Comeback

Bernie Moreno

Congress

JD Vance

Ohio

Politics

U.S.

U.S. Senate

President Donald Trump said on Thursday morning that illegal immigrants will not be included in the next census, adding that he has ordered the Commerce Department to begin working on a &#8220;new and highly accurate census that is based on results from the 2024 presidential election.&#8221;
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, which falls under the Commerce Department, the first major <a href="https://www.census.gov/newsroom/blogs/random-samplings/2024/2030-census-planning-what-2024-brings.html">field test</a> for the 2030 census is set to take place in 2026, with another coming in 2028.
&#8220;I have instructed our Department of Commerce to immediately begin work on a new and highly accurate CENSUS based on modern day facts and figures and, importantly, using the results and information gained from the Presidential Election of 2024,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114987220997209419">wrote</a> on Truth Social. &#8220;People who are in our Country illegally WILL NOT BE COUNTED IN THE CENSUS.&#8221;
The Census Bureau also <a href="https://www.census.gov/topics/population/foreign-born/about/faq.html">says</a> that illegal immigrants, whom it refers to as &#8220;unauthorized migrants,&#8221; are included in censuses and surveys and added into &#8220;the total foreign-born population.&#8221;
&#8220;The U.S. Census Bureau uses the term foreign born to refer to anyone who is not a U.S. citizen at birth. This includes naturalized U.S. citizens, non-citizen U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (immigrants), temporary migrants (such as foreign students), humanitarian migrants (such as refugees and asylees), and unauthorized migrants,&#8221; the bureau says.
Trump&#8217;s directive to remove illegal immigrants from the census could run into legal challenges. Section 2 of the 14th Amendment <a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt14-S2-1-1/ALDE_00000847/">states</a>, &#8220;Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed.&#8221;
Trump is placing his focus on the census as Republicans and Democrats fight over redistricting in Texas ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Republicans are also seeking to prevent <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/blue-states-benefited-from-2020-census-mistakes-as-red-states-suffered-losses">census errors</a> from benefiting Democrat-led states in future elections, an issue from the 2020 census that the Census Bureau acknowledged in 2022.
Following the 2020 census, the government said that multiple red states, including Florida and Texas, were incorrectly undercounted, which led to them not receiving as many seats in Congress — which also determines electoral college votes — as they should have. Most of the overcounted states in the census were Democrat-led, including New York, Massachusetts, and Minnesota.
If the federal government follows through on Trump&#8217;s pledge to stop counting illegal immigrants in the census, a handful of states — both red and blue — could see their population numbers fall in 2030. According to a Pew Research <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/07/22/what-we-know-about-unauthorized-immigrants-living-in-the-us/">survey</a> from last year, three states have illegal immigrant populations of more than one million: California (1.8 million), Texas (1.6 million), and Florida (1.2 million). As of 2024, New York had an illegal immigrant population of 650,000, New Jersey had 475,000, and Illinois had 400,000.

Donald Trump

Trump Says Illegal Immigrants ‘Will Not Be Counted’ In The Next Census

2026 Midterms

Census Bureau

Federal Government

Trump Administration

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Vice President JD Vance is &#8220;most likely&#8221; going to be the Republican Party&#8217;s 2028 presidential nominee.
After <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-establishes-task-force-to-prepare-for-2028-olympics-in-los-angeles?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Mary+Margaret+Olohan&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Trump+Establishes+Task+Force+To+Prepare+For+2028+Olympics+In+Los+Angeles">signing</a> more executive orders at the White House, Trump was asked by Fox News reporter Peter Doocy to give his thoughts on the 2028 race after the president said earlier on Tuesday that he would &#8220;probably not&#8221; seek a third term.
&#8220;This weekend, Secretary of State [Marco] Rubio said that he thought JD Vance would be a great nominee,&#8221; Doocy said. &#8220;You could clear the entire Republican field right now. Do you agree that the heir-apparent to MAGA is JD Vance?&#8221;
&#8220;Well, I think most likely, in all fairness,&#8221; Trump replied. &#8220;He&#8217;s the vice president. I think Marco is also somebody that maybe would get together with JD in some form.&#8221;
The president, however, wasn&#8217;t ready to give a full-throated endorsement to Vance as the 2028 Republican nominee.
&#8220;I also think we have incredible people, some of the people on the stage right here, so it&#8217;s too early obviously to talk about it,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But certainly, [Vance] is doing a great job, and he would be probably favored at this point.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
POTUS tells <a href="https://twitter.com/pdoocy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@pdoocy</a>: JD Vance is “most likely” the next Republican nominee. <a href="https://t.co/yymVv3daud">pic.twitter.com/yymVv3daud</a>
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/1952838033096470777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
Those on stage alongside Trump included Vance, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Last week, Rubio was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rubio-names-a-close-friend-when-pressed-about-potential-2028-presidential-run?author=Daniel+Chaitin&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Rubio+Names+A+%E2%80%98Close+Friend%E2%80%99+When+Pressed+About+Potential+2028+Presidential+Run">asked</a> by Fox News host and daughter-in-law of the president, Lara Trump, about the potential competitive field for the 2028 Republican presidential race.
“Well, I think JD Vance would be a great nominee,” Rubio said. “And if you know, I think if he decides he wants to do that. And so, you know, and I think he’s doing a great job as vice president. He’s a close friend. And I hope he intends to do it.”
Rubio added that he wants to stay in his role as Secretary of State &#8220;as long as the president allows me to do it &#8230; which would keep me here all the way through January of 2028.&#8221;
Multiple people in the current Trump administration are viewed as potential contenders in a 2028 Republican primary, which would be the first presidential election cycle without Trump in the race since 2012.

Trump Reveals Who Will ‘Most Likely’ Be The 2028 Republican Nominee

Marco Rubio

Republican Party

A House Republican is set to introduce a bill to prevent states from enacting mid-decade redistricting plans that could reshape the balance of power in Congress.
The offering from Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) comes as Texas lawmakers <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/texas-republicans-drop-new-congressional-map-that-would-flip-5-democrat-seats-red" target="_blank" rel="noopener">consider</a> a GOP-led redistricting plan that could turn five Democratic seats in the House red ahead of the 2026 elections, a move that prompted California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom to warn that his state might redraw its maps in retaliation before the midterms.
While the legislation seeks to stop all states from redrawing their maps before the 2030 census, Kiley is particularly focused on California.
Kiley’s office <a href="https://kiley.house.gov/posts/rep-kiley-to-introduce-redistricting-legislation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Newsom is looking to overturn a decades-long California Supreme Court precedent banning mid-decade redistricting and bypass the voter-approved Independent Citizens Commission. Should the Democrat governor go through with such a plan, it could threaten several Republican-held seats — including the one held by Kiley, who represents a district around Sacramento and Lake Tahoe.
“Gavin Newsom is trying to subvert the will of voters and do lasting damage to democracy in California,” Kiley declared in a <a href="https://kiley.house.gov/posts/rep-kiley-to-introduce-redistricting-legislation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>. “Fortunately, Congress has the ability to protect California voters using its authority under the Elections Clause of the U.S. Constitution. This will also stop a damaging redistricting war from breaking out across the country.”
President Donald Trump has been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-gop-can-get-five-more-house-seats-redistricting-just-one-state" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pushing</a> Texas and other states to draw their congressional maps with the expectation that Republicans would gain seats. However, the president also indicated that his administration would sue California if it tried to create more Democratic-leaning districts.
“We’ll fight them. You know, they’re so corrupt in California,” Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-gop-can-get-five-more-house-seats-redistricting-just-one-state" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> last month. “You never know what’s going to happen, but we’ve done pretty well in the courts in California, as you see. We’re batting about 1,000, ultimately. We start off a little slow, and then we get a lot of hits.”
Newsom fired back at Republicans in response to a GOP proposal for redrawing districts in Texas that would ostensibly eliminate five Democratic seats.
“Donald Trump asks for 5 seats and Greg Abbott automatically bends the knee. The 2026 election is being rigged. California won’t sit back and watch this happen,” Newsom <a href="https://x.com/GavinNewsom/status/1950575761448124564" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
The battle over redistricting is heating up as dozens of Democratic lawmakers fled Texas to deny the quorum needed to advance that state’s redistricting proposal. Texas GOP Governor Greg Abbott has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/abbott-to-awol-texas-democrats-respect-voters-or-be-removed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">threatened</a> a bid to have the AWOL Democrats removed from office if they do not return by Monday afternoon, in addition to potential charges.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, another Democrat, has <a href="https://x.com/cspan/status/1952400698697466250" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signaled</a> interest in redrawing state congressional maps, too, if Republicans proceed with mid-decade redistricting in states they control.

Gov. Gavin Newsom

A Nationwide ‘Redistricting War’ Is Brewing. This Bill Seeks To Stop It.

California

Redistricting

Texas

U.S. House of Representatives

Billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk said on Monday he will actively work toward ensuring GOP lawmakers who vote to pass the &#8220;One Big, Beautiful Bill&#8221; despite campaigning on promises to rein in government spending will lose their primaries.
The warning from Musk, whose alliance with President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-hes-very-disappointed-with-elon-musk-fires-back" target="_blank" rel="noopener">crumbled</a> several weeks ago after he began openly criticizing the legislation, came as Republicans worked toward getting the 900-page-plus measure passed by the end of this week through the budget reconciliation process.
&#8220;Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame!&#8221; Musk <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1939776586989150590" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post on X. &#8220;And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.&#8221;
Such a move would mark a huge turnaround for Musk, who <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/01/31/elon-musk-trump-donor-2024-election/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spent more</a> than $250 million to help Trump and other Republicans win elections last year before spearheading the current administration&#8217;s Department of Government Efficiency effort through last month with a stated mission of getting rid of waste, fraud, and abuse.
Musk also <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1939769910156304866" target="_blank" rel="noopener">chided</a> members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and begrudged how the bill may phase out green energy tax credits that could <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/senate-megabill-stuns-the-clean-energy-industry-with-a-new-excise-tax-b1251d01?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=ASWzDAhG_LnmWZC4DkC35HF0UbvFjFx8HIJKtxSkrEFzTJqJITQN0NIbhONydttyrLI%3D&amp;gaa_ts=6863051e&amp;gaa_sig=68b8EmgvRi7xWB9FzYX3zokwhT9RY-VH5HOyAkOQBC4jeVIFlZJpZAJAEnqy-gBem47wPHozbXhoNJGdJPpsAg%3D%3D" target="_blank" rel="noopener">impact</a> customers of his Tesla business. He even proposed the creation of a new political party.
&#8220;It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!! Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people,&#8221; he <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1939762942851027127" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, adding <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1939806847504105683" target="_blank" rel="noopener">later</a>, &#8220;If this insane spending bill passes, the America Party will be formed the next day. Our country needs an alternative to the Democrat-Republican uniparty so that the people actually have a VOICE.&#8221;
<a class="c-link" href="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=freedom&amp;utm_content=freedomeditorial" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=freedom&amp;utm_content=freedomeditorial" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-2388">JULY 4 SALE: Get Six Months Of DW+ Free</a>
Trump has similarly threatened to back primary challengers against Republicans, but he did so against those who have spoken out against the &#8220;One Big, Beautiful Bill.&#8221; One of them, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tillis-buckles-to-trump-threat-wont-seek-reelection" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> on Sunday he would not seek re-election. Another is Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), whom Musk <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1939823052566708554" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> he would support.
GOP leaders in the House and Senate are racing to get the legislation, which aims to fulfill many of Trump&#8217;s spending and tax-cut goals for his second term, to the president&#8217;s desk by his stated deadline of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/down-to-the-wire-can-congress-meet-trumps-july-4-deadline-for-the-big-beautiful-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">July 4</a>. Topline items include extending the 2017 tax cuts set to expire at the end of this year, boosting funds for border security, and cutting red tape for American energy production.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) <a href="https://x.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1939742277686964474" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post on X the bill will be &#8220;JET FUEL&#8221; for the United States economy. &#8220;It makes the Trump tax cuts permanent, eliminates taxes on tips and overtime, provides tax relief for seniors, and slashes regulations to spur job creation and economic growth,&#8221; he said.
While the legislation did initially pass out of the House in late May, provisions in the bill have undergone a makeover, in part because the Senate parliamentarian <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gop-furious-as-unelected-bureaucrat-yanks-conservative-elements-from-big-beautiful-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">determined</a> they did not adhere to rules for reconciliation. As of press time, the process was ongoing as the upper chamber worked through a vote-a-rama on amendments.
Some, but not all <a href="https://x.com/JohnCornyn/status/1939786916527735287" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposed</a> reforms, including an offering from Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) to &#8220;punish states that give Medicaid benefits to illegal aliens convicted or charged with crimes like murder or sex trafficking,&#8221; do not appear to be making it into the final product.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), one of the Freedom Caucus members singled out by Musk, took a swipe at Senate Republicans for how their version of the bill is shaping up.
&#8220;We’d be in a much better spot if Republican Senators (applying for K St) showed half as much passion for tackling $37 trillion in debt and inflation as they do for preserving [Former President Joe] Biden’s green subsidies,&#8221; Roy <a href="https://x.com/chiproytx/status/1939768941515030539" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post on X.

Elon Musk

Elon Musk Warns Republicans: Vote For ‘Big, Beautiful Bill,’ Lose Your Next Primary

Chip Roy

Mike Johnson

Spending Bill

Tax Cuts

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) said on Sunday that he will not seek reelection in 2026 less than 24 hours after President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-whacks-at-tillis-with-primary-threat-for-voting-against-big-beautiful-bill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">threatened</a> to support a primary challenge against the lawmaker following his vote against the &#8220;One Big, Beautiful Bill.&#8221;
The announcement marks a turnaround as Tillis had <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/3257243/thom-tillis-begins-rough-path-2026-reelection/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">indicated</a> in December of last year that he was pursuing a third term in the upper chamber.
&#8220;In Washington over the last few years, it&#8217;s become increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species,&#8221; Tillis said in a <a href="https://x.com/frankthorp/status/1939375244831228256" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.
He added later, &#8220;As many of my colleagues have noticed over the last year, and at times even joked about, I haven&#8217;t exactly been excited about running for another term. That is true since the choice is between spending another six years navigating political theatre and partisan gridlock in Washington or spending that time with the love of my life Susan, our two children, three beautiful grandchildren, and the rest of our extended family back home. It&#8217;s not a hard choice, and I will not be seeking re-election.&#8221;
Tillis was one of two Republican senators who voted against a motion to proceed with debate on the &#8220;One Big, Beautiful Bill&#8221; on Saturday evening. He did so while raising concerns about the legislation&#8217;s proposed Medicaid cuts. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was the other GOP lawmaker.
Ultimately the bill <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trumps-big-beautiful-bill-clears-key-senate-hurdle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> through the procedural hurdle, but not before Trump took aim at Tillis on his Truth Social account.
&#8220;Numerous people have come forward wanting to run in the Primary against &#8216;Senator Thom&#8217; Tillis,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114764184133829613" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;I will be meeting with them over the coming weeks, looking for someone who will properly represent the Great People of North Carolina and, so importantly, the United States of America. Thank you for your attention to this matter!&#8221;
Among other things he said, Trump declared, &#8220;I can’t believe that the Great People of North Carolina, a State that I love and won all three times, and a State that I just brought back with money, blood, sweat, and tears, from the recent tragic floods, when Sleepy Joe Biden let them DROWN, right up until the end of that Administration, without doing anything — I was given an A+ Rating for the job we did in bringing it back, and Tillis, despite being a Republican, was MISSING IN ACTION — North Carolina will not allow one of their Senators to GRANDSTAND in order to get some publicity for himself, for a possible, but very difficult Re-Election.&#8221;
With his statement, Tillis indicated that he plans to finish out the rest of his term before retiring from Congress.
&#8220;I still look forward to continuing to serve North Carolina over the next 18 months,&#8221; Tillis said. &#8220;I look forward to solely focusing on producing meaningful results without the distraction of raising money or campaigning for another election. I look forward to having the pure freedom to call the balls and strikes as I see fit and representing the great people of North Carolina to the best of my ability.&#8221;
Trump has also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/not-maga-trump-vows-to-help-crush-massie-in-primary-after-iran-strike-criticism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pushed</a> for a primary challenge against Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who voted against the &#8220;One Big, Beautiful Bill&#8221; and criticized the recent U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC)

Tillis Buckles To Trump Threat, Won’t Seek Reelection

North Carolina

Thom Tillis

President Donald Trump named Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio when asked who could become his successor.
Their names came up during an interview airing Sunday on NBC&#8217;s &#8220;Meet The Press.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 BREAKING: When asked about President Trump&#8217;s successor&#8230; he first and foremost names VP JD VANCE for 2028.
&#8220;It&#8217;s far too early to say that, but I do have a vice president and typically would be &#8211; and JD&#8217;s doing a fantastic job.&#8221;
&#8220;It could very well be. I don&#8217;t want to get… <a href="https://t.co/6nD1dZPbLK">pic.twitter.com/6nD1dZPbLK</a>
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/1919029142512611740?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Moderator Kristen Welker asked Trump who he sees as his successor after the first 100 days of his second term.
&#8220;Well, I — it&#8217;s far too early to say that. But you know, I do have a vice president, and typically — and JD&#8217;s doing a fantastic job,&#8221; Trump said.
&#8220;He would be at the top of the list?&#8221; Welker pressed.
&#8220;It could very well be,&#8221; Trump replied. &#8220;I don&#8217;t want to get involved in that. I think he&#8217;s a fantastic, brilliant guy. Marco is great. There&#8217;s a lot of them that are great.&#8221;
He added: &#8220;I also see tremendous unity. But certainly you would say that somebody&#8217;s the VP, if that person is outstanding, I guess that person would have an advantage. But I think the other people would all stay in unbelievably high positions. But you know, it could be that he&#8217;d be challenged by somebody. We have a lot of good people in this party.&#8221;
Trump also indicated that he has no intention of seeking a third term in the White House.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;I&#8217;m looking to have four great years and turn it over to somebody — ideally a great Republican, a great Republican — to carry it forward,&#8221; says <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>.
&#8220;Four years is plenty of time to do something really spectacular.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/pK6t6X3AiA">pic.twitter.com/pK6t6X3AiA</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1919026233943187660?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Are you seriously considering a third term, Mr. President, even though it&#8217;s prohibited by the Constitution? Or is this about staying politically viable?&#8221; Welker asked.
&#8220;I will say this. So many people want me to do it. I have never had requests so strong as that. But it&#8217;s something that, to the best of my knowledge, you&#8217;re not allowed to do. I don&#8217;t know if that&#8217;s constitutional that they&#8217;re not allowing you to do it or anything else,&#8221; Trump said.
Trump noted there are &#8220;many people selling&#8221; 2028 hats.
&#8220;But this is not something I&#8217;m looking to do,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;I&#8217;m looking to have four great years and turn it over to somebody, ideally a great Republican, a great Republican to carry it forward. But I think we&#8217;re going to have four years, and I think four years is plenty of time to do something really spectacular.&#8221;
Welker again said the Constitution prohibits a third term.
&#8220;Have you – some of your allies are pretty serious about this, though, Mr. President. And I&#8217;ve spoken to them. They say they are coming up with potential ways, obviously the biggest one would be a constitutional amendment,&#8221; she said.
&#8220;That&#8217;s because they like the job I&#8217;m doing, and it&#8217;s a compliment. It&#8217;s really a great compliment,&#8221; Trump said.
&#8220;Has anyone in an official capacity presented you with, &#8216;Sir, here are some ideas by which you could actually get a constitutional amendment?'&#8221; Welker asked.
&#8220;Well, in a capacity of being a big supporter, many people have said different things, but, I&#8217;m not looking at that,&#8221; Trump said.

President Donald Trump

Trump Drops Two Names When Asked About A Successor

Republican

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), who rose up the ranks to become the second-ranked Democrat in the Senate during his more than four decades in Congress, announced on Wednesday that he will not seek re-election in 2026.
His move sets the stage for a potentially fierce primary fight among Democrats in a deep-blue state.
&#8220;The decision of whether to run for re-election has not been easy,&#8221; Durbin said in a video. &#8220;I truly love the job of being a United States Senator. But in my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch. So, I am announcing today that I will not be seeking re-election at the end of my term.&#8221;
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I have given more than half of my life to House and Senate Congressional service, and I’ve always tried to stand up to power on behalf of the people of Illinois and our country.
I am proud of what I have achieved and hope my record will speak for itself. <a href="https://t.co/oiY49IQCUF">pic.twitter.com/oiY49IQCUF</a>
&mdash; Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorDurbin/status/1915076692030169535?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Illinois voters elected Durbin to the House in 1982 and the Senate in 1996. Durbin served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and helped to confirm 235 judges, including Supreme Court Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. He became the second-ranking Democrat whip in 2005.
Durbin, 80, is the fourth Democrat in the upper chamber to rule out a re-election campaign in 2026. The others are Sens. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/michigan-dem-senator-gary-peters-wont-run-for-re-election" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gary Peters</a> (D-MI), <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democratic-sen-jeanne-shaheen-wont-run-in-2026-opening-up-key-seat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jeanne Shaheen</a> (D-NH), and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/another-dem-senator-announces-she-wont-run-for-re-election-in-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tina Smith</a> (D-MN).
A number of Democrats are expected to announce campaigns for Durbin&#8217;s seat, including Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL), and Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL).
The GOP could also compete, but it will likely be a tough race for any Republican who decides to run. When Durbin secured his fifth term in 2020, he <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/11/03/us/elections/results-illinois-senate.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defeated</a> Republican candidate Mark Curran by more than 15 percentage points.
Currently, Republicans have a 53-seat <a href="https://www.senate.gov/history/partydiv.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">majority</a> in the Senate. There are also 45 Democrats and two independents who caucus with them.
Durbin&#8217;s office said he is the longest-serving whip for either party. His impending retirement also paves the way to a future contest for the role, which is used to <a href="https://www.senate.gov/about/parties-leadership/party-whips.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rally</a> members and secure votes.
Durbin’s career has not been without controversy, as reported by The Daily Wire.
One story covered how Durbin <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dick-durbin-apologizes-to-tim-scott-after-calling-his-police-reform-bill-token" target="_blank" rel="noopener">apologized</a> to Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), the sole black Republican in the Senate, for referring to his police reform legislation as a &#8220;token&#8221; solution. Another focused on Durbin <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dick-durbin-attacks-gop-governors-over-transporting-migrants-to-democrat-cities-broken-every-basic-standard-of-decency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">accusing</a> Republican governors of violating “every basic standard of decency” by transporting migrants to sanctuary cities.
Mike Davis, who helped oversee the vetting of judicial appointments as a GOP Senate staffer and now runs the conservative Article III Project, was among those who responded to Durbin&#8217;s announcement.
&#8220;Dick Durbin is, by far, the smartest and most effective Democrat senator,&#8221; Davis <a href="https://x.com/mrddmia/status/1915073436784759273" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on X. &#8220;He is a political savage, who comes across as Midwest reasonable. Big loss for Senate Democrats, with unhinged partisan Sheldon Whitehouse taking over Senate Judiciary Democrats.&#8221;
Former President Barack Obama, who served as a U.S. senator from Illinois alongside Durbin before winning the White House, lauded his former colleague.
&#8220;As an Illinois voter, I couldn’t be prouder that our senator for the last 28 years has been one of the finest in the country. Dick Durbin has always fought the good fight on behalf of working families, and his integrity shines through in everything he does,&#8221; Obama <a href="https://x.com/BarackObama/status/1915080417876517007">said</a> on X.
&#8220;It’s also true that I would not have been a United States Senator – and certainly would not have been President – had it not been for Dick’s support,&#8221; Obama added. &#8220;He has been a great and loyal friend, and Michelle and I wish him and Loretta all the best in their next chapter.&#8221;

Senator Dick Durbin

No. 2 Senate Democrat Dick Durbin To Retire

Democrats

Dick Durbin

Illinois

Republican Mayra Flores has been hospitalized, her team announced Tuesday, hours after she launched a new House campaign for a seat held by a Texas Democrat.
&#8220;Former and future Congresswoman Mayra Flores, a devoted conservative fighting corruption in Texas&#8217;s 28th District, has been hospitalized,&#8221; said a post on X from her team. &#8220;During this challenging time, we humbly ask for your prayers and support. We pray that Mayra will return stronger than ever, ready to continue her unwavering commitment to serving our country.&#8221;
&#8220;Mayra&#8217;s passion for building a brighter future for our children, grandchildren, and generations to come is at the heart of everything she does,&#8221; it added. &#8220;Guided by faith and determination, she remains steadfast in her mission during this critical moment.&#8221;
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Former and future Congresswoman Mayra Flores, a devoted conservative fighting corruption in Texas&#39;s 28th District, has been hospitalized. During this challenging time, we humbly ask for your prayers and support. We pray that Mayra will return stronger than ever, ready to continue…
&mdash; Mayra Flores (@MayraFlores4TX) <a href="https://twitter.com/MayraFlores4TX/status/1912207347734159761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The post did not divulge any details on why Flores was hospitalized.
Flores became the first Mexican-born woman ever elected to Congress when she won the special election for Texas’s 34th Congressional District in June 2022. She <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elections-2022-texas-house-republican-mayra-flores-projected-to-lose-seat-no-red-wave/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lost</a> her bid for a full term in the general election later that year to Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX) after district maps were redrawn. Gonzalez defeated Flores again in the 2024 election.
Hours earlier on Tuesday, Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/first-mexico-born-rep-targets-indictment-plagued-democrat-house-gop-comeback-bid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that Flores was embarking on a new campaign in the 28th Congressional District against Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), who was indicted along with his wife in 2024 on federal bribery charges. Cuellar denied that he and his wife committed any wrongdoing. A trial is still <a href="https://x.com/nicholaswu12/status/1865123044601033126" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pending</a>.
&#8220;I am deeply honored to announce my candidacy for Congress — a chance to serve the people and uphold the values that make our nation great. This campaign is driven by a love for our country and a commitment to fight for justice, opportunity, and unity for all,&#8221; Flores <a href="https://x.com/MayraFlores4TX/status/1912169274996822277" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on X, in response to the report on her new candidacy.
&#8220;To carry this vision forward, I humbly ask for your financial support,&#8221; she added. &#8220;Your contribution, no matter the size, is a powerful investment in the future of our community and our nation. Together, let’s stand strong and work tirelessly to build a brighter tomorrow for every American. Thank you for believing in this cause and in the promise of our great country.&#8221;

Mayra Flores

Republican Hospitalized Hours After Launching New House Campaign In Texas

Republicans

ESPN host Stephen A. Smith said on Sunday that he has &#8220;no choice&#8221; but to consider a run for president.
Smith, who recently <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/stephen-a-smith-says-democrats-lost-hints-seriously-considering-presidential-run" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declared</a> the Democrats to be &#8220;lost,&#8221; refused to rule out a future campaign for the White House during an interview on ABC&#8217;s &#8220;This Week&#8221; with anchor Jonathan Karl.
&#8220;I have no choice because I&#8217;ve had elected officials, and I&#8217;m not going to give their names, elected officials coming up to me. I&#8217;ve had folks who are pundits come up to me. I&#8217;ve had folks that got a lot of money, billionaires and others, have talked to me about exploratory committees and things of that nature,&#8221; Smith said. &#8220;I&#8217;m not a politician. I&#8217;ve never had a desire to be a politician. I just signed a contract extension with ESPN. I am very, very happy with my day job.&#8221;
He added later, &#8220;But here’s the reality, people — literally, people have walked up to me, including my own pastor for crying out loud, who has said to me, you don&#8217;t know what God has planned for you. At least show the respect to the people who believe in you, who respect you, who believe that you can make a difference in this country to leave the door open for any possibilities — two to three years down the line. And that&#8217;s what I’ve decided to do.&#8221;
Smith acknowledged that he sees Democrats who &#8220;clearly are more qualified than me.&#8221; Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who resigned from office in 2021 amid controversy but is now <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/andrew-cuomo-launches-bid-to-be-mayor-of-new-york-city" target="_blank" rel="noopener">running</a> to become New York City mayor, all got name-dropped.
&#8220;I would hope somebody else would step up that&#8217;s more qualified than me, but if it has to come down to me, it is something I would consider. Yes, I would, because I don&#8217;t mind the thought of tussling with these folks at all on the left or the right. All of them disgust me to be quite honest with you,&#8221; Smith said.
The ESPN host also responded to Steve Bannon <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-going-run-third-term-230023061.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a> on Bill Maher&#8217;s HBO show, &#8220;Real Time,&#8221; that only Smith or another celebrity would be a cause for concern for him in a prospective 2028 election match-up against Trump, assuming that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-probably-messing-with-you-about-3rd-term-thune-tells-reporters" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a way around</a> the Constitution&#8217;s 22nd Amendment forbidding a third term can be found.
Bannon is &#8220;trying to be slick because he&#8217;s looking at a non-political individual like myself, looking at me as a populist, but you better be careful what you ask for because some of the stuff that Trump and the Right has been trying to get away with, like circumventing the 22nd Amendment of the Constitution, talking about how there could be a third term,&#8221; Smith said.
He continued, &#8220;Excuse me, be careful what you wish for because if any GOP member, if any Republican supports that, I don&#8217;t want to hear a word out of their mouth ever again about following the Constitution, the Constitution, the Constitution. That&#8217;s what they&#8217;ve been living off for years, and then you&#8217;re talking about circumventing the 22nd Amendment, and you think that&#8217;s cool? No way. That&#8217;s not something that we should stand for.&#8221;
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Stephen A. Smith

Stephen A. Smith Says He May Have ‘No Choice’ But To Run For President

ESPN

Steve Bannon

Americans do not want their federal tax dollars paying for transgender medical procedures, new polling shows.
A significant majority, 66% of Americans, say federal tax dollars should not go toward &#8220;gender transition&#8221; procedures such as surgeries, cross-sex hormones, or puberty blockers, according to a new Cygnal poll from the American Principles Project provided exclusively to The Daily Wire.
The poll found that if an American voter knows a Democrat candidate supports using tax dollars to pay for &#8220;gender transition&#8221; procedures, 52% of those voters will vote Republican over that Democrat candidate.
Democrats initially held a one-point lead in the poll on a 2026 congressional midterm ballot, but when the poll-takers were informed the Democrat supports using tax dollars to pay for &#8220;gender transition&#8221; procedures, the electorate moved a net 14 points toward the Republican candidate.
Even 42% of Democrats and 43% of Kamala Harris voters said tax dollars should not be spent on &#8220;gender transitions,&#8221; the poll found. About two thirds, 66% of swing voters, said so as well.
Even 60% of women, who consistently lean Democrat, agreed they do not want tax dollars going toward medical &#8220;gender transitions.&#8221;
Majorities of black and Hispanic Americans, parents as well as unmarried men and women, and urban and suburban voters agreed as well, the poll showed.
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“This poll is proof of what we’ve known for a long time – the majority of Americans do not want their tax dollars being spent on gender transitions,&#8221; Terry Schilling, president of the American Principles Project, said in a statement to The Daily Wire.
&#8220;I am glad that President Trump has already begun to take action on this popular, commonsense policy, but now it’s time for Congress to make the ban on federal funding for gender transitions permanent,” Schilling said.
Gender ideology in schools, transgender drugs and surgeries on minors, trans-identifying males in women&#8217;s sports and prisons all became hot button issues during the election cycle.
President Donald Trump&#8217;s most effective campaign ad in the past election cycle highlighted Harris&#8217; support for taxpayer-funded transgender medical services for prisoners.
&#8220;Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you,&#8221; the ad <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-exposed-kamalas-radical-stances-on-gender-americans-voted-against-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
The ad aired across the nation, including during football games. Trump advisors <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-exposed-kamalas-radical-stances-on-gender-americans-voted-against-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the message reached suburban women, who were also being hammered with Democrats&#8217; aggressive abortion ads.
Democrats are struggling to find a cohesive messaging strategy after they were walloped in the November election, losing every swing state to Trump.
However, some Democrats are already reading the room. California Governor Gavin Newsom backed away from his previous embrace of transgender issues on his podcast last month, calling men in women&#8217;s sports &#8220;deeply unfair.&#8221;
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Pride protest

EXCLUSIVE: Americans Don’t Want Tax Dollars To Pay For Transgender Procedures, Poll Shows

Gender

Social Issues

Transgender

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