Virginia voters on Tuesday approved a sweeping redistricting referendum that paves the way for a new congressional map that could give state Democrats a 10–1 advantage in Congressional representation. 
With 82% of the vote counted, the ‘YES’ side is leading with 50.30% of the vote, <a href="https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/virginia-special-general-results-question-1/">according to the Associated Press</a>, delivering a significant win for Governor Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), who previously said she had &#8220;<a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5469556-governor-spanberger-redistricting-plans/">no plans</a>&#8221; to pursue redistricting. The AP called the race at 8:49 pm local time.
If fully implemented, the plan could help to reshape the balance of power in Washington. Right now, Democrats control six of Virginia’s 11 congressional seats. Under the new maps, Democrats could take over 10 of the 11 districts, boosting their party going into the November midterm elections. 
With voter approval, the ballot measure amends Virginia’s constitution to temporarily hand over redistricting powers from a bipartisan commission to the state’s Democratic-majority General Assembly. 
David Richards, chair of the political science department at the University of Lynchburg, said the new districts will extend into urban areas while diluting the political influence of the state&#8217;s rural communities. 
“I think at the end of the day, the result is, of course, that for the South side, Central Virginia and the West part of Virginia, they are kind of losing their representation in the House because they&#8217;re all being packed into this new district, and that&#8217;s going to kind of reduce the amount of influence that part of the state has on the national level,” Richards said in an interview with The Daily Wire. 
Tuesday&#8217;s vote may not be the final word. A legal challenge is currently pending before the Virginia State Supreme Court.
Political leaders across the aisle rallied their voters ahead of Tuesday&#8217;s election, including President Trump, who participated in a tele-rally with Speaker Mike Johnson Monday night. 
Former President Barack Obama filmed television advertisements for the “YES” campaign, framing the vote as a way to repudiate the White House and Congressional Republicans. 
&#8220;By voting yes, you can push back against the Republicans trying to give themselves an unfair advantage in the midterms,&#8221;<a href="https://x.com/BarackObama/status/2045138583934447660?s=20"> Obama said in the video.</a> &#8220;By voting yes, you can take a temporary step to level the playing field. And we&#8217;re counting on you.&#8221;
Virginia is the latest state to act amid an escalating redistricting race that began when Texas passed new maps favoring Republicans. California voters, at the urging of Gov. Newsom, passed a similar ballot referendum to gain five blue seats. North Carolina and Missouri have also redrawn maps for partisan purposes. 
Last week, Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis delayed his plans to call a special legislative session to redraw the state’s congressional maps.
A case currently before the U.S. Supreme Court could weaken or outright eliminate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which would allow red states in the South to potentially <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/upshot/supreme-court-voting-rights-gerrymander.html">redistrict dozens of Democrats out of office. </a> A ruling in that case is expected by the end of June.

Richmond Prepares To Host Gubernatorial Inauguration Of Abigail Spanberger

Virginia Dems Pull Off Massive Power Grab, Win Vote To Redraw Political Map

Congress

Elections

Politics

Redistricting

Virginia

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz launched a new political action committee designed to do something he failed to do as a vice presidential candidate and as governor: win in rural areas.
Walz announced Monday he was launching a project called Small Town PAC with the goal of wooing rural voters to the Democratic Party. In recent years, Democrats have increasingly lost ground in rural areas with most of their support coming from major cities.
“Today, we’re launching Small Town PAC. We’re going to show up in small towns, organize in places too many people have given up on, and build power with the folks who call these places home,” Walz said. “If Democrats want to win in more places, we’ve got to start showing up in more places.”
The Small Town PAC website says that “rebuilding Democratic leadership starts with real conversations about the issues that actually impact people and the courage to challenge the powerful interests pulling communities apart.”
During the 2024 election, the Harris-Walz ticket won just nine of Minnesota’s 87 counties, with their support primarily coming in the population centers of Rochester, Minneapolis, and Duluth. The Trump-Vance ticket won the rest of the state’s more rural counties.
In his two governor’s races, Walz performed slightly better, winning 13 counties in 2022 and peaking at 21 in 2018. One <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/minnesota-poll-walz-approval-slips-161900149.html">poll</a> last year from the Minnesota Star Tribune found that six out of ten voters outside of the Twin Cities area disapproved of Walz. During his time in office, Walz has pushed radical Left policies from gun control to transgender ideology to abortion.
For the past three presidential cycles, Republicans have dominated in rural areas while Democrats have turned to cities. Between 2016 and 2024, Democrat candidates have consistently won 421 counties, while Republican candidates have swept 2,559 counties, and 132 counties have split votes, <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/County-level_presidential_election_voting_trends,_2016-2024">according</a> to Ballotpedia.
Walz attacked former opponent Vice President JD Vance in a statement on why he was launching the PAC.
“Republicans like JD Vance like to portray their small-town neighbors as petty, resentful, and small-minded. I disagree,” he said. “I think the problem facing small towns are Republicans like JD Vance.”
Responding to the criticism, Vance’s office pointed to the large amounts of fraud that have been flagged in Minnesota.
“The problem facing many small towns in Minnesota is that Tim Walz gives their money to fraudulent daycares,” the vice president’s office <a href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2026/04/20/trumps-inconvenient-truth-00880268">told</a> POLITICO.
Walz faced other criticism over the announcement of his new political project.
“If Democrats want to win in small towns again, this is the last person they should listen to,” <a href="https://x.com/HarryNiska/status/2046263996936826918">said</a> Rep. Harry Niska. &#8220;In eight years as Governor, he has shown voters across Greater Minnesota that the DFL no longer represents them.”

Second And Last Day Of Global Progressive Mobilisation In Barcelona

Tim Walz Is Back, And It Seems He Hasn’t Learned A Thing

J.D. Vance

Minnesota

Tim Walz

Democrats in Michigan nominated a Muslim attorney who has honored terrorists for a position on the University of Michigan&#8217;s Board of Regents.
At the Michigan Democratic Party&#8217;s nominating convention on Sunday night, delegates chose Amir Makled over incumbent regent Jordan Acker for a seat on the board that controls the university&#8217;s budget and leadership appointments, The Detroit News <a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2026/04/19/jordan-acker-university-of-michigan-board-of-regents-amir-makled-wins-democratic-convention-vote/89691921007/">reported</a>. The contrast in the race could not have been clearer for Democratic delegates, who ultimately picked a Muslim who recently shared a post that referred to Israelis as &#8220;demons&#8221; over a Jewish regent who has faced antisemitic attacks.
Last June, Makled <a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2026/04/09/university-of-michigan-regent-candidate-lawyer-amir-makled-deletes-posts-praising-hezbollah-leaders/89533176007/">shared</a> a post that called former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah a &#8220;martyr,&#8221; less than a year after Nasrallah was taken out in an Israeli airstrike. Another post shared by Makled honored Hezbollah official Abu Ali Khalil as a &#8220;martyr on the road to Jerusalem.&#8221;
In July 2025, Makled shared a post from Candace Owens, in which Owens referred to Israelis as &#8220;demons&#8221; who &#8220;lie, steal, cheat, murder, and blackmail.&#8221; The Muslim lawyer has since deleted those social media posts.
Makled secured the nomination over Acker, who has faced antisemitic threats from anti-Israel radicals following Hamas&#8217; attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. In December of 2024, Acker&#8217;s home was vandalized and damaged, and his wife&#8217;s car was spray painted with the words &#8220;Divest&#8221; and &#8220;Free Palestine.&#8221; Anti-Israel radicals also vandalized Acker&#8217;s law firm building, which police investigated as a hate crime, CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/09/us/university-of-michigan-regents-vandalized-acker">reported</a>.
Last year, Acker, along with regents Mark Bernstein and Sarah Hubbard, were given 24/7 security due to threats from anti-Israel demonstrators. Makled represented anti-Israel students who were arrested and charged last year with trespassing and resisting arrest when police broke up an encampment on Michigan&#8217;s campus.
The nomination of Makled over Acker reflects a major shift in the Democratic Party throughout the country, which has seen multiple leftist Muslims elected to public office. That shift is on full display in Michigan this year as another leftist Muslim, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, is in a tight race for the Democratic nomination to the open seat for U.S. Senate. El-Sayed <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/19/politics/michigan-senate-democratic-primary">told</a> CNN over the weekend that Hamas is just as evil as the Israeli government.
The Michigan Democratic Party did not release the vote tally for Sunday&#8217;s nominating convention. For many statewide offices in Michigan, the Democratic Party chooses its nominees through delegates who meet to cast their votes at a nominating convention. Acker&#8217;s ticket-mate, Paul Brown, who has also called for punishment for anti-Israel demonstrators, was renominated to run alongside Makled in the general election.
Makled rode a wave of support from leftist University of Michigan students and campus labor unions to his nomination victory.
“This is beyond the support that I was expecting,” Makled <a href="https://www.michigandaily.com/news/administration/amir-makled-defeats-regent-jordan-acker-at-democratic-convention-to-run-alongside-incumbent-paul-brown/">said</a> after he was nominated. “This is the largest convention I’ve participated in in 20 years, and I’ve been coming to them since 2006. This really shows how much the Democratic Party has expanded the electorate and energized the base of what people want to see come November.”
Makled will face Republicans Lena Epstein and Michael Schostak in the general election on November 3.
Not all Democrats were enthused by Makled&#8217;s candidacy. Brandon Dillon, a former chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party, blasted Makled and <a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2026/04/17/dillon-the-democratic-party-has-no-room-for-amir-makled/89665735007/">wrote</a> in a Detroit News opinion piece that Makled&#8217;s social media posts &#8220;reflect a pattern of extremism and bigotry, all of which should be disqualifying for someone seeking one of the most powerful positions in Michigan higher education and statewide office.&#8221;
Acker faced opposition from Makled and many within the Michigan Democratic Party for his desire to hold anti-Israel radicals accountable after they intimidated Jewish students and obstructed law enforcement officers. Acker also faced scrutiny just a few days before the Democratic nominating convention when The Guardian published a report on alleged messages sent by Acker on Slack that appeared to be sexual in nature and included obscene comments about a female Michigan student.
Acker said that parts of the messages sent to The Guardian appeared to be &#8220;doctored,&#8221; adding that Acker &#8220;has never been on Slack.&#8221; Acker told The Detroit News that the allegations published in The Guardian are &#8220;ridiculous&#8221; and &#8220;fake.&#8221;

Amir Makled/University of Michigan

Dems Make A Stunning Switch And Backlash Is Building Fast

anti-Israel

Democratic Party

Jewish

Michigan

Muslims

University of Michigan

Virginians will decide this week if their commonwealth will become the laughingstock of the nation when it comes to clumsy partisan gerrymanders.
On Tuesday, voters will consider a measure that would take Virginia&#8217;s redistricting powers away from a bipartisan, citizen-driven commission and return it to the Democrat-controlled state legislature. For months, Virginia voters have been subjected to a deluge of television ads and direct mail flak backed by national Democrats who hew to an established narrative: the gerrymander, while it may seem extreme, is a necessary, temporary response to Republican agitation across the country to hold the House of Representatives despite the will of the people.
If Democrats get their way, five congressmen who live in driving distance of the Beltway&#8217;s swanky Army Navy Country Club would represent the bulk of Virginia&#8217;s population. To Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger and her allies — a who&#8217;s who of Democrats that prominently features Barack Obama — the is not an obviously-unrepresentative scrawl of a map that will turn a competitive purple state into a hard blue stone, but a desperate move motivated by GOP extremism. In this story, they are the heroes defending Democracy.
It&#8217;s an audacious claim. Virginians should loudly reject Democrats&#8217; attempt to carve the face of the mother of presidents out of mere spite for the persistence of Donald Trump.
Virginians by now have received enough mailers on the measure to fill the back of a Karen&#8217;s Subaru. One such leaflet stresses that supporting Democrats&#8217; power grab is the only way to defend democracy. This is par for the course for Democrats in the Trump era, who are more than happy to violate their most sacred principles in order to defend them.
You know the drill by now: you can only stop Trump&#8217;s disrespect of the Constitution by packing the Supreme Court; bureaucrats are justified in ignoring orders to block Trump&#8217;s anti-government policies; and it&#8217;s Republicans who have no respect for law and order, which is why we should identify and harass members of ICE and their families.
Democrats&#8217; proposed redistricting map is notably not included in any of the mailers, nor in any of the television ads, nor is it even displayed in polling places at the behest of Virginia&#8217;s board of elections. That should be enough to indicate how much it resembles the scrawls of an irate toddler. It is even too extreme in the mind of the commonwealth&#8217;s viciously partisan and historically unpopular governor, who thought a 9-2 map would at least allow a modicum of self-respect. Spanberger was overruled by Richmond Democrats, who insisted that only a 10-1 majority Democrat redraw would do, in a state which Kamala Harris won with less than 52% of the vote.
Perhaps the greatest lie advanced by Obama and others pushing this new arrangement is that it will be &#8220;temporary.&#8221; Should Virginia upend its current representation — which is still majority Democrat, mind you — it will do so thanks to the backing of well-moneyed national interests who seek a permanent advantage in the narrowly divided House, a cheat code for getting a leg up on their Republican opponents in future elections.
No one on the Democratic side of the aisle will ever want to give that up. If Virginians decide to endorse this unrepresentative move under the false belief that it will be adjusted in the future, they just don&#8217;t know how politics works. These maps were drawn specifically to include the home addresses of aspiring Democratic candidates. There&#8217;s no bottom to this well.
There is another path. If Virginians reject this offensive gerrymander, even after a metric ton of flyers and ads backed by a shockingly large amount of out of state cash, they will send a very different message, one that respects order and rejects extreme partisanship — one that national Democrats will be forced, all too reluctantly, to learn from.
The Virginia Way used to mean something. It can mean something again.

Early Voting Nears End For Virginia’s Redistricting Referendum

The Editors: Virginia Must Reject The Partisan Democrat Gerrymander

Democrats

DW Opinion

gerrymandering

Voters on Thursday elected Analilia Mejia, a leftist political organizer endorsed by Bernie Sanders, to replace Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District.
With 94% of the vote reported, Mejia defeated Republican Joe Hathaway by a 20-point margin, according to The New York Times, and will serve in Congress for at least the next eight months.
Mejia’s victory further narrows Republicans&#8217; majority in the U.S. House and represents a growing pattern of Democratic performance in special elections.
In her victory speech, Mejia blasted Republicans nationwide as “radicals who are willing to upend our democracy, subvert our Constitution, and act with impunity.”
“We must stop them,” she said, <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/16/progressive-analilia-mejia-coasts-to-victory-in-new-jersey-special-house-election-00878188">according to Politico</a>. “These radicals will watch Rome burn with all of us within, and they are simply cowards – cowards unwilling to stand up to this madness. But we stand up, we resist, we will not allow it to continue.”
The leftist, who served as the national political director for Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign, <a href="https://www.analiliafornj.com/economy-for-everyone">ran on</a> Medicare for all, abolishing ICE, and impeaching conservative Supreme Court justices.
Thursday’s results, however, raised some red flags for the Democratic Party, as Mejia fared notably worse in the district’s Jewish neighborhoods.
“There have been clear pockets of resistance to Mejia in Livingston and Millburn, two large typically Democratic towns with large Jewish populations that may be uncomfortable with Mejia&#8217;s left-wing politics, particularly on Israel,” <a href="https://x.com/SteveKornacki/status/2044971630976245902?s=20">Steve Kornacki,</a> Chief Data Analyst for NBC News, said.
In Livingston, New Jersey, a town with a large Jewish population, support shifted sharply away from the Democrats.
“Livingston is one of the most Jewish towns in New Jersey. It just swung 70+ points toward Republicans compared to 2024 and last year’s gubernatorial race,” Evan Rosenfeld, Deputy Digital Director of The Bulwark, said. “Democrats should pay attention to this or it may very well come back to bite them in ‘26 or ‘28.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Livingston is one of the most Jewish towns in New Jersey.
It just swung 70+ points toward Republicans compared to 2024 and last year’s gubernatorial race.
Democrats should pay attention to this or it may very well come back to bite them in ‘26 and ‘28 <a href="https://t.co/uASem1wCHA">https://t.co/uASem1wCHA</a>
— Evan Rosenfeld (@Evan_Rosenfeld) <a href="https://twitter.com/Evan_Rosenfeld/status/2045064237341659635?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
A vocal critic of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mejia is likely to align herself with the &#8220;Squad&#8221; in Congress. She has called Israel’s military campaign in Gaza a &#8220;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/nyregion/analilia-mejia-joe-hathaway-congress-nj.html">genocide</a>&#8220; and refused to rule out conditioning aid to the Jewish state.
Mejia stunned the Democratic establishment in February by <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/02/05/us/elections/results-new-jersey-us-house-11-special.html">narrowly</a> defeating a crowded field of candidates, highlighting a surge of leftist energy within the party.
“Thank you for all who casted your votes for an unbought, unbossed, sassy new member of Congress,” Mejia <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udQuP9bKw7k">said to supporters</a>.

Analilia Mejia

Bernie-Backed Liberal Cruises To Victory — But Why A Deep-Blue Town Is The Real Story

Demcocrats

New Jersey

The Squad

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) is facing scrutiny after new federal filings revealed his own political operation spent more than $1.5 million purchasing copies of his memoir, accounting for the majority of its total sales.
According to disclosures released Wednesday, Newsom’s PAC, the Campaign for Democracy, paid $1,561,875 to a book distributor to buy and distribute roughly 67,000 copies of his book, “Young Man in a Hurry: A Memoir of Discovery.” Those copies were then offered to donors in exchange for contributions of any amount.
The strategy proved effective in driving engagement. Tens of thousands of supporters responded to the pitch, with the PAC ultimately distributing books that made up roughly two-thirds of the memoir’s total print sales, which stand at just over 97,000 copies.
The arrangement raises questions about how Newsom’s book achieved its early commercial success. His team had previously touted strong sales and highlighted the memoir’s appearance on best-seller lists, including USA Today and New York Times <a href="http://lists.in/">lists</a>. In a March press release, the Newsom team <a href="https://x.com/briantylercohen/status/2029377086197252130">wrote</a>, “With more than 91,000 copies sold through organic, in-person and online, non-bulk purchases in the United States, the memoir surged on bestseller lists within hours of its release and has drawn readers from across the country eager to learn more about Newsom’s upbringing, early career, and the experiences that shaped his approach to leadership.”
Newsom’s office defended the approach, arguing the effort was both financially and politically effective. “We were thrilled with the response,” spokesman Nathan Click <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/us/politics/newsom-book-donors.html">told</a> The New York Times, adding that the PAC ultimately raised more money through the promotion than it spent on purchasing the books. “Our goal was to deepen the relationship between him and the millions of folks who have already expressed support.” Newsom does not receive royalties from books sold through the PAC.
The fundraising push began shortly after Newsom-backed Proposition 50, a redistricting measure designed to give Democrats an advantage in congressional maps, was approved by California voters. In emails to supporters, Newsom framed the book offer as part of a broader effort to replenish political resources for future electoral fights.
“We just spent a bunch of money on passing Prop 50,” he wrote at the time, “so now I need to refill the coffers … for the fights ahead.”
While it is not uncommon for political committees to use books as fundraising incentives, the scale of Newsom’s operation stands out. Comparable efforts have typically involved far smaller expenditures, including purchases tied to books by former Vice President Kamala Harris, whose affiliated PAC spent under $100,000 on similar promotions for her memoir earlier this year.
By contrast, Newsom’s seven-figure outlay represents the largest single expense for his PAC in the first quarter of 2026.
The arrangement blurs the line between political fundraising and self-promotion, effectively allowing a campaign apparatus to manufacture demand for a candidate’s personal publication. Supporters, however, contend the tactic is a “novel” extension of campaign outreach — using a candidate’s writing to engage voters while building a donor base.
The episode underscores how political campaigns are increasingly blending media, messaging, and fundraising into a single ecosystem, where books serve not just as policy platforms or autobiographical accounts, but as tools for mobilization and revenue generation.
For Newsom, the result is a memoir that reached best-seller status with significant backing from his own political network, raising questions about how success in the publishing world can or should be measured when politics and promotion are so closely intertwined.

California Governor Gavin Newsom Continues Book Tour In San Francisco

Did Gavin Newsom Pen A Best Seller? Not Really.

Books

California

Gavin Newsom

Senior staff members for Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), both in his congressional office and at his gubernatorial campaign office, quit en masse on Saturday as several former staffers accused him of sexual misconduct and even rape.
The senior staffers from both the campaign team and Swalwell&#8217;s congressional team released a joint statement saying that they were standing with the former staffer who accused the congressman of rape, and that they intended to stand for any other women who had come forward as well.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Swalwell’s congressional &amp; campaign senior staff are out with a new stmt
“We’re horrified by the recent reporting in the San Francisco Chronicle and by CNN”
“The behavior detailed in these reports is abhorrent, beneath the dignity of those serving in public office and betrays… <a href="https://t.co/Ho9NqkQqin">pic.twitter.com/Ho9NqkQqin</a>
— Brennan Leach (@brennanleach) <a href="https://twitter.com/brennanleach/status/2043078790478286902?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;As leaders of teams working for Eric Swalwell, we’re horrified by the recent reporting in the San Francisco Chronicle and by CNN,&#8221; the statement began. &#8220;We stand with our former colleague, and the other women who have come forward. We believe you should stand with them too.&#8221;
&#8220;The behavior detailed in these reports is abhorrent, beneath the dignity of those serving in public office and betrays the trust of all Californians,&#8221; the statement continued.
The staffers acknowledged that only senior staff members were represented, and noted that some junior staffers might not have the financial freedom to simply walk away from the job — and asked the public not to judge them too harshly if that were the case.
&#8220;Any decision of staff members to remain in their roles in the interim should not be viewed as support for Eric Swalwell,&#8221; they wrote.
&#8220;We, more than [Swalwell], understand that we have obligations to the people we lead and to the constituents of California&#8217;s 14th Congressional District. Those of us that remain on staff do so for the sole purpose of ensuring that as many of those obligations are fulfilled as possible,&#8221; they concluded.
Swalwell released a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/swalwell-wont-drop-out-despite-his-metoo-era-kavanaugh-demand">video statement</a> early on Saturday fighting back against the allegations he said were &#8220;flat false.&#8221; Just hours later, however, a video began circulating that showed the California congressman forcibly kissing a woman who was reportedly a sex worker. Since the first accusations were made public on Friday, a number of prominent lawmakers have withdrawn their support for Swalwell ahead of the gubernatorial primary — and several have called on him to withdraw from the race entirely.

Democratic Reps. Schiff, Swalwell, And Omar Discuss Committee Assignments

Mass Exodus: Swalwell’s Senior Staffers Quit As Accusations, Evidence Build

Mass Exodus: Swalwell's Senior Staffers Quit As Accusations, Evidence Build

2026 Midterms

Eric Swalwell

Sexual Assault

Rep. Eric Swalwell denied the accusations against him in a video statement released late on Friday, making it clear that he had no intention of dropping out of the California governor&#8217;s race despite mounting claims that he&#8217;d engaged in inappropriate behavior with several former staffers.
Swalwell posted the video on both X and Instagram, along with the caption, &#8220;Hear it directly from me. These allegations are flat false. And I will fight them.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Hear it directly from me. These allegations are flat false. And I will fight them. <a href="https://t.co/bQSlCquD1U">pic.twitter.com/bQSlCquD1U</a>
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepSwalwell/status/2042800069334962405?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;A lot has been said about me today through anonymous allegations,&#8221; Swalwell said. &#8220;And I thought it was important that you see and hear from me directly.&#8221;
&#8220;These allegations of sexual assault are flat false, they&#8217;re absolutely false,&#8221; he added. &#8220;They did not happen. They have never happened. And I will fight them with everything that I have. They also come on the eve of an election where I have been the frontrunner candidate for governor in California.&#8221;
&#8220;I do not suggest to you in any way that I am perfect or that I&#8217;m a saint. I have certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past,&#8221; Swalwell continued. &#8220;But those mistakes are between me and my wife. And to her, I apologize deeply for putting her in this position. I also apologize to you if in any way you have doubted your support for me. But I think you know who I am.&#8221;
Swalwell went on to tout his 20-year record of serving the public from the City Council to the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as his record as a prosecutor defending victims of sexual assault.
&#8220;That&#8217;s who I am and have always been. This weekend, I&#8217;m going to spend time with my family and friends, and I appreciate those who have reached out to me to show support,&#8221; he concluded. &#8220;I look forward to updating you very soon.&#8221;
Swalwell&#8217;s response comes in the wake of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/three-more-women-level-sexual-misconduct-accusations-against-eric-swalwell">several accusations</a> — including one from a former staffer who said he raped her — of inappropriate sexually-charged behavior and sexual assault.
But the California congressman, who alleges that the timing and anonymity of the accusations make them suspect, sang a very different tune when similar 11th-hour accusations were leveled against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh ahead of his confirmation hearings.
On September 18, 2018, <a href="https://x.com/RepSwalwell/status/1042154855303983106">Swalwell</a> joined with a number of House Democrats in calling for a postponement of the Senate&#8217;s confirmation vote, demanding an investigation and including the #MeToo era &#8220;believe women&#8221; tagline: &#8220;I joined 109 of my House colleagues in urging the Senate to #PostponeTheVote on #Kavanaugh, so America can have a thorough investigation of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s story. #BelieveWomen.&#8221;
Swalwell also criticized Republicans who pointed out the fact that Democrats — namely the late Senator <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-feinstein-has-document-attacking-kavanaugh-hank-berrien">Dianne Feinstein</a> — had reportedly been aware of the accusations against Kavanaugh for some time and had intentionally withheld them until they could be used to derail his confirmation.
&#8220;The #Kavanaugh defenders are trying to stand on the process/timing of the allegation and wish to ignore its substance. Would they prefer that she never had come forward? Is that what they’re really suggesting?&#8221; he posted on September 17, 2018.
&#8220;A lot of GOP senators are unfairly holding #Kavanaugh victims to criminal law standards for their accounts. If that’s the case they should know this jury instruction: &#8216;The testimony of a SINGLE witness can prove any fact,'&#8221; Swalwell <a href="https://x.com/RepSwalwell/status/1044273530865635328">posted</a> a week later.
Even as Swalwell denies the claims against him, his colleagues have already begun to jump ship. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) was among those who withdrew endorsements ahead of the primary election.
&#8220;I have read the San Francisco Chronicle’s account and I am deeply distressed by its allegations. This woman was brave to come forward, and we should take her story seriously. I am withdrawing my endorsement immediately, and believe that he should withdraw from the race,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/AdamSchiff/status/2042731289430667538">Schiff said</a>.

Swalwell Won’t Drop Out Despite His MeToo-Era Kavanaugh Demand

2026 elections

Brett Kavanaugh

governor

Democratic California Congressman Eric Swalwell faces sexual misconduct accusations from three additional women after one of his former staffers <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/eric-swalwell-accused-of-sexual-assault-by-former-staffer?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Eric+Swalwell+Accused+Of+Sexual+Assault+By+Former+Staffer">came forward</a> on Friday and alleged that she was raped by the lawmaker while she was drunk.
After the first accuser went public with her allegations, three more women told CNN that Swalwell made unwanted advances on them or sent them unsolicited sexual messages. Ally Sammarco, a Democratic content creator, told CNN that she received nude messages from Swalwell after they connected over social media.
“I truly never thought he would respond – I had like 1,000 followers at the time,” Sammarco said. &#8220;And he actually responded.&#8221;
Another woman accused Swalwell of kissing her and touching her leg without her consent while they sat together at a bar.
Swalwell, who is leading a crowded Democratic primary for California governor in multiple polls, denied the allegations.
&#8220;These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the front-runner for governor,” Swalwell said. “For nearly 20 years, I have served the public – as a prosecutor and a congressman and have always protected women. I will defend myself with the facts and where necessary bring legal action. My focus in the coming days is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies.”
Earlier on Friday, one of Swalwell&#8217;s former staffers accused the Democrat of sexually assaulting her on two separate occasions, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The woman shared medical records with CNN that are reportedly related to her getting tested for an STD and pregnancy after the alleged sexual assault. She also told family members and friends of the alleged assault in 2024 shortly after she says that Swalwell raped her.
Swalwell has also denied those allegations, and his attorneys sent his former staffer a cease-and-desist letter.
Swalwell&#8217;s Democratic allies have expressed shock following the report and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/swalwells-dem-buddies-flee-like-rats-after-sexual-assault-allegation?author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Swalwell%E2%80%99s+Dem+Buddies+Flee+Like+Rats+After+Sexual+Assault+Allegation">pulled their support</a> for his gubernatorial bid following the accusations.
“I have read the San Francisco Chronicle’s account and I am deeply distressed by its allegations. This woman was brave to come forward, and we should take her story seriously,” Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) posted to X on Friday.
“I am withdrawing my endorsement immediately, and believe that he should withdraw from the race,” he added.
The California Teachers Association, a powerful union in the Golden State, called on the congressman to end his gubernatorial bid.
“The allegations are incredibly disturbing and unacceptable against Rep. Swalwell. We are immediately suspending our support. Our elected board will be meeting as soon as possible to follow our union’s democratic process to determine next steps,” the union wrote.
After the accusations, Swalwell&#8217;s odds to become the next California governor tanked to just 15% after hovering around 50%, <a href="https://x.com/kalshi/status/2042716803625853119?s=46&amp;t=5nB3R1hthzMlYMrXjZyN8Q">according</a> to Kalshi prediction markets.

Three More Women Level Sexual Misconduct Accusations Against Eric Swalwell

Democrat

President Donald Trump reiterated his support on Friday afternoon for Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in his race to win re-election, as one of Graham&#8217;s main primary opponents, Paul Dans, appears to have exited the race.
<a href="https://www.fitsnews.com/2026/04/10/exclusive-paul-dans-withdraws-from-u-s-senate-race/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FITSNews</a> wrote on Friday that Dans was dropping out of the race, and Trump appeared to confirm the report. The Daily Wire reached out to the Dans campaign, but did not immediately hear back.
“Paul Dans has just dropped out of the South Carolina Senatorial Race against the Great Lindsey Graham,” <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116382196783520781" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trump</a> wrote.
“It all started to fall apart for Paul when a very Low IQ individual named Tucker Carlson ENDORSED him — THE KISS OF DEATH! Lindsey has a BIG lead, and is on his way to a spectacular VICTORY because he just, GETS THINGS DONE!” the president added.
In another post moments prior, Trump slammed Graham’s other primary opponent, Mark Lynch, in a Truth Social post, as the Republican senator has fended off critics who have said that he has been too hawkish on military action in the Middle East, particularly in Iran.
“Senator Lindsey Graham is doing a fantastic job. He is running against a LUNATIC named Mark Lynch, who supports perhaps the Worst Congressman in the History of our Country, Thomas Massie, of the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Trump said.
“I don’t have to go into great detail, but needless to say, Mark Lynch would be a DISASTER for the Republican Party, and Lindsey Graham just, GETS THE JOB DONE. VOTE FOR LINDSEY ALL THE WAY,” the <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116382183704204825" target="_blank" rel="noopener">president</a> added.
Lynch has not held back in his criticism of Graham on matters of foreign policy.
“Lindsey Graham represents a grave National Security threat to Americans, American soldiers, and to every man, woman, and child in the Middle East &#8212; whether Iranian or Israeli,” Lynch <a href="https://x.com/MarkLynchSC/status/2042678395482395085?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> Friday. “On June 9, we Dump Lindsey!”
Trump&#8217;s posts backing Graham were not a surprise, given the president and the senator have been close allies for some time.
However, the posts underscore how the president is firing back against those who have been critical of Operation Epic Fury in Iran, including with a post made on Thursday saying that a handful of podcasters slamming the war are “Low IQ.”
Graham chairs the Senate Budget Committee, which means he will play a critical role in securing congressional funding for the president’s military goals. Last week, the senator praised the Trump administration’s budget request for fiscal year 2027.
“President Trump’s budget is truly historic when it comes to defense spending. It is the most robust increase in defense spending in many years, and it is more than justified by the threats we face throughout the world,” Graham said in a <a href="https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2026/4/chairman-graham-statement-on-president-trump-s-fy27-budget-request" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>. “When it comes to our national security, President Trump and his team are second to none.”
The Daily Wire reached out to the Lynch campaign for comment.

President Trump Returns To The  White House After Spending Holidays In Florida

Major Shakeup In Lindsey Graham Primary Race After Trump Blasts War Critics

2026 election

Lindsey Graham

Senate

South Carolina

U.S. Senate

Tucker Carlson&#8217;s popularity has collapsed and is in &#8220;absolute free fall&#8221; among Republican voters as President Trump blasts the former Fox News host as &#8220;<a href="https://nypost.com/2026/04/07/us-news/trump-tears-into-tucker-carlson-over-iran-war-claims/">a low IQ person that has absolutely no idea what’s going on.</a>&#8221;
The commentator&#8217;s favorability rating among Republican-leaning voters has dropped by a stunning 47 percentage points over the last two years, according to a <a href="https://www.uml.edu/docs/2026-Nat-Pol-March-Topline_tcm18-417813.pdf">poll</a> from YouGov and UMass Lowell. The poll was conducted at the end of March, before Trump&#8217;s full onslaught, but well into the war in Iran.
In March 2024, Carlson held a +54 favorability rating with conservative voters. Two years later, that figure has cratered to just +7, the poll shows.
The numbers reflect a trend that began with former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who resigned from Congress after a bitter split with the president. Trump-backed Republican Clay Fuller <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/voters-pick-replacement-for-former-trump-ally-marjorie-taylor-greene?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=7&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Voters+Pick+Replacement+For+Former+Trump+Ally+Marjorie+Taylor+Greene">won the special election</a> Tuesday night to fill the seat.
CNN&#8217;s polling expert described Carlson as &#8220;electoral poison,&#8221; pointing to data showing that California Gov. Gavin Newsom would beat him by 11 percentage points in a general election. Vice President JD Vance, on the other hand, would win by 3 points over Newsom.
&#8220;When you go up against Donald Trump and you want to appeal to the Republican base, to quote the movie &#8216;Good Burger,&#8217; you&#8217;re going in the grinder, and that&#8217;s exactly what has happened to Tucker Carlson, who has absolutely collapsed among Republicans,&#8221; Enten said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Tucker Carlson has been in absolute free fall among the GOP. His net favorable has dropped by 47 points.
Meanwhile, Trump crushes Tucker among the GOP. Trump&#8217;s net favorable is 54 pts higher than Carlson&#8217;s.
When you up against Trump, you in the grinder to quote Good Burger. <a href="https://t.co/oz30tsWGhW">pic.twitter.com/oz30tsWGhW</a>
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) <a href="https://twitter.com/ForecasterEnten/status/2042628510729277697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2026</a></blockquote>
Kalshi prediction markets only give Carlson a five percent chance of securing the 2028 GOP nomination, with Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio running well ahead.
Republican voters &#8220;choose Donald Trump basically every single time,&#8221; Enten added, a point raised by conservative commentator Meghan McCain.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t know how every single podcaster and influencer hasn&#8217;t realized by this time that republicans will choose Trump over them &#8211; absolutely every single time,&#8221; McCain said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I don&#8217;t know how every single podcaster and influencer hasn&#8217;t realized by this time that republicans will choose Trump over them &#8211; absolutely every single time. <a href="https://t.co/Wi4z78YhQ5">https://t.co/Wi4z78YhQ5</a>
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) <a href="https://twitter.com/MeghanMcCain/status/2042639626427375790?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2026</a></blockquote>
The fresh data comes after President Trump went scorched earth Thursday night on Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones, calling the four podcasters &#8220;low IQ,&#8221; &#8220;losers,&#8221; and &#8220;nut jobs.&#8221;
&#8220;They’ve all been thrown off Television, lost their Shows, and aren’t even invited on TV because nobody cares about them, they’re NUT JOBS, TROUBLEMAKERS, and will say anything necessary for some &#8216;free&#8217; and cheap publicity,&#8221; Trump said in a <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116376634773749603">Truth Social post</a>.
In response, the Tucker Carlson Network started selling &#8220;low IQ&#8221; hats, &#8220;calling all nut jobs, troublemakers, and third rate podcasters&#8221; to buy their merchandise.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Calling all nut jobs, troublemakers, and third rate podcasters! New merch just dropped: <a href="https://t.co/PICYxuIV5A">https://t.co/PICYxuIV5A</a><a href="https://twitter.com/TuckerCarlson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TuckerCarlson</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/megynkelly?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@megynkelly</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RealCandaceO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RealCandaceO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RealAlexJones?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RealAlexJones</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/mtgreenee?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mtgreenee</a> <a href="https://t.co/O8s6DRpC29">https://t.co/O8s6DRpC29</a> <a href="https://t.co/XOKveI5h41">pic.twitter.com/XOKveI5h41</a>
— Tucker Carlson Network (@TCNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/TCNetwork/status/2042614462645956621?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2026</a></blockquote>
All four commentators have become <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-goes-nuclear-on-tucker-megyn-and-candace?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Goes+Nuclear+On+Tucker%2C+Megyn%2C+And+Candace">increasingly critical</a> of the president over his decision to launch “Operation Epic Fury” against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Earlier this week, Carlson urged U.S. military members to refuse Trump’s orders and fumed at the president&#8217;s Easter Sunday message.
“Who do you think you are? You’re tweeting out the f-word on Easter morning?” Carlson said. “No president should mock Islam.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
JUST IN: 🇺🇸 Tucker Carlson slams US President Trump for mocking Islam.
&#8220;No President should mock Islam.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/ZnOtsLrDB6">pic.twitter.com/ZnOtsLrDB6</a>
— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) <a href="https://twitter.com/BRICSinfo/status/2041312617717813468?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2026</a></blockquote>

Donald Trump/Tucker Carlson

Tucker Carlson Popularity Is In ‘Absolute Free Fall’

Donald Trump

Marjorie Taylor Greene

Polls

Tucker Carlson

California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell canceled a town hall event in Palm Desert on Thursday as his gubernatorial campaign is facing swirling allegations on social media over possible inappropriate conduct with female staffers.
The congressman’s campaign said the cancellation was because he was sick, according to <a href="https://www.kron4.com/news/california/rep-eric-swalwell-cancels-town-hall-in-palm-desert/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KRON-4 News</a>, but that is not stopping the rest of the field from taking notice.
“Day 2 of [Swalwell] hiding from voters and reporters. That’s not leadership — that’s someone with something to hide,” Democrat challenger <a href="https://x.com/AVillaraigosa/status/2042417759951470809?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Antonio Villaraigosa</a> posted to X.
<a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/governor/general/2026/california/open_primary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Multiple surveys</a> indicate that the congressman is the leading Democrat in the top-two primary election set for June, as he faces Trump-backed Republican Steve Hilton, billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer, Republican Chad Bianco, and numerous other Democrats.
As for the allegations against Swalwell, claims went viral on social media, including that he may have made interns sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) following misconduct. The details released so far have been minimal, as nobody with a direct accusation has come forward as of Friday.
“This false, outrageous rumor is being spread 27 days before an election begins by flailing opponents who have sadly teamed up with MAGA conspiracy theorists because they know Eric Swalwell is the frontrunner in this race,” Micah Beasley, a spokesperson for Swalwell’s campaign, told <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/07/swalwell-campaign-denies-claims-inappropriate-behavior-00862406?__cf_chl_rt_tk=mYi3F9GE14_ybENKunLywvXA90PEbdwX.jK8sSNGjms-1775839383-1.0.1.1-XtMq.iLVJtzMbj4xWrVvnpxVKfAvGLzhBUcwxtR87CE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Politico</a> earlier this week.
One of the influencer accounts amplifying the accusations, “Mrs. Frazzled,” wrote in an X <a href="https://x.com/ms_frazzled/status/2042324565750399342?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> on Thursday, “you can be frustrated with me. That’s fine!”
“I am using my platform to draw awareness to the fact that this is being investigated and that awareness has been so important,” the account wrote. “These women deserve to know they are not the only ones and more &amp; more people have come forward every day.”
Democratic activist Cheyenne Hunt, executive director of Gen-Z for Change, shared a screenshot to Instagram earlier this week regarding the NDA accusations and took to X to call the statement made to Politico by Beasley “forced, false, and a clear signal they are bracing for impact.”
“The Swalwell team also suggested that these women have ‘teamed up with MAGA’ – which is just gross, especially when so many are risking careers they built in democratic politics,” Hunt <a href="https://x.com/CheyenneHuntCA/status/2041882893761573227?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>.
The accusations are not the only controversies that have entrenched Swalwell throughout the race, as he previously faced a lawsuit over his California residency, as well as concerns years later about his possible ties to a Chinese operative known as &#8220;Fang Fang.&#8221;
Whoever wins the general election will succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), who has not endorsed a candidate in the race.

‘Honeypot’ Dem Forced To Cancel Town Hall As Misconduct Accusations Swirl

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