Based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s Population and Housing Unit Estimates <a href="https://thearp.org/blog/apportionment/2030-apportionment-forecast-2025/">released</a> on Tuesday, the United States is seeing a significant demographic shift that favors the GOP for the 2030 congressional reapportionment. Despite reporting delays caused by last year&#8217;s government shutdown, the data reveal a massive migration trend toward Southern and &#8220;Sun Belt&#8221; states.
The growth has been concentrated in a handful of fast-expanding states. Texas led the nation, adding 391,243 residents (a 1.2% increase), according to the estimates. Florida and North Carolina followed with significant gains. Overall, nine states gained more than 60,000 residents, including Georgia, South Carolina, and Arizona. Conversely, five states saw net population declines, with California losing nearly 9,500 residents.
Domestic migration is the primary driver of these shifts. California (-229,077), New York (-137,586), and Illinois (-40,017) experienced the largest domestic outflow. In contrast, North Carolina, Texas, and South Carolina enjoyed the highest domestic inflows.
International migration remains a universal growth factor, with Florida (+178,674) and Texas (+167,475) leading that category.
Projections for 2030 suggest a major realignment of political power:
<ul data-path-to-node="4">
<li>
Gains: Texas is expected to gain 4 House seats; Florida (+2); and Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, North Carolina, and Utah (+1 each).
</li>
<li>
Losses: California is projected to lose 4 seats, while Illinois, New York, Oregon, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Rhode Island are each expected to lose 1.
</li>
</ul>
Analysts note that under this map, the 2024 Republican presidential victory would have yielded 11 additional electoral votes.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
This is why Democrats are fighting so hard for illegal immigrants to stay in the country. The 2030 census is going to crush them as population is soaring in red states. <a href="https://t.co/NzswwlTqIM">https://t.co/NzswwlTqIM</a>
&mdash; Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClayTravis/status/2016200461745803530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The report highlights ongoing debates regarding Census accuracy. Critics argue that counting non-citizens for apportionment purposes artificially inflates representation for Democratic-leaning states, particularly those with large immigrant populations.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
This is the real issue. Illegal aliens are outrageously counted in the Census for Congressional representation. Even though they can&#39;t legally vote &#8211; they give Democrats more power in Washington D.C. That&#39;s why there is so much resistance from the Left on deportations. <a href="https://t.co/tYrqLnE3UN">https://t.co/tYrqLnE3UN</a>
&mdash; Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) <a href="https://twitter.com/KatiePavlich/status/2016274911271043343?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Furthermore, a 2022 Census Bureau study <a href="https://www.wsj.com/opinion/who-rigged-the-census-republican-states-democrats-population-undercount-overcount-biden-administration-11653084199?st=oc99iw&amp;reflink=article_copyURL_share">acknowledged</a> significant errors in the 2020 count: Republican-leaning states such as Arkansas, Florida, and Texas were undercounted, while Democratic-leaning states such as New York and Rhode Island were overcounted. These inaccuracies likely cost Florida and Texas additional House seats in the previous cycle, a discrepancy attributed to pandemic-era data collection challenges.

Studio shot of red and blue chess pawns symbolizing US Democratic and Republican parties

New Census Data Signals A Coming Republican Edge In 2030

Census Bureau

Elections

Electoral College

Politics

President Trump touted his record on the economy and unveiled a massive investment by John Deere in the United States during a speech in Iowa on Tuesday afternoon.
Trump traveled to the city of Clive outside of Des Moines and spoke in front of hundreds of supporters crowded into the Horizon Events Center. The president largely focused on the economy as he attempts to sell Republican success on the key issue to voters ahead of the midterm elections.
Early in his speech, Trump <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2016280565935231054">announced</a> that agriculture equipment manufacturer John Deere plans to build an excavator factory in North Carolina, relocating some of its production from Japan to the United States. The company said in a Tuesday announcement that it also plans to build a distribution center in Indiana to spur its manufacturing in the United States.
Trump also touted a number of agriculture-related actions his administration has taken in a speech aimed at appealing to Iowa’s farm-heavy industry. The president noted he had cut &#8220;ridiculous water restrictions” at the Environmental Protection Agency. He also brought up <a href="https://www.hoosieragtoday.com/2025/08/12/epa-zeldin-def/">reforms</a> that the agency made to Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) standards to prevent severe slowdowns to vehicles due to DEF system failures.
“I terminated the so-called Diesel Exhaust Fluid requirement, saving family farmers more than $1 billion a year,” <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2016281218023571808">said</a> Trump.
The president also pushed the administration’s move to cut the electric vehicle mandate, which would have forced automakers to make over half the vehicles they sell electric by 2032, and support ethanol subsidies.
In the middle of the speech, the president brought on stage two workers in the service industry to <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2016286390359646491">tout</a> his tax legislation, in particular Trump’s campaign promise to end taxes on tips.
&#8220;Thanks to our tax cuts, millions of Americans will soon receive record-setting tax refunds—an average of more than $1,000. Think of that. $1,000 compared to last year.&#8221;
Trump also touched on a number of other issues, including foreign policy and health care. He also mentioned his deportation efforts, which have been under the microscope after a Border Patrol agent fatally shot anti-ICE activist Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
“They have to show that they can love our country, not hate our country. They have to show that they’re not going to blow up our shopping centers,” said Trump, talking about immigration into the country while his deportation agenda suffers complications over the tensions in Minnesota.
The president also <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2016289770956062865">threw</a> a barb at Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota: “They have to show that they can love our country. They have to be proud — not like Ilhan Omar.&#8221;

Donald Trump

Trump In Iowa Says John Deere Will Move Manufacturing From Japan To America

Executive

Iowa

North Carolina

Republicans are moving closer to doing something that, in modern American politics, simply isn’t done: holding a national convention in the middle of a midterm election year. At its winter meeting on Friday, the Republican National Committee <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/23/republicans-take-steps-towards-midterm-convention-00744673">approved</a> a rule change that would explicitly authorize the party to hold a “special ceremonial convention” between presidential cycles — clearing the procedural path for a midterm convention later this year.
RNC Chairman Joe Gruters framed the move as preparation rather than a final commitment, but his enthusiasm was unmistakable. He said the party is eager to showcase what President Donald Trump and Republicans have accomplished and wants to be ready if Trump gives the green light. The amendment passed without objection, though the timing was notable: many RNC members had already departed to beat winter storms when the vote occurred.
The rule change formalizes what Trump first floated publicly in September, when he announced that Republicans would hold a “Midterm Convention.” The motivation is clear. A midterm convention would give Republicans a nationally televised platform to tout administration victories, sharpen contrasts with Democrats, energize the base, and elevate candidates in battleground congressional races as the party fights to retain control of Congress.
In the modern era, national conventions have been reserved for presidential election years, but the concept itself is not unprecedented. Democrats experimented with midterm-year conventions in the 1970s and are now quietly revisiting the idea. During recent Democratic National Committee meetings in Los Angeles, officials from states like Nebraska and Utah expressed interest in hosting a potential midterm gathering of their own.
Historically, conventions have evolved alongside American politics. The first national political convention was held in 1831 by the Anti-Masonic Party. Democrats followed a year later, and the Whigs — the Republican Party’s ideological predecessor — held their own in 1839. Republicans convened for the first time in 1856. While the two major parties have never skipped their four-year convention rhythm, smaller parties often met irregularly, adapting to political circumstances.
Trump has argued that a midterm convention makes sense in a moment of perceived momentum. In an August 2025 Truth Social <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115106822268468130">post</a>, he pointed to fundraising advantages, electoral success, and policy wins as justification for breaking tradition. Holding a convention every two years, proponents argue, could boost fundraising and allow parties to recalibrate their message in real time.
Details remain unresolved. Republicans have yet to announce a location or date, though Nevada GOP leaders are pushing for Las Vegas. What is clear is that the GOP is laying the groundwork for a political spectacle designed to keep the spotlight — and the narrative — firmly in Republican hands.

Donald Trump at Republican National Convention in Milwaukee

GOP Clears Way For Midterm Convention — A Break With Modern Political Tradition

2026 elections

Republican National Convention

At last year&#8217;s Golden Globes telecast, Nikki Glaser spoke the ugly truth.
The awards host called the star-studded crowd famous, talented, and powerful. “I mean, you could really do anything &#8230; I mean, except tell the country who to vote for.&#8221;
That joke landed for all the right reasons. The 2024 presidential election proved that everyday Americans tune out political advice from their celebrity betters. Even Legacy Media outlets admitted as much, suggesting that star endorsements may have actually hurt Vice President Kamala Harris’s White House dreams.
Somehow, even pop superstar Taylor Swift couldn’t sway Americans to vote for Harris.
Some predicted Hollywood stars would downgrade their political activism moving forward. And, for the first few months after President Donald Trump’s election, and following Glaser’s spot-on joke, the stars mostly kept quiet.
No longer. Celebrities are louder than ever. And so are <a href="https://ew.com/why-mark-ruffalo-others-wearing-be-nice-pin-at-golden-globes-2026-11883213?srsltid=AfmBOoqcsYgLyf_Q5gDoE-p5rGFqOwuCzww6y-QjmkcM1oBA9MLRUPAg">their “Be Good” activist pins</a>.
<div id="attachment_1032127" style="width: 875px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1032127" class="size-large wp-image-1032127" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-2255319046-865x576.jpg" alt="US comedian Wanda Sykes wears a pin reading &quot;be Good&quot;, in tribute to Renee Good, who was fatally shot by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis, as she attends the 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on January 11, 2026. (Photo by Michael Tran / AFP via Getty Images) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --" width="865" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2255319046-865x576.jpg 865w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2255319046-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2255319046-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2255319046.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 865px) 100vw, 865px" />Michael Tran / AFP via Getty Images</div>
They’ve weighed in on ICE arrests, the overthrow of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro, and the Epstein Files. Just once or one thousand times.
But why? If their endorsements and social media posts aren’t moving the electoral needle, why bother sharing them in the first place? Aren’t they hurting their own cause?
For one, it’s the ultimate virtue signal in a relentlessly progressive industry. Sharing the “correct” views will never hurt one’s career, even if the average movie or TV fan cringes in response.
That’s hardly the only reason. These missives could actually help their careers at a critical time.
Hollywood jobs have rarely been this insecure. Theatrical attendance is shrinking. Major streaming platforms are struggling to make ends meet. Late-night TV is going the way of the pager and the 8-track tape. Quality films often come and go without so much as denting the pop culture zeitgeist, even with the biggest stars attached.
Last year, a gangster flick with not one but two Robert De Niro performances <a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt21815562/?ref_=bo_se_r_1">earned $6 million at the domestic box office.</a>
For stars, spouting off about “Gestapo”-style ICE agents is a way to signal to fellow progressives. I’m like you. I vote like you do. And, if you happen to know of an upcoming gig, please keep me in mind.
Consider it virtual networking. Chances are, it works more often than it doesn’t.
Plus, legacy media outlets love sharing progressive stars and their political missives. The aforementioned Mr. De Niro rages against President Trump early and often, a real dog-bites-man news story.
Yet every time he does so, it inspires a fresh wave of news articles. Most, if not all, publicity is good publicity.
<div id="attachment_1032113" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1032113" class="size-large wp-image-1032113" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-2154511594-864x576.jpg" alt="TOPSHOT - US actor Robert De Niro speaks in support of US President Joe Biden outside of Manhattan Criminal Court as former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attends his criminal trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments in New York City, on May 28, 2024. De Niro on Tuesday spoke outside the New York court where Donald Trump is standing trial, branding him a dangerous &quot;clown&quot; who will become a dictator for life if reelected. De Niro, a longtime political activist and critic of Trump, has taken a growing role in the campaign to reelect Joe Biden, including starring in a new hard-hitting TV ad for the Democratic Party. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2154511594-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2154511594-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2154511594-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2154511594.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images</div>
In the dog-eat-dog world of Tinsel Town, every advantage should be taken to secure future work. It explains why prominent liberal stars like Matt Damon and Ben Affleck just sat down with Joe Rogan for the comic’s rebel podcast. The stars may still be mad about Rogan endorsing Trump at the end of the 2024 presidential election. Or, they could resent Rogan’s subversive take on the COVID shot that their friends and neighbors insisted everyone take … or else.
And yet, they still understand if they want more eyeballs on their new Netflix original film, “The Rip,” they’d better hide those hard feelings and make nice with the former “Fear Factor” host.
Progressive stars still won’t drop by the set of Fox News’ “Gutfeld!” They don’t need to promote their films and TV shows that badly, apparently.
The secret to their political commentary? Supporting the right, or approved, causes. Anything that smacks of an anti-Trump sentiment is held dear to their hearts. The stars stayed silent during the worst woke cancellations. They ignored the rise of sensitivity readers influencing what words can and can’t be shared in fiction.
No anti-Trump or anti-GOP angle to exploit.
Yet when Jimmy Kimmel got suspended for insinuating MAGA Nation killed Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, they rose up en masse to protect Kimmel’s “free speech” rights, presuming without evidence that President Trump had benched the far-Left broadcaster.
The lack of a Trumpian angle may explain why the Israeli women who endured brutal sexual assaults, and worse, during the October 7 atrocities didn’t get support from Hollywood’s MeToo activists.
More recently, Hollywood gathered for the latest Golden Globes soiree as Iranian protesters squared off against their tyrannical government. Once again, the Hollywood elite couldn’t spare a syllable to support those risking their lives for freedom.
After all, President Trump had the Iranian people’s back, so it wasn’t worth sticking their neck out to support the cause.
There are always exceptions to the political celebrity rule. Two recent examples spring to mind.
&nbsp;
<div id="attachment_1032119" style="width: 392px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1032119" class="size-large wp-image-1032119" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-2245927941-382x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 09: BIlly Bob Thornton attends PaleyFest NY 2025 - Paramount+'s &quot;Landman&quot; on November 09, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Manny Carabel/Getty Images)" width="382" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2245927941-382x576.jpg 382w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2245927941-199x300.jpg 199w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2245927941.jpg 679w" sizes=" (max-width: 382px) 100vw, 382px" />Manny Carabel/Getty Images</div>
Actor Billy Bob Thornton of “Landman” fame told Joe Rogan last November that you won’t find him <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/billy-bob-thornton-talks-hollywood-politics-with-joe-rogan">lecturing fans</a> from any awards show podium.
“I’m very strong in my opinions, but my opinions don’t belong to any political party. I just look at what makes sense, and I think we need a common sense party in this country. That’s actually what I think we need. Just figure it out. It’s pretty easy to figure out what this is all about.”
And Claire Foy went from admonishing President Trump several years ago to declaring <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/actress-claire-foy-trump-political-opinions/">politics off limits</a> in her promotional efforts.
“What I believe and who I am and where I stand on things is constantly in flux, as much as it is for everyone else, and I have absolutely no authority to discuss or proclaim about anything other than what I do as an actor.
“If you’re just making noise for the sake of it, then you should probably shut up – so I tend to shut up.”
Actors, by and large, will never shut up. Nor should they. If they actually practiced some consistency with their political activism, they might start changing some hearts and minds after all.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic, and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

TOPSHOT-US-ENTERTAINMENT-FILM-TELEVISION-AWARD-GLOBES-ARRIVALS

Why Stars Keep Getting Political, Even When No One’s Listening

Why Stars Keep Getting Political, Even When No One's Listening

actors

Billy Bob Thorton

Democrats

Entertainment

Leftists

Movies

Robert de Niro

Television

U.S. Politics

Maryland Democrats are moving forward with an aggressive mid-decade redistricting plan that could eliminate the state’s only Republican-held U.S. House seat, setting up a high-stakes political and legal fight ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Commission, appointed by Democratic Gov. Wes Moore and chaired by Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), voted 3–2 on Wednesday to recommend a new “congressional map concept” to the governor and the Democratic-controlled General Assembly. While the recommendation is non-binding, its adoption would likely result in Democrats controlling all eight of Maryland’s U.S. House seats.
The proposal would dramatically reshape Maryland’s 1st Congressional District, currently represented by Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), chairman of the House Freedom Caucus. Under the plan, the district would stretch across the Chesapeake Bay, removing conservative-leaning counties such as Harford and Cecil on the Eastern Shore and absorbing Democratic-leaning areas of Anne Arundel and Howard counties, including communities near Columbia.
Supporters have framed the proposal as a response to population shifts and partisan redistricting efforts in other states. Gov. Moore has defended the commission’s work as transparent and responsive to national developments, arguing that Maryland cannot “unilaterally disarm” as other states pursue partisan advantages. Moore has also said he is reviewing the proposal following recent discussions in Washington, D.C., with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
Republicans have criticized the move as an overt attempt to eliminate the party&#8217;s only congressional foothold in the state. Maryland Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey, a Republican, called the process “a partisan power grab disguised as reform…designed to silence dissent and cement one-party rule in Maryland.” Rep. Harris’ office has likewise accused Democrats of partisan gerrymandering and signaled potential legal action if the map is enacted, warning that the proposal fractures established communities to engineer a political outcome.
Criticism has also emerged from within Democratic ranks. Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-MD) has questioned the proposal’s legality, warning the map could be “objectively unconstitutional” and vulnerable to court challenges for unnecessarily dividing communities and redrawing district lines mid-decade.
The recommendation now heads to the General Assembly, where lawmakers would need to pass legislation for the map to take effect. Maryland’s congressional maps have repeatedly faced judicial scrutiny, raising the likelihood of renewed litigation if the proposal is adopted.
The push in Maryland comes as Republicans in Indiana took the opposite approach. In December 2025, Indiana lawmakers declined to advance a Trump-backed mid-decade redistricting plan that would have aimed to create a 9–0 Republican congressional delegation by reshaping two Democratic-held districts. The Indiana Senate voted 31–19 against the proposal, with more than twenty Republicans joining all Democrats in opposition, preserving the state’s existing 7–2 GOP map.
President Donald Trump criticized the decision and pledged to back primary challengers against the Republican senators who broke ranks in Indiana. While no evidence has emerged of any formal or informal agreement between Indiana Republicans and Maryland Democrats to mutually refrain from redistricting, online speculation has linked Indiana’s vote to Maryland Democrats’ subsequent push. 
As the 2026 midterms approach, Maryland’s proposal underscores how redistricting is again emerging as a flashpoint in the battle for control of the U.S. House, with both parties increasingly willing to test legal and political boundaries in pursuit of advantage.

Wes Moore

Maryland Democrats Target GOP’s Only House Seat With Aggressive Redistricting Plan

Maryland

Redistricting

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz ended his campaign for re-election, a stunning reversal and likely the end of the political career of a man who many pundits projected would be the Democratic nominee for president as early as 2028.
But if a once-popular governor can be toppled by widespread welfare fraud, where does that leave other Democratic presidential hopefuls?
The revelations of staggering levels of fraud in Minnesota — and Walz’s preemptive exit from the big stage — should send a chill down the spines of Gavin Newsom, Josh Shapiro, and JB Pritzker, who are likely sitting on powder kegs of fraud themselves. What are the odds that Tim Walz is an outlier among blue-state governors with the exact same political philosophy and ideology? Unlikely.
Federal prosecutors allege more than <a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/12/18/u-s-attorney-fraud-likely-exceeds-9-billion-in-minnesota-run-medicaid-services/">$9 billion</a> in Minnesota Medicaid dollars were stolen by scammers primarily from the state’s Somali community, an enormous sum, equivalent to roughly three-quarters of <a href="https://nbs.gov.so/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Somalia-GDP-2024-release-text-v3-2025.pdf">Somalia’s GDP</a>. Investigations are ongoing, and the real total loss may be even higher.
Welfare programs are an enormous money pot that inevitably attracts scammers. And the bigger the pot, the bigger the potential payoff for thieves. With state budgets the size of those in California, Illinois, and New York, not to mention Democrats’ general posture toward welfare expansion, it would be truly shocking if there were less fraud in those larger states.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins requested data from the states on who is receiving food stamps early last year, including identifying information like Social Security numbers and, importantly, immigration status. The Trump administration has previously discovered that more than one million people were illegally receiving <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/cms-doge-identify-wasteful-duplicate-medicaid-enrollments.html">Medicaid in multiple states</a> — and it’s likely the same with food stamps and SNAP benefits. Individual states are not able to detect this kind of fraud: only the federal government can find it by comparing recipients across the states.
But Democrats have refused to help the Trump administration find fraud. In fact, <a href="https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-sues-trump-administration-over-illegal-demands-states">in July</a>, 22 blue states sued to block the Trump administration from requiring the data. Democrats want the federal government to pay for food stamps without knowing who is receiving them.
Tim Walz and the other 21 governors have all seen the information they are currently hiding from the feds. In the absence of transparency from these elected officials, federal investigators, journalists, and citizens of goodwill all need to keep digging until the American people get the truth and law enforcement can bring fraudsters to justice.
Food stamp fraud is a known fact. According to the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO), more than <a href="https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-25-107753.pdf">$10 billion</a> in the food stamp program is wasted every year — <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap/key-statistics-and-research">more than 10%</a> of the program. Some blue states have even higher error rates: Massachusetts and D.C. overpay by an average of more than <a href="https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/snap-fy24QC-PER.pdf">13%</a> — and New York and New Jersey aren’t far behind at more than 12%. That means that one out of every eight dollars in these states is wasted — and this is just the waste, fraud, and abuse that we know about.
Nearly <a href="https://thefga.org/research/categorical-eligibility-in-food-stamps-is-fraud-by-design/">every Democrat-run state</a> in America also uses an accounting gimmick called Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility, or BBCE, to hide its own erroneous payments from the federal government. BBCE means that if someone receives a non-monetary TANF benefit, like a brochure or the number to a welfare agency hotline, the state assumes that they qualify for food stamps, too, without bothering to check their assets to see if they are actually eligible. The result is an explosion in the welfare state, costing taxpayers more than <a href="https://thefga.org/solution/promoting-work-over-welfare/bbce/">$11 billion per year</a>, with the benefits going to people with liquid assets well above the limits set in federal law.
The good news is that, thanks to a new law signed by President Trump, states with high error rates can no longer waste federal tax dollars with impunity. States with food stamp payment error rates over <a href="https://www.sas.com/en_us/news/press-releases/2025/november/payment-integrity-food-assistance.html">six percent</a> are now legally required to start paying back a small part of the cost of the program. Left-wing Massachusetts could owe more than <a href="https://www.wwlp.com/news/massachusetts/understaffed-dta-faces-steep-snap-penalty-risks/">$250 million per year</a>. Deep-blue Maryland may be on the hook for more than <a href="https://marylandmatters.org/2025/12/03/maryland-may-face-more-than-300-million-in-new-snap-costs-due-to-high-payment-error/">$300 million</a>. This is a great first step, and not only will it help repay federal taxpayers, but it will also encourage states to finally get their act together and stop wasting money.
As the old story goes, criminals rob banks “because that’s where the money is.” And there are no bigger pots of money than the federal treasury and the bloated budgets of blue states. Attorney General Bondi and investigators across the country are beginning to look at where the real money is — and the fallout could bring down the entire top-tier slate of 2028 Democratic presidential nominees.
* * *
Adam Gibbs is the communications director for the Foundation for Government Accountability.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Opening Day Of World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026

Welfare Fraud Threatens Top-Tier Democratic Presidential Nominees Ahead Of 2028

Welfare Fraud Threatens Top-Tier Democratic Presidential Nominees Ahead of 2028

2028 presidential election

Fraud

Gavin Newsom

J.B. Pritzker

Josh Shapiro

Minneapolis

Minnesota

Somalis

Tim Walz

The following is an excerpt from the new book “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Coup-American-Foreign-Immigration/dp/0063422506/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2ScE6yhPpWqhjL9vQ0veoZeFEKoK-SW5klvoqsOrofi5dqZ60RyEVuzkFwB3LsOB17N4pN3mZpCSC5zE1aFMtve6anXBe8oVZp9CoFhGsDpYwva-kFxORiBxiVBMt78ybm_Iygi_kecSx4vYe2JcLtMEuL0K7i6iVkZebu9Kohc9Qn0jouOAUKFgRB0Za0X97c1aNyuAbj-t7jdHQx0frPGg87S_lZPTI61G0KphbvLFWANCW3c_oI7BeOZxtcz9GBkjzK_Ezxh0ua-mek9YNUNf9bjyZdK9pgM1ZThetSY.LdA0LH4Y17VKDUSKjfHiNEJbmz3cE6tB0Zy5hkU3NVk&amp;qid=1768834032&amp;sr=1-1">The Invisible Coup: How American Elites and Foreign Powers Use Immigration as a Weapon</a>” by Peter Schweizer (January 20, 2026/HarperCollins)
* * *
It was a hot July 2009 in Washington, DC, and a silver-haired labor boss stood before the crowd and personified the fusing of Mexico’s territorial ambitions with those of an American president looking to create new voters.
Eliseo Medina was the secretary-treasurer of one of the most powerful unions in America, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and honorary chair of the Democratic Socialists of America. He also had the ear of the newly elected president, Barack Obama, who had met with him when he was a senator. “Before immigration debates took place in Washington,” Obama had said, “I spoke with Eliseo Medina and SEIU members.”
Medina was a labor boss, but he was also an immigrant. Apparently, he wanted to change America profoundly.
“When they [recently naturalized migrants] voted in November,” Medina observed, “they voted overwhelmingly for progressive candidates. Barack Obama got two out of every three voters who showed up.”
<div id="attachment_1029777" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1029777" class="size-large wp-image-1029777" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-156516304-864x576.jpg" alt="WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 16: Service Employees International Union Secretary-Treasurer Eliseo Medina arrives at the White House on November 16, 2012 in Washington. U.S. President Barack Obama met with Congressional leaders today to discuss deficit reduction and other economic issues. (Photo by Roger Wollenberg/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-156516304-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-156516304-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-156516304-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-156516304.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Roger Wollenberg/Getty Images</div>
So, I think there’s [sic] two things that matter for the progressive community: Number one: If we are to expand this electorate to win, the progressive community needs to solidly be on the side of immigrants. That will expand and solidify the progressive coalition for the future. Number two: [If] we reform the immigration laws, it puts 12 million people on the path to citizenship and eventually voters. Can you imagine if we have, even the same ratio, two out of three? If we have eight million new voters . . . [we] will create a governing coalition for the long term, not just for an election cycle.
What Eliseo Medina didn’t say on that day was that he was not only an immigrant, labor leader, and Obama confidant. He was also an advisor to the Mexican government’s foreign ministry—in particular, the Institute for Mexicans Abroad, which, as we saw earlier, was created by officials because “Mexico needs Mexican Americans to lobby the US government to make decisions favorable to Mexico.”
Elected in the shadow of the 2008 financial crisis, President Barack Obama brought a message of “hope and change” through the “fundamental transformation of America.” The transformation he envisioned was both cultural and political, and Obama likely saw migrants as the vectors for such transformation. Obama’s second job out of college was as a community organizer for the Chicago-based Gamaliel Foundation, “an organization that had long supported immigrant rights.” Immigrants had long been a cornerstone of the progressive coalition in Chicago, where Obama grew up politically.
<div id="attachment_1029755" style="width: 391px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Coup-American-Foreign-Immigration/dp/0063422506/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2ScE6yhPpWqhjL9vQ0veoZeFEKoK-SW5klvoqsOrofi5dqZ60RyEVuzkFwB3LsOB17N4pN3mZpCSC5zE1aFMtve6anXBe8oVZp9CoFhGsDpYwva-kFxORiBxiVBMt78ybm_Iygi_kecSx4vYe2JcLtMEuL0K7i6iVkZebu9Kohc9Qn0jouOAUKFgRB0Za0X97c1aNyuAbj-t7jdHQx0frPGg87S_lZPTI61G0KphbvLFWANCW3c_oI7BeOZxtcz9GBkjzK_Ezxh0ua-mek9YNUNf9bjyZdK9pgM1ZThetSY.LdA0LH4Y17VKDUSKjfHiNEJbmz3cE6tB0Zy5hkU3NVk&amp;qid=1768834032&amp;sr=1-1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1029755" class="wp-image-1029755 size-large" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Invisible-Coup-381x576.jpg" alt="Cover credit: Harper" width="381" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/Invisible-Coup-381x576.jpg 381w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/Invisible-Coup-199x300.jpg 199w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/Invisible-Coup-768x1160.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/Invisible-Coup.jpg 993w" sizes=" (max-width: 381px) 100vw, 381px" /></a>Cover credit: Harper</div>
During the 2008 Democratic Party campaign, Obama lost the hotly contested Pennsylvania primary to Hillary Clinton. He was later caught on tape explaining to donors why, blaming rural voters who opposed mass migration:
“And it’s not surprising that they get bitter; they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”
When he wasn’t expressing concerns about the immigrant sentiments of ordinary Americans, Obama declared that his immigrant roots gave him unique and special insights. He told voters in Iowa that “his childhood years in Indonesia and his Kenyan roots” led him to oppose the Iraq war because those experiences had taught him “how powerful tribal and ethnic sentiments are.” For the 2008 election, Obama and his team brazenly “adopted a prominent phrase from within the immigrant rights movement” and made it their campaign slogan: “Sí se puede! Yes we can.”
What Obama understood was that, unlike those rural voters, the most supportive group in the United States for his expansive government agenda to transform America were immigrants. And many of them, like Obama, wanted America to change from the foundation up.
Not only did newly naturalized migrants vote for Democrats in large numbers, but they were also significantly to the left of the typical Democrat. In 2010, 69 percent of immigrants supported Obama’s plans for a massive government takeover of health care, according to polling. Surveys regularly demonstrated that migrants preferred larger and more intrusive government practices, often reflecting socialist experiences in their home countries. During Obama’s first term, 75 percent of Hispanic immigrants told pollsters they preferred a “bigger government providing more services.” Only 41 percent of the general American population agreed.
At the same time, migrants were shown to be less supportive of preserving America’s core values. A 2013 Harris Interactive survey found that “only 50 percent of naturalized citizens” believed “schools should teach children to be proud Americans,” compared with 81 percent of those who were native-born. When asked if “the US Constitution is a higher authority than international law,” only 37 percent of naturalized citizens agreed, compared to 67 percent of American-born natives. And while surveys found that 85 percent of Americans viewed themselves as US citizens and not “citizens of the world,” only 54 percent of naturalized citizens embraced that view.
The partisan advantage for Democrats that Obama and Medina noted was not only real; it was growing. Four years after his election, in 2012, a YouGov survey found that recent immigrants favored Democrats over Republicans by almost four to one.
Therefore, the hard work of ignoring citizenship standards to create these voters needed to continue.
* * *
This excerpt from “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Coup-American-Foreign-Immigration/dp/0063422506/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2ScE6yhPpWqhjL9vQ0veoZeFEKoK-SW5klvoqsOrofi5dqZ60RyEVuzkFwB3LsOB17N4pN3mZpCSC5zE1aFMtve6anXBe8oVZp9CoFhGsDpYwva-kFxORiBxiVBMt78ybm_Iygi_kecSx4vYe2JcLtMEuL0K7i6iVkZebu9Kohc9Qn0jouOAUKFgRB0Za0X97c1aNyuAbj-t7jdHQx0frPGg87S_lZPTI61G0KphbvLFWANCW3c_oI7BeOZxtcz9GBkjzK_Ezxh0ua-mek9YNUNf9bjyZdK9pgM1ZThetSY.LdA0LH4Y17VKDUSKjfHiNEJbmz3cE6tB0Zy5hkU3NVk&amp;qid=1768834032&amp;sr=1-1">The Invisible Coup</a>” is published by permission from Harper, a division of HarperCollins Publishers. “The Invisible Coup: How American Elites and Foreign Powers Use Immigration as a Weapon” is written by Peter Schweizer and is available on January 20, 2026.
Peter Schweizer is a #1 bestselling investigative journalist and author. He is the president of the Government Accountability Institute. His previous works have uncovered widespread corruption and have led to official investigations and significant policy reforms. Known for his deep-dive forensic research, Schweizer has become one of the most respected and impactful investigative reporters of his generation.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

TOPSHOT-US-VOTE-2012-DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN

‘Eight Million New Voters’: Barack Obama And The Democrat Plan To Flood The Nation With Immigrants

'Eight Million New Voters': Barack Obama And The Democrat Plan To Flood The Nation With Immigrants

Barack Obama

Books

Illegal Immigration

Investigation

Labor Unions

Mexico

I don’t think Republicans will waltz to victory in 2028.
I don&#8217;t think Democrats will waltz to victory in 2028.
It&#8217;s going to be a dogfight.
And problems exist inside both parties.
The Republican Party is divided on some major issues, ranging from the involvement of the state and economics to foreign policy. The record of whoever is the Republican nominee will also come up for scrutiny.
I&#8217;ve discussed the problems facing the Democratic Party before, which are pretty obvious: There&#8217;s a big divide between the radical base and the moderation they&#8217;re going to need to win.
Gavin Newsom may well be their presidential candidate. He wants to campaign as the guy who cooperates with ICE, as the guy who wants to be at least moderate during the transition. Newsom also wants to be fairly moderate on foreign policy, and doesn&#8217;t want to engage in a lot of the same sort of rhetorical radicalism of his own party.
Will the base allow him to do that? I don’t think so. He&#8217;s been able to hide it so far by attacking Trump. I&#8217;m not sure how long that will last. So that&#8217;s one problem for him. And of course, the other problem is his record in California. There will be a lot of Willie Horton-type ads that come out against Newsom as he runs for the presidency.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/bss-ep-2348?contentProgram=The%20Ben%20Shapiro%20Show&amp;contentType=ShowEpisode&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;location=Home%20Tab&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Home%20Featured%20Carousel"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-974957 aligncenter" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-1024x171.webp" alt="DailyWire+" width="1024" height="171" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-1024x171.webp 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-300x50.webp 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-768x128.webp 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-1536x256.webp 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-2048x341.webp 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>
The problem for the Republicans is that Gavin Newsom is a very talented guy. I don&#8217;t think there&#8217;s any doubt when you <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/bss-ep-2348?contentProgram=The%20Ben%20Shapiro%20Show&amp;contentType=ShowEpisode&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;location=Home%20Tab&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Home%20Featured%20Carousel">watch my interview with him</a>. He is good on his feet, and slippery when he needs to be. He also does a convincing imitation of a pro-capitalist moderate. If you think that&#8217;s an imitation, maybe that&#8217;s the real Gavin Newsom, and he has had to slather it over with radicalism to get where he wants to go.
Here&#8217;s what I would urge for both parties: Perhaps you ought to take a look at what the American people want. Look at the closeness of every American election for the last 12 years and think to yourself: &#8220;Maybe if I tacked toward the middle, maybe what Americans really want is normalcy.”
It’s possible the primary structure prevents normalcy from taking the floor. But as we&#8217;re seeing from the polling data, more and more Americans are identifying as independent. And the reason for this is because all they want is a return to normalcy.
I think the reason President Trump won in 2024 is that he was by far the most normie candidate – by far.
Joe Biden was not a normie candidate. He was dead on his feet and a radical. Kamala Harris was not a normie candidate. She was an empty suit and a radical.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump took the middle position on nearly every issue. Will Republicans do the same, or will they be so high on their own supply that they go rhetorically radical over and over and over for no apparent reason?
Pursuing mainstream policy is going to be the big battle of 2028.

Governor Newsom And San Francisco Mayor Lurie Announce New Funding For Homelessness And Mental Health Ffforts In The City

2028: A Dogfight For The Middle

Ben Shapiro

Democratic Party

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Opinion

A record-high 45% of Americans identified as political independents last year, with both Democrats and Republicans tied at 27% in party identification, according to a Gallup poll released Monday.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A record-high 45% of U.S. adults identified as political independents in 2025, surpassing the 43% measured in 2014, 2023 and 2024. <a href="https://t.co/1vKF7J2RnE">pic.twitter.com/1vKF7J2RnE</a>
— Gallup (@Gallup) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gallup/status/2010775854117171569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/700499/new-high-identify-political-independents.aspx">survey</a>, which interviewed 13,000 respondents over the course of 2025, found that 45% of Americans are political independents. Of that 45%, 20% lean Democratic, 15% lean Republican, and the remaining 10% expressed no partisan preference — a three-point decline in Republican leaners and a three-point increase in Democratic leaners compared with 2024.
The five-point Democratic advantage among independent leaners erodes what had been a key GOP edge during the 2024 election cycle, returning party identification to the levels seen in Trump&#8217;s first term.
Despite this unfavorable shift in party preference, more Americans in 2025 described their political views as &#8220;very conservative&#8221; or &#8220;conservative&#8221; (35%) than as &#8220;very liberal&#8221; or &#8220;liberal&#8221; (28%), with 33% identifying as &#8220;moderate.&#8221;
The Gallup poll showed a stark contrast in party identification across generations. Majorities of Gen Z adults (56%) and millennials (53%) identified as political independents in 2025, compared with just 33% of baby boomers and 30% of Silent Generation adults.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
In 2025, majorities of Gen Z adults and millennials identified as political independents, as did more than four in 10 Gen X adults.
One-third or less of baby boomers and Silent Generation adults were politically independent. <a href="https://t.co/5JxXbwqyuU">pic.twitter.com/5JxXbwqyuU</a>
— Gallup (@Gallup) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gallup/status/2011087055733080219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The 56% of Gen Z adults identifying as independents today substantially exceeds the 47% of millennials who did so in 2012 and the 40% of Gen X adults in 1992.
Gallup notes that the shift does not indicate Americans are warming to the Democratic Party, as &#8220;favorable ratings of the Democratic Party are no better than those of the Republican Party.&#8221; Instead, the polling organization suggests these changes appear to be &#8220;a consequence of one party&#8217;s association with an unpopular incumbent president,&#8221; a pattern that has led to frequent changes in party power in recent federal election cycles.

Democrats vs. Republicans

Independent Voters Hit Record High As Both Parties Lose Ground: Poll

2026 Midterms

polling

Polls

Republican Party

A Nevada ballot measure that would enshrine a ban in the state constitution on athletes who identify as transgender to compete on women’s sports teams is likely to be put before voters in November, drawing increased attention to the gubernatorial race.
Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo announced the “Protect Girls’ Sports” initiative last week after teasing it throughout last year. The measure would “amend the Equal Rights Amendment to protect fairness and integrity in girls’ athletics,” particularly regarding public funding, according to a press release.
“We are taking thoughtful steps to ensure girls’ sports are fair and athletes are safe,” Lombardo, who’s seeking re-election, said in a statement. “It’s important that female athletes have the opportunity to succeed in their athletic field. By bringing together a diverse coalition now, we can establish clear and fair standards that protect generations of female athletes to come.”
If the measure gathers enough signatures to qualify for a statewide vote, it would first be on the 2026 ballot as a question, then return to the 2028 ballot for final approval before being added to the constitution.
&#8220;Title IX was instituted for a reason – to create a level playing field so that girls and boys have an equal chance to succeed in our schools,&#8221; petition initiative director Adriana Guzmán Fralick said in a statement. &#8220;But there has been an attack on girls’ athletics that seeks to disrupt that equality. The people of Nevada do not support this, and I’m proud to help them make their voice heard on this issue at the ballot box.”
The issue is already a hot topic on the campaign trail, as Attorney General Aaron Ford, who is seeking the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, said he does not personally believe athletes who identify as transgender should compete in women&#8217;s sports, but nevertheless opposes the ballot initiative, according to the <a href="https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/lombardo-to-lead-2026-ballot-initiative-to-keep-transgender-athletes-out-of-female-sports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nevada Independent</a>.
“My faith teaches me that every person is a child of God and deserves to be treated with humanity, dignity, and respect,” the Democrat stated, according to the outlet. “And as Attorney General, I will continue defending the constitutional rights of every Nevadan.&#8221;
On December 23, Ford was listed on an amicus brief in a Minnesota case challenging a ban on transgender-identifying athletes. The <a href="https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/FAUvEllison_StatesAmicusBrief_AsFiled.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">brief</a> states that &#8220;discrimination against transgender youth—including denying them the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities consistent with their gender identity—can have serious health consequences.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrats-now-think-transgenderism-is-a-winning-issue-itll-be-put-to-the-test-in-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> reported that Ford signed onto a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals amicus brief in 2023 regarding two minors who identified as transgender, and whether or not they could play on a girls&#8217; sports team in Arizona.
“Plaintiffs simply want to participate on their school’s girl’s sports teams with their friends,” the brief said.
“They have not experienced any of the physiological changes associated with male puberty and have no ascertainable competitive advantage over their cisgender peers,” it continued, saying that the plaintiffs identified as “girls in all aspects of their lives since an early age.”
He also signed on to a 2022 amicus brief challenging an Arkansas law on “gender-affirming treatment” for minors.
“We must protect our children from discriminatory laws that bar access to necessary, gender-affirming health care,” Ford stated in 2022. &#8220;Over and over again, evidence has shown that denying transgender youth access to gender-affirming care has a detrimental effect to their mental health and quality of life.”
The Daily Wire reached out to the Ford campaign. At the national level, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on Tuesday in cases related to the issue.

Joe Lombardo Makes His First Public Statement Since Being Declared Winner Of Nevada Gubernatorial Race

Nevada Governor’s Race Shaped By Potential Transgender Ballot Measure

2026 election

Nevada

Social Issues

Sports

Transgender

Transgender Athletes

Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins has jumped into the gubernatorial race to succeed second-term Gov. Ron DeSantis.
&#8220;I’m running for Governor because leadership is forged under pressure, not in soundbites,” Collins told <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/florida-lt-gov-jay-collins-jumps-sunshine-state-gubernatorial-race-succeed-ron-desantis">Fox News Digital</a>. “I served over 23 years in the United States military, mainly as a Green Beret, where accountability is real, decisions have consequences, and service comes before self. That experience shaped how I lead and why I believe public office is a public trust.&#8221;
&#8220;We chose to make Florida home for my family because it stands for freedom, opportunity, and personal responsibility. In the Legislature and as Lieutenant Governor, I’ve worked alongside Governor Ron DeSantis to deliver results and advance a bold, conservative agenda. I did not come to chase headlines. I came to deliver results. Standing with law enforcement. Protecting communities. And to keep Florida strong,&#8221; he added.
Last August, DeSantis appointed Jay Collins as Florida’s 21st Lieutenant Governor, filling the vacancy created by Jeanette Nuñez’s transition to the presidency of Florida International University. A former State Senator representing Tampa’s District 14, Collins has rapidly ascended the ranks of Florida leadership. During his swearing-in ceremony, Governor DeSantis underscored Collins&#8217; reputation for toughness and resilience, famously dubbing him the &#8220;Chuck Norris of Florida politics.&#8221;
While Collins has established himself as a formidable legislative presence, his identity is fundamentally rooted in his 23 years of military service. A highly-decorated Green Beret and Purple Heart recipient, Collins’ military career is defined by extreme grit. After being shot in the arm during a firefight in Afghanistan, Collins — a senior medic — famously assisted in performing surgery on his own limb, using a war surgery manual to save it.
His resilience was tested further after a mortar blast sent him falling 25 feet, causing severe spinal and internal injuries that led to years of chronic, ischemic pain. Despite his leg &#8220;dying&#8221; to the point of being blue and hairless, Collins continued to serve until the pain became unbearable. In 2014, he underwent a leg amputation; remarkably, he re-qualified for service within a year, returning to the Green Berets for five more years of active duty. This &#8220;never-quit&#8221; ethos, forged on a farm in Montana and hardened in combat, remains the cornerstone of his political brand.
In recent interviews, including an in-depth appearance on &#8220;Facing South Florida,&#8221; Collins has leaned into his military background to discuss international diplomacy and law enforcement. Collins maintains a warrior’s perspective: &#8220;Everything is earned &#8230; competition drives excellence.”
Whether discussing constitutional originalism or the capture of foreign dictators, Collins positions himself as a leader shaped by service, emphasizing that he is &#8220;owed nothing&#8221; and is prepared to fight for Florida’s future with the same intensity he brought to the battlefield.
Collins joins an already humming race, with Rep. Byron Donalds, investor James Fishback, and former House speaker Paul Renner also running. Currently, Donalds is the odds-on favorite, with <a href="https://floridapolitics.com/archives/772573-byron-donalds-in-dominant-position-in-gop-primary-for-governor-new-poll-shows/">polls</a> showing him holding a substantial lead among Republican candidates. The House rep also has the endorsement of President Donald Trump.

UFL Press Announcement

Florida Lt. Gov Jay Collins, Decorated Green Beret, Enters Race For Governor

Florida

governor

Jay Collins

Ron DeSantis

Former Rep. Mary Peltola (D-AK) entered the United States Senate race in Alaska on Monday, which likely made the 2026 race against Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan more competitive.
Shortly after her announcement, the Cook Political Report moved the race from solid Republican to lean Republican.
“My agenda for Alaska will always be fish, family, and freedom,” she said in a video. “But our future also depends on fixing the rigged system in DC that’s shutting down Alaska while politicians feather their own nest.”
The announcement quickly appeared on the national radar, with the National Republican Senatorial Committee launching a digital ad against the Democrat.
&#8220;Peltola rubber-stamped Biden’s Alaska last policies and didn&#8217;t get a single bill signed into law,” the ad states. “Mary Peltola. Still radical. Still ineffective. Still Alaska Last.&#8221;
&#8220;After voters rejected Mary Peltola&#8217;s record pushing radical transgender policies and protecting Joe Biden&#8217;s relentless attacks on Alaska energy, she immediately cashed out to lobby for special interests,&#8221; NRSC Regional Press Secretary Nick Puglia said in a statement regarding the advertisement. &#8220;Voters trust Dan Sullivan to keep fighting for the Alaskan comeback and will reject Peltola again.&#8221;
On the flip side, it was welcomed news to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which posted to X that “Mary has always been a champion for Alaskans, focusing on her core values of fish, family, and freedom. This November, she’s going to win this seat.”
Statements from both committees could indicate that resources will be poured into the race, as Republicans currently hold 53 seats and Democrats hold 45, with two independents caucusing with Democrats.
The Cook Political Report has the Georgia, Michigan, Maine, and North Carolina Senate races ranked as toss-ups. Meanwhile, New Hampshire is rated as “Lean Democrat,” and Ohio is also rated with Alaska as “Lean Republican.”
Peltola was in Congress from 2022 to 2025, succeeding late Republican Rep. Don Young. Alaska uses a ranked-choice voting system, which led to her defeating former Republican Gov. Sarah Palin in the third round in 2022 with just under 55% of the vote, and then losing to Rep. Nick Begich III in 2024, who won with just over 51%.
Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who was re-elected in 2022, said she would back Sullivan.
“We&#8217;ve had a pretty solid team here in the Senate for the past 12 years, so we want to figure out how we&#8217;re going to keep in the majority,” the Senator said, according to <a href="https://alaskapublic.org/news/politics/washington-d-c/2026-01-12/mary-peltola-enters-alaska-u-s-senate-race" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alaska Public Media</a>. “And Dan delivers that.”

Menu