MAGA is breaking. Trump is losing. The sky is falling.
Our craven mainstream media are frothing at the mouth at the notion that MAGA could be fracturing. All of their juiciest, most lurid fantasies are coming true.
But as it turns out, MAGA is doing just fine — we&#8217;re just shedding some excess baggage here.
A brand new <a href="https://yougov.com/en-us/articles/54342-americans-suddenly-more-likely-to-see-economy-getting-worse-march-13-16-2026-economist-yougov-poll">Economist/YouGov poll</a>, taken March 13-16, asked what President Trump&#8217;s approval rating was on the American attack on Iran. Among MAGA: Voters, 87% supported; 6% disapproved. How about sending ground troops to Iran if necessary? 35% of MAGA said sure; 36% said no: a dead even split. How about on whether to end the war quickly or to stay until the objectives are achieved in Iran? Only 30% of MAGA supporters said that we should end the war as quickly as possible. 58% said that we should keep fighting until all American objectives have been achieved.
No, President Trump is not losing MAGA.
And yet, according to those who have had their brains rotted out by X along with our usual duds in the mainstream media, the base is totally fractured. And they know this because they have found some new heroes, heretic MAGA, who are targeting the administration for destruction. 
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/bss-ep-2390-sub"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-974957" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/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>
And this brings us to Joe Kent.
Joe Kent is a former failed congressional candidate from Washington state who was elevated to the position of director of the National Center for Counter Terrorism — which you really had never heard of — by President Trump. Kent, a former Green Beret who served in the CIA, was serving under Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
Kent has a long political history. In 2020, he voted for Bernie Sanders. But then, in 2022, while running for Congress, Kent ran into a bit of trouble because of his associations with white supremacists. According to Nick Fuentes, Kent sought his support, but then was forced to disavow him when that support became public.
Kent has been, for a very long time, conspiratorially minded in the extreme. He suggested that the Secret Service might have been in on the assassination attempt on President Trump in July 2024, among other bizarre theories. He&#8217;s also been strangely supportive of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin&#8217;s aggression against Ukraine.
Before that, though, Kent had some bizarrely heterodox views. In 2020, after President Trump knocked off Iranian terror master Qasem Soleimani, Kent <a href="https://x.com/joekent16jan19/status/1214778671564611584">explained</a>, “We remain in striking distance by choice for no clear benefit. We should crush their ballistic and nuclear capes and get out of Iraq with sanctions to follow.”
Interesting, because that&#8217;s kind of what President Trump has been doing.
Way back when Kent was actually nominated to serve in the federal government, MSNBC was highly critical, <a href="https://www.ms.now/transcript/transcript-rachel-maddow-show-8-9-22-n1298426">saying</a>, “That man you heard speaking is a Trump-endorsed Republican who believes the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump, and he hired a member of the Proud Boys as a campaign consultant. He once told a white nationalist youth group, ‘I don&#8217;t think there&#8217;s anything wrong with there being a white people special interest group.’”
Then yesterday, Kent released a bizarre and paranoid letter announcing his resignation from the National Center for Counter-Terrorism. In the letter, Kent <a href="https://x.com/joekent16jan19">announced</a> that “Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”
You know who he&#8217;s talking about, don&#8217;t you? You know, (nudge, nudge.)
He then stated that Trump had been duped by “high ranking Israeli officials and influential members of the American media who deployed a misinformation campaign that wholly undermined your America First platform and sowed pro-war sentiments to encourage a war with Iran.”
And then, just in case he wasn&#8217;t done blaming the Israelis, he blamed the Iraq war on the Israelis, too. And even then he wasn&#8217;t done, <a href="https://x.com/MelanieLatest/status/2033916987324137737">declaring</a> that his wife, who was killed by ISIS in Syria in 2019, was murdered “in a war manufactured by Israel.”
So to get this straight, according to Joe Kent, who was a Trump appointee in charge of the National Center for Counter Terrorism, President Trump is a dupe of the Israelis and unspecified media members, who knows? The Iraq war was the fault of the Israelis, even though it was opposed at the time by the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon. And also the Israelis are at fault for his wife being murdered by ISIS in Syria somehow.
This is, to put it mildly, nutty.
President Trump himself dismissed the notion he&#8217;s been manipulated by the nefarious “Juden” <a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/white-house-event/president-trump-meets-with-taoiseach-of-ireland/675656">yesterday</a>, saying, “I was against Iran long before I ever thought about Israel being against Iran. I was, if you look back many years ago, I talked about Iran was a big threat to this country, to this world of ours.”
Kent’s take is unsurprising, to be honest. His wife works for far-left propagandist Max Blumenthal, who&#8217;s worked for a wide variety of foreign propaganda outlets.
All of this calls into question why Kent was selected for his job in the first place. Obviously, Kent and his Ron Paul-esque foreign policy preferences have some allies in the administration. According to Fox News, Kent was “a known leaker,” and he was cut out of the president&#8217;s intelligence briefings months ago.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said <a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/white-house-event/karoline-leavitt-speaks-to-reporters-about-war-in-iran/675767">this morning</a>:
<blockquote>It&#8217;s been a while since the president has seen him here at the White House. It&#8217;s been a while since he&#8217;s been involved in the process of the presidential daily briefs and he&#8217;s been actually present for the president&#8217;s intelligence briefings. This was an individual who was not involved in any of the discussions pre-operation and throughout this operation, I think the president views it as deeply unfortunate that this individual, who the president gave the privilege of working for the administration, put out this resignation on government letterhead with many falsehoods throughout, essentially accusing the president of being manipulated by foreign governments. That&#8217;s laughable, and it&#8217;s insulting.</blockquote>
Kent’s resignation letter basically calls Trump a dullard working at the behest of the Zionists. That was enough to earn Kent the royal treatment from our usual friends. He is slated to appear on all the leaders of the anti-Trump Grievance Party podcasts: Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly and all the rest. MSNOW has discovered newfound love for Joe Kent with some strange new respect. CNN is suddenly incredibly happy with Joe Kent, a guy that CNN hated until five seconds ago.
President Trump responded to Joe Kent&#8217;s resignation with a proper level of dismissiveness, saying <a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/white-house-event/president-trump-meets-with-taoiseach-of-ireland/675656">yesterday</a>, “I read his statement. I always thought he&#8217;s a nice guy, but I always thought he was weak on security, very weak on security. I didn&#8217;t know him well, but I thought he seemed like a pretty nice guy. But when I read the statement, I realized that it&#8217;s a good thing that he&#8217;s out because he said that Iran was not a threat? Iran was a threat. Every country realized what a threat Iran was. The question is whether or not they wanted to do something about it.”
And then, for good measure, the president decided to dunk on Kent, showing his rather inconsistent feelings about the Middle East. He reposted a 2020 tweet from Kent that stated, “We should not sit and wait for the next attack, wipe Iran&#8217;s ballistic capability out and get our troops out of Iraq — they are only targets now. No US WIA/KIA is a tribute to the professionalism of our military and Intel professionals not Iranian restraint.”
So back in 2020 Kent was hawkish on Iran.
Leavitt released <a href="https://x.com/PressSec/status/2033932810709315865">a statement</a> detailing all the false allegations in Kent&#8217;s resignation letter.
She stated:
<blockquote>There are many false claims in this letter but let me address one specifically: that &#8220;Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation.&#8221; This is the same false claim that Democrats and some in the liberal media have been repeating over and over. As President Trump has clearly and explicitly stated, he had strong and compelling evidence that Iran was going to attack the United States first. This evidence was compiled from many sources and factors. President Trump would never make the decision to deploy military assets against a foreign adversary in a vacuum. Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism.
The Iranian regime is evil. It proudly killed Americans, waged war against our country, and openly threatened us all the way up to the launch of Operation Epic Fury. Iran was aggressively expanding their short-range ballistic missiles to combine with their naval assets to give themselves immunity – meaning they would have a degree of capabilities that would give them immunity to hold us and the rest of the world hostage.</blockquote>
The best comment came from Senator John Fetterman, who remains hilariously awesome. He told the Huffington Post, “I don’t really care. I know your readership loves that, and the New York Times love it. And then he&#8217;s going to be the national hero, you know, just like you made, MTG. That that was your mascot for a while. But now her crazy ass is now all about Tucker Carlson. … so, I don&#8217;t really care what he&#8217;s chosen to do, and I wish the best for him in his next life.”
Make no mistake: Trump is still very much in control of MAGA.
And when he wins the war, that control will solidify even further, as it should.

US-POLITICS-SHOOTING-KIRK

Media Hopes MAGA Is Fracturing. Not Even Close.

Ben Shapiro

Donald Trump

Federal Government

Iran

Joe Kent

MAGA

Middle East

Republicans

Last Thursday morning, an ISIS-supporting Islamic terrorist walked into a classroom at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, confirmed he had found the ROTC class, then shouted “Allahu Akbar” and opened fire. Lt. Col. Brandon Shah was murdered. Two other cadets were injured. The attacker — Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former Army National Guardsman and now radicalized jihadi terrorist — was previously convicted of providing material support to ISIS. When he walked into that gun-free zone, he criminally intended to kill American soldiers-in-training on our own soil.
Let&#8217;s call this act for what it is: an act of domestic, Islamic terrorism from a naturalized, radicalized jihadi whom President Biden’s DOJ should have already denaturalized and deported upon his felony conviction of “providing material support to ISIS” a.k.a. treason. They failed, and another American hero is dead.
Remarkably, Lt. Col. Brandon Shah’s cadets — the ones he trained to defend America — notched their first confirmed kill of an enemy combatant when they rushed the attacker and neutralized him. FBI Special Agent in Charge Dominique Evans <a href="https://northernvirginiamag.com/news/2026/03/13/old-dominion-university-shooter-was-a-former-national-guard-member-from-sterling/">confirmed</a> that ROTC students neutralized the attacker. &#8220;If not for them,&#8221; Evans said, &#8220;I&#8217;m not sure what else he may have done.&#8221; I know what else he would have done — continued killing students until a good guy with a gun showed up and put a hole in the bad guy with a gun.
Mr. President, these are our people. Future officers in the Army you command. Our soldiers, unarmed by university policy, were sitting ducks in a classroom when an Islamic jihadist walked in and opened fire on our military, in our country. Under fire, the unarmed cadets took action against the enemy. In an active shooting, the FBI says to Run. Hide. Fight. These cadets skipped those first two options and chose to fight — and then went Old Testament on him. Talk about winning one for the Gipper.
Lt. Col. Shah was a combat aviator with two Bronze Star Medals and an Air Medal with Valor who returned to his alma mater to build our next generation of Army officers. He was exceptional at it. The proof is in what his cadets did when the moment arrived. No one ordered them to move. No one had time to. They did exactly what Lt. Col. Shah trained them to do: they acted. They moved toward the threat, absorbed the chaos, neutralized him, and stopped the killing — all within ten minutes of the first 911 phone call reporting the shooting. They showed us what true bravery looks like against radical Islamic terrorist threats in America.
I am asking you, as a Virginia legislator and as an American, to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the Old Dominion University ROTC cadets who stopped Mohamed Bailor Jalloh — and to honor Lt. Col. Brandon Shah posthumously with every distinction a grateful nation can offer a fallen officer. Let the country see, without ambiguity, who its heroes are: those who stand up and fight to take down terrorism, both foreign and domestic.
We live in a moment deeply confused about courage. The institutions that produce people like these cadets are under constant pressure to apologize for their existence. This is our moment to say “no” — we will not apologize for our pride and patriotism for our country and Commonwealth. These young men and women did not ask to be tested on March 12, but a terrorist walked into their classroom and made that choice for them. They responded heroically, the way every American soldier is trained to respond — with discipline, with ferocity, and without pause.
Lt. Col. Shah taught his cadets that American soldiers move toward the threat, not away. When called upon to neutralize a present enemy threat, these cadets proved they were ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for our country. They are worthy of your Medal of Freedom. Lt. Col. Shah is worthy of distinguished honors befitting an officer of his rank and merit. I ask that you please honor each of them with such distinctions.
* * *
Del. Wren Williams represents Virginia’s 47th House District (Patrick County and surrounding area). He is an attorney and a member of the House Republican Caucus.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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Why President Trump Should Give The Old Dominion Cadets The Medal Of Freedom

Why President Trump Should Give The ODU Cadets The Medal Of Freedom

Medal of Honor

Old Dominion University

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Virginia

House Speaker Mike Johnson defied the naysayers on Thursday, telling Daily Wire host Michael Knowles that Republicans will expand their majority in the 2026 midterm elections.
“I’m very bullish about the midterms,” Johnson said during the interview. “I’m absolutely convinced we are going to win the midterms and grow the majority. It will defy historic trend.”
Johnson acknowledged that such a result would break a longstanding pattern. “It’s only twice in the last 90 years that a sitting president has picked up seats in that first two-year cycle,” he said.
Still, Johnson argued the political landscape favors Republicans, pointing to fundraising advantages and Democratic struggles to define a clear agenda.
“We have a fundraising advantage right now because the stakes are so high — Republicans over Democrats for the first time in 10 years,” Johnson said. “Democrats are at historic lows in approval ratings. They have no leadership, no message, no vision for where they’re going.”
“Their whole platform is they hate Donald Trump,” he added. “Well, good luck with that. That’s not exactly something to sell to constituents.”
Of all the issues Republicans are leading on, Johnson stressed election integrity, noting that the House has already passed the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship and identification to vote in federal elections. Johnson told Knowles the problem is the Senate, where the legislation has been held up.
“We passed the SAVE Act twice, the previous Congress and this Congress,&#8221; Johnson said. &#8220;Now we pass the Save America Act because now it’s voter ID and proof of citizenship together.&#8221; He added that Trump has recently pushed for additional provisions to strengthen the bill, calling the package the “greatest hits” of election integrity measures.
Johnson said the bill now faces a complicated path in the Senate, where Majority Leader John Thune must decide whether to attempt moving the legislation despite procedural hurdles. According to Johnson, Senate rules could allow Democrats to stall the process with a flood of amendments.
“They’re concerned that if they open the talking filibuster … Democrats could flood the field with thousands of amendments,” Johnson said. “There’s no germaneness limitation. They can add any crazy Democrat policy they want.”
He warned that under Senate rules, each amendment must be read into the record in full, which could tie up the chamber. “They could file 1,400-page amendments and tie the Senate floor up for months,” Johnson said. “That’s what they’re concerned about.” 
Johnson said he has discussed the issue directly with Trump and that the president believes Republicans should move forward despite the risks. “Desperate times call for desperate measures,” Johnson said. “I talked to the president about the risks versus the benefits, and he said, ‘Let’s risk it. Go for it.’”
Johnson argued that voter ID and citizenship verification requirements enjoy broad public support and are necessary to restore trust in elections.
“You can’t have a constitutional republic if people don’t have faith in the election system,” Johnson said. “These are basic requirements.”
Johnson also addressed the challenges of managing the razor-thin Republican majority in the House, which has forced leadership to carefully balance competing factions inside the conference.
“I mean, we have the smallest margin in U.S. history,” Johnson said. “I have a one-vote margin. Which means I have to get unanimity because the aforementioned colleague of mine votes no almost every day.”
The comment was in reference to Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who is in the midst of a feud with President Trump and frequently breaks with party leadership on spending and foreign policy issues.
Johnson pushed back on the notion that internal disagreements reflect a broader ideological divide over the party’s direction on foreign policy, insisting Republicans are not pursuing an interventionist approach.
“We are not in the nation-building business,&#8221; Johnson said. &#8220;We are not interventionists. We are not out trying to be the world’s policemen.&#8221;
He added that fiscal realities also limit America’s ability to pursue large-scale overseas commitments. “In reality, because of our financial situation, we don’t have the ability to do those things even if someone wanted to,” Johnson said.

Speaker Johnson And Leader Jeffries

Mike Johnson Is ‘Absolutely Convinced We Are Going To Win The Midterms’

2026 Midterms

Michael Knowles

Mike Johnson

Thomas Massie

Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who has broken with Democrats on multiple issues, is toeing the party line on the SAVE America Act, criticizing President Donald Trump over concerns about mail-in ballots and gender procedures for children on Wednesday night.
During an appearance on CBS News&#8217;s &#8220;The Takeout with Major Garrett,&#8221; Fetterman <a href="https://x.com/CBSNews/status/2031851997729632432">said</a> he doesn&#8217;t support the SAVE America Act &#8220;in its current state.&#8221; The legislation, which would establish strict voter ID requirements and limit the use of mail-in ballots, is Trump&#8217;s top priority for the Senate.
&#8220;The president is constantly critical on mail-in voting, and that&#8217;s ridiculous. It&#8217;s safe,&#8221; Fetterman said. &#8220;Some of the best examples in the country are from red states like Ohio and Florida, of course.&#8221;
&#8220;I can&#8217;t ever vote for that,&#8221; the Democrat added. &#8220;Because I could never agree [with] something that&#8217;s just not true.&#8221;
Fetterman highlighted how Republicans and Democrats passed legislation in Pennsylvania in 2019 to legalize mail-in voting. Two years later, following Trump&#8217;s 2020 loss, many Pennsylvania Republicans filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the 2019 voting law.
Along with imposing strict voter ID requirements and mail-in ballot rules, the SAVE America Act would also keep men from competing in women’s sports and protect children from gender procedures. Fetterman said he also opposes the effort from Trump and Republicans to pass legislation that would outlaw life-altering gender procedures on minors.
&#8220;That entire community, I refuse to target that or pick on that. It&#8217;s difficult enough for transgender kids, so I think this is the wrong venue to discuss it nationally,&#8221; Fetterman added.
&#8220;I think it&#8217;s a very personal choice for parents and their children,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;And I think it&#8217;s increasingly going to become a more local or maybe state kind of decisions.&#8221;
Fetterman acknowledged that the &#8220;vast majority&#8221; of Americans support requiring people to show ID to register to vote, and he signaled that he would support legislation that focuses solely on enacting stricter voter ID requirements. Recent polls show that more than 80% of Americans back such restrictions.
&#8220;Hey, I&#8217;m not going to tell 83% of Americans that they&#8217;re wrong, or that they&#8217;re Jim Crow,&#8221; he said, referring to a talking point from many Democrats who have claimed that the SAVE America Act would disenfranchise more than 20 million voters and act as &#8220;Jim Crow 2.0.&#8221; Fetterman blasted Democrats&#8217; characterization of the SAVE America Act as &#8220;Jim Crow 2.0.&#8221;
&#8220;I would never refer to the SAVE Act as like Jim Crow 2.0 or some kind of mass conspiracy,&#8221; he <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fetterman-slams-democrats-jim-crow-2-0-voter-id-rhetoric-party-unity-fractures">told</a> Fox News host Kayleigh McEnany during an appearance on &#8220;Saturday in America.&#8221;
Fetterman told CBS News that the SAVE America Act doesn&#8217;t stand a chance in the Senate &#8220;because of the filibuster.&#8221; The Democrat admitted that part of the reason he ran for Senate in 2022 was to help his party abolish the filibuster, adding, &#8220;But now we find ourselves as Democrats, we love the filibuster. We cling to that.&#8221;
President Trump has called on Republican leaders to change Senate rules and use the talking filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act, legislation that he has called &#8220;the most popular bill put before Congress.&#8221; Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), however, has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/one-senators-final-plea-to-save-the-save-america-act?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=One+Senator%E2%80%99s+Final+Plea+To+Save+The+SAVE+America+Act">said</a> there isn&#8217;t enough Republican support to use the talking filibuster. Thune is expected to bring the SAVE America Act to the floor for a vote in the near future, but it&#8217;s likely to fall short of the 60-vote threshold to overcome a filibuster.

John Fetterman

‘Can’t Ever Vote For That’: Fetterman Swipes At Trump’s SAVE America Act

Congress

Democrats

Politics

SAVE America Act

Senate

Voter ID

As the 2026 midterm elections approach, Democrats are fighting to claim the majority in one or both chambers of Congress. But, according to a recent poll, the Democratic Party is polling below almost every key figure and organization — with the exception of the brutal Iranian regime.
<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/27777984-nbc-news-march-2026-poll-03-08-2024-release-final/">An NBC News poll</a>, published by the legacy news outlet on March 8, asked a number of standard questions regarding the economy, military action in Iran, and the overall performance thus far of President Donald Trump — but it also ranked a number of key figures and organizations based on their net favorability.
The Democratic Party, with a net favorability rating of -22, ranked near the bottom of the list — in fact, only the Iranian regime ranked below the Democrats, albeit with a much lower net favorability of -53. Pope Leo the 14th ranked highest overall with a net favorability of 34.
President Donald Trump (-12) and the Republican Party (-14) were near the middle of the list — and as far as 2028 presidential contenders, Republicans fared far better than Democrats did there as well. Two of the most likely Democratic primary candidates — former Vice President Kamala Harris at -17 and Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/feminist-hero-katie-couric-asks-gavin-newsom-if-hes-too-hot-to-be-president-in-hard-hitting-interview">Gavin Newsom</a> (D-CA) at -18 — ranked decidedly lower than current Vice President JD Vance (-11) and Secretary of State Marco Rubio (-7). Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who is rumored to be considering either a presidential bid or a move to unseat Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, was the only Democrat to break into the top half of the list, tying with Vance at -11.
The poll surveyed 1000 registered voters, just over half of whom were female. They were evenly divided along political lines, with 42% saying they leaned Republican, 42% saying they leaned Democrat, and the rest identifying themselves as either independent or other.
As to the other questions, just under half (44%) said they approved of President Trump&#8217;s performance thus far, and 54% disapproved. On border security specifically, the president fared much better, with just over half (53%) approving of his actions and a little less than half (44%) disapproving. On foreign policy, 43% approved and 54% disapproved — a slight shift from one year prior, when 45% approved and 53% disapproved. On the war in Iran, more than one-third (41%) approved of the president&#8217;s actions, and just over half (54%) disapproved.
A number of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/odds-have-gone-plummeting-down-cnn-data-guru-says-democrat-hopes-of-flipping-house-are-fading">polls</a> in recent months have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/voters-abandon-democrats-support-hits-lowest-level-in-more-than-three-decades-poll">spelled trouble</a> for the Democrats, with one from The Wall Street Journal (in July of 2025) noting that Democrats had sunk to their lowest approval rating in decades, with well over half (63%) holding a negative view of the party.

Kamala Harris

Democrats Only Outrank Despotic Iranian Regime In Recent NBC Poll

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

JD Vance

Marco Rubio

Polls

I was told that an email from Ann Coulter is what led David Keene to hire me in 2006.
She wrote, “You only have to tell Lisa to do something once.”
Despite all the drama, I hope he never regretted it.
While David was chairman of the <a href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/mar/9/david-keene-maestro-conservative-movement-dead-80/">American Conservative Union</a>, a volunteer position, I worked with him as the Director of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) from June 2006 to April 2011. In planning the conference there were many ups and downs. I’m sure there were times when I disappointed David in some effort, but I can’t think of any time when he disappointed me. Even though I was only 28 when I began as CPAC Director, he gave me the same opportunity to give my opinion when I disagreed with a board member, sponsor, speaker, or member of Congress. Not to brag, but I won a couple of those battles.
During the five years I worked with David, I was privy to the way he worked within the conservative movement. I saw him compromise with people he didn’t like and who didn’t like him. I saw him defend people he disagreed with on issues because it was the right thing to do. I saw him make decisions based on what was best for the conference attendees and nothing else. I was on a high when he once told me a speaker idea I had was “inspired.”
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<div id="attachment_1056821" style="width: 576px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1056821" class="size-full wp-image-1056821" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/UW-Madison.jpg" alt="Source: YAF at UW-Madison@WisconsinYAF" width="566" height="522" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/UW-Madison.jpg 566w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/UW-Madison-300x277.jpg 300w" sizes=" (max-width: 566px) 100vw, 566px" />Source: @WisconsinYAF</div>
One of the things I admired most about David is that he’s not one of those Old Guard members of the conservative movement who don’t value dissent or new blood. As the chairman of ACU/CPAC, he fought to give everyone a seat at the table. Those like Chris Barron, who endeavored to start a group that represented conservative gays and their allies. As well as leaders of the Tea Party movement who criticized his friends in Congress.
David was adamant about including emerging conservative leaders as speakers at the conference. In February 2010, it was his idea to invite Marco Rubio, who was then a long shot in the Republican primary against Charlie Crist, to be the opening speaker at CPAC. He knew the value of sending that message to his Republican friends and to the media.
I’ve seen him give dozens and dozens of young leaders and unknown activists a place in the spotlight over the years. I was fortunate to be one of them. I’m sure it’s because he still thought of himself as one of us — and he was! On <a href="https://www.newsmax.com/john-gizzi/david-keene-political-strategist-obit/2026/03/08/id/1248779/">Newsmax</a>, John Gizzi wrote about David’s decades in the conservative movement that began on his college campus.
When Rush Limbaugh was the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w32hFilBAUg">closing speaker</a> at the 2009 conference, it was David who suggested I introduce Rush. We knew the speech would be covered by many of the networks, and it was a very visible spot. David didn’t insist on some well-known Congressman or Senator, donor, or head of a prominent conservative organization. He suggested me because during one of our planning sessions, I said Rush was the person who got me excited about being a conservative. Rush was my Reagan. 
&nbsp;
<div id="attachment_1056729" style="width: 614px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1056729" class="size-full wp-image-1056729" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Rush-cpac.jpg" alt="Source: Kevin McKeever" width="604" height="453" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Rush-cpac.jpg 604w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Rush-cpac-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes=" (max-width: 604px) 100vw, 604px" />Source: Kevin McKeever</div>
The same thing happened a few years later when Donald Trump was scheduled to make a surprise appearance at the conference (thanks to Chris Barron!), and I expressed interest in introducing him because I enjoyed Trump’s candor — also no one else asked. How times have changed.
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-1056731 aligncenter" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Trump-cpac-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Trump-cpac-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Trump-cpac-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Trump-cpac-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Trump-cpac-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Trump-cpac.jpg 1280w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></div>
From time to time, friends or acquaintances came to me with an idea or project and requested a meeting with David. Unless the timing just didn’t work out, I don’t recall any instance when David refused to meet with someone. He was always available to give young conservatives advice and to listen to what they had to say. In fact, it is because of David that CPAC became a must-attend event for College Republicans and other conservative students. In CPAC’s early years, David made a promise to President Reagan that CPAC would never be priced out of reach for students and young activists. Even when hotel costs went up, student registration was always between $25-50 ($15 for early bird rate). He also knew the value of CPAC as a reunion for the “vast right-wing conspiracy.” It wasn’t just about what was happening on stage, but the conversations that happened in the bar, at ancillary events and in the hallways. It was where people met future coworkers, allies, and spouses.
Even though I hadn’t spoken to David in years, it is very important to me that he be remembered for the intellectual and activist giant that he was. In the five years I worked for him, I learned which battles were worth fighting. I learned the importance of being supportive of friends. While I wish I could have worked for David longer than I did (we both left in 2011), I’ll always be grateful to him for giving me a chance to lead CPAC during an important time for the conservative movement. I’ll also remember the man he was in a city and industry that treats people as disposable and transactional. 
As his daughter Kerry wrote, “I will remember not the public figure, but a father who welcomed me as his own, who gave me a home, and my first job.”
I will always think of him that way, too.
* * *
Lisa De Pasquale is an author, columnist, and the former director of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). She&#8217;s a frequent guest on Fox News and Fox Business, the founder of <a href="https://getbright.substack.com/p/david-keene-a-conservative-og-who">&#8220;Bright&#8221; on Substack</a>, and the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gen-Handbook-Middle-Age-Fulfillment/dp/B0F4PMD8J6">author of</a> “The Gen X Handbook for Middle Age: The Pursuit of Health, Success, and Human Fulfillment.” De Pasquale has authored articles for a variety of publications including The Federalist, Washingtonian, The Daily Caller, and The Washington Times. Follow her on Twitter/X: @LisaDeP and on Instagram at @Lisa_DeP.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Leading Conservatives Attend 40th Annual CPAC

David Keene Bet On Young Conservatives Before Anyone Else Did

Conservatives

CPAC

Rush Limbaugh

With Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) being President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, Mullin’s seat will presumably be vacated soon.
Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt will have the opportunity to appoint a replacement until the November general election, since Mullin was already up for reelection this year.
“Markwayne Mullin has been a fighter for Oklahoma and will fight to keep our nation secure. There isn’t a better choice to lead the Department of Homeland Security,” Stitt said in a statement on Thursday. Mullin&#8217;s nomination was triggered by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem being moved to a special envoy role, as the secretary is currently facing several controversies, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-fires-dhs-secretary-kristi-noem-announces-replacement?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Jennie+Taer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Trump+Fires+DHS+Secretary+Kristi+Noem%2C+Announces+Replacement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> reported.
“Oklahoma has been an example to the nation for smart immigration enforcement, and Markwayne will bring that common sense to DHS. I will be looking to appoint a strong, small government conservative voice to support President Trump and protect Oklahomans’ way of life,” he continued.
No shortlist of names has emerged as of late Thursday afternoon.
Those who want to run for a full six-year term cannot be considered for the appointment, as appointees are legally unable to run for the seat due to state law, <a href="https://x.com/reesejgorman/status/2029631710950736153?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NOTUS</a> reported. Reps. Stephanie Bice and Kevin Hern are reportedly considering campaigning for the seat, according to the <a href="https://www.notus.org/2026-election/oklahoma-republicans-markwayne-mullin-senate-seat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">outlet</a>.
Oklahoma is a deep red state with all five congressional seats held by Republicans, including Reps. Josh Brecheen, Frank Lucas, and Tom Cole.
The state government is also dominated by Republicans in the top offices, including Lt. Gov Matt Pinnell, Secretary of State Josh Cockroft, and Attorney General Gentner Drummond.
As for the general election for the seat, it is currently rated as “Solid Republican” by the Cook Political Report. Trump won the 2024 presidential election in Oklahoma with over 66% of the vote. Trump recently took aim at the Oklahoma governor over a disagreement about a National Governors Association event at the White House, as Stitt chairs the group.
When it comes to Mullin, Trump said that he “will work tirelessly to Keep our Border Secure, Stop Migrant Crime, Murderers, and other Criminals from illegally entering our Country, End the Scourge of Illegal Drugs and, MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN.”
Many Republicans spoke out in support of the DHS shuffle, including Trump-critic Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who said in a post that the Oklahoma senator will “restore competence” to the department that’s currently facing a lapse in funding. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) also indicated that he will support Mullin’s confirmation.

Markwayne Mullin

Homeland Security Shakeup Creates Major Opening For Deep-Red Senate Seat

2026 election

Elections

homeland security

Oklahoma

Senators Speak To The Press Following Policy Luncheons On Capitol Hill

Why Are Republican Senators Sabotaging Trump?

Filibuster

Jasmine Crockett

John Thune

Matt Walsh

Opinion

Texas

Thom Tillis

U.S. Senate

President Trump&#8217;s State of the Union address last night went a whopping one hour and 48 minutes.
But the moments that mattered most happened when President Trump humiliated the Democrats.
Or more precisely, when they humiliated themselves.
The content of President Trump&#8217;s speech was not really the centerpiece of the night. President Trump, as I&#8217;ve said many, many times before, is a politician who does one thing very well and one thing not so well.
What he is great at doing is making it hard to vote for his political opponents. In fact, he makes it very hard to vote for his political opponents. He is excellent at shredding the people who face him down.
But when it comes to making himself more popular, that&#8217;s more challenging.
And so where Trump shines is in those moments when he can put in stark relief his own agenda and the agenda of the people who oppose him.
This is where Trump is simply masterful.
And last night, he did something I&#8217;ve never seen a president do before during a State of the Union address or really ever in a public address: He used the Democrats’ opposition to him, their anger at him, against them. He jiu-jitsued them in a masterful way.
President Trump knew for a fact that when he gave the State of the Union address, we would see the same spectacle we&#8217;ve seen before in years past. He would say something, Republicans would stand up and cheer, and Democrats would sit there and do nothing. They would sit on their hands at the very least.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-2375-checkmate-omar-tlaib-humiliate-themselves-trump-soars-at-sotu?elementPosition=4&amp;row=6&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+Episodes&amp;rowType=Horizontal+Show+Episodes+Carousel"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-974957" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/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>
In recent years, of course, Democrats have done more than that. Last year, during his State of the Union address, Democrats were dressed in white, color-coordinated to demonstrate that President Trump hated women or some such nonsense.
They yelled at President Trump from the gallery. They heckled him. They jeered at him. They did all the things that were unthinkable when we were growing up.
When representative Joe Wilson from South Carolina yelled, “You lie” at Barack Obama in 2009, it created a national firestorm. Now, we basically have people throwing rotten eggs at the president from the Democratic side of the aisle, and it&#8217;s considered perfectly normal.
But Trump knew what he was walking into. He knew how the Democrats would act — they would be incredibly performative, they would be obnoxious.
What he did was to take positions that are 80/20 positions. He said things that are easy to understand for the American people and that unify Americans.
And then he pointed at the Democrats over and over and over and said, why aren&#8217;t you clapping? Why aren&#8217;t you cheering? Why aren&#8217;t you standing up in unity?
Democrats hated George W. Bush, despised him. But when it came to the State of the Union address, they were politically savvy enough to understand that if George W. Bush said something that was generically good, they should stand up and clap.
They were politically savvy enough to understand that if the camera&#8217;s on you and the president says, “America is great,” you should probably stand up and clap, even if you don&#8217;t like that particular president.
Democrats have lost their minds thanks to Trump Derangement Syndrome, and so they have decided that it is more worthwhile for them to sit flat on their butts, while the president does unifying and obvious things.
Trump knew they were going to do this, and he decided to use that tactic against them.
This is where it helps that the President of the United States really understands TV. The president is a visual creature. He understands innately where to put cameras and how to light things. And if you&#8217;ve ever watched tape of the president in an interview, he will tell people in the room how to relight him from particular angles and where the camera should be placed for best effect.
He knew this was a great stage for him, and he also knew that the cameramen in the wings were going to be focusing on Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, who made absolute fools of themselves last night.
If you&#8217;re the GOP looking for campaign ads, the president provided an enormous number of them for Republicans all across the country last night — as Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar screamed at him for saying baseline rational things, or as Democrats put on their sourest faces as he stated things such as “boys are not girls.”
Democrats sat there — while the president paid tribute to actual, honest-to-God American heroes — because they couldn&#8217;t bring themselves to stand up if President Trump so much as uttered their name.
The genius of what Trump did last night had very little to do with his policy discussion. Usually, the State of the Union address is a long list of policies, and it gets pretty boring. But last night, the president focused heavily on people in the gallery, which was smart because it allowed him to demonstrate that he is sympathetic toward human beings.
More importantly, it made Democrats look unsympathetic toward human beings.
If a Democratic president calls out an American hero in the wings, or somebody whose daughter was murdered, and pays homage to that person, it doesn&#8217;t matter if the president&#8217;s a Democrat — you get up and clap.
Obviously, Trump knew they weren&#8217;t going to do it. And so he played that for its full effect.
The shot over the bow from the president was when he overtly — in the middle of the speech — challenged the Democrats to stand in solidarity with Americans and not in solidarity with illegal immigration.
Democrats couldn&#8217;t bring themselves to do it.
Brilliant. Optically, it was a smart thing to do. Politically, it was a very smart thing to do.
Trump found the tool to use against the Democrats, and he used it over and over and over again. That is going to hurt Democrats. Because in the end, what people remember are moments when the nature of the opposition is made crystal-clear.
And no one, no one, does it better than Trump.

President Trump Delivers The State Of The Union Address

Checkmate At SOTU: Trump Did What He Does Best 

State of the Union

A Republican campaign memo obtained by The Daily Wire argues that President Donald Trump’s State of the Union reinforced what the party sees as the top two midterm issues: the economy and immigration.
The memo, circulated on Wednesday by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, urges GOP Senate campaigns to emphasize that Republicans are “delivering on the Trump economic agenda.”
“Following President Trump’s State of the Union (SOTU), the political environment is defined by two simple realities: the economy remains the top issue for voters and Republicans hold a measurable advantage on it, as well as on immigration, border security, and national security,” the memo states.
It adds that the data shows Trump is “aligned with public priorities&#8221; and that &#8220;voters increasingly trust Republicans to handle the issues they care about most.”
The memo cites January polling data from <a href="https://law.marquette.edu/assets/community/poll/MLSPSC30/MLSPSC30Toplines_NationalIssues.html#trump-immigration-4-cat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marquette Law School</a> showing that voters rank the economy, immigration, and healthcare as their top three issues. In the January 21-28 survey, Republicans held a three-point advantage over Democrats on the economy and led on tax policy, crime, and immigration.
A Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fox-news-poll-early-look-2026-midterms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">poll</a> conducted January 23-26 found Republicans with a 15-point lead on border security, a 12-point advantage on national security, and a five-point edge on immigration. The same survey showed Democrats leading on taxes, healthcare, and transgender issues. By contrast, the Marquette poll found Republicans holding a nine-point advantage on taxes.
The NRSC focuses on defending Republican incumbents and flipping competitive seats as the party seeks to maintain and possibly expand its 53-47 Senate majority. The Cook Political Report currently ranks Senate races in Georgia, North Carolina, Maine, and Michigan as toss-ups, with additional closely watched contests underway in New Hampshire, Alaska, and Ohio.
Trump’s address focused heavily on affordability and immigration, themes Republicans argue resonate as Americans file their taxes and as immigration enforcement remains a flashpoint in Congress.
“Last year, I urged this Congress to begin the mission by passing the largest tax cuts in American history and our Republican majorities delivered so beautifully,” the president said.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, slammed the president’s address in a statement on Tuesday night.
“Donald Trump and Senate Republicans have enacted a toxic and historically unpopular agenda that has made life harder and more expensive for families nationwide,” Gillibrand said.
She added that Republicans “gutted Americans’ health care, raised costs, and handed out a massive tax giveaway to billionaires,&#8221; arguing that voters would vote for Democrats &#8220;to bring down costs, protect health care, and win back the Senate majority.”
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivered the official Democratic response to Trump&#8217;s SOTU address, emphasizing affordability and criticizing the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
Spanberger also pointed to her recent electoral victory, even as Republicans in Virginia have slammed a wave of new tax proposals advanced by the Democrats in the General Assembly.

Republican Lawmakers Work To Pass Trump’s “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” On Capitol Hill

Republicans Say Trump’s SOTU Just Changed The Midterm Math

polling

In Michigan, late winter and early spring are unpredictable. It’s a time of year when the state could get buried under a foot of snow at the beginning of a week and then reach 60 degrees with sunshine by the weekend.
This year, Michigan&#8217;s unpredictable late winter season will also serve as an important gauge in a wide-open 2026 midterm Senate election. For the first time in the state’s history, the governor&#8217;s race and the U.S. Senate contest will both take place without an incumbent running in either election, thanks to the retirement of Democratic Senator Gary Peters. While the primary elections and the warm Michigan summer are still months away, the Michigan Senate race is already heating up.
The 2026 Senate election in Michigan could also serve as a bellwether for other important races across the country as the GOP looks to hold onto control in the upper chamber. Michigan remains a political paradox as a state that returned Trump to the White House in 2024 while simultaneously electing a Democrat to the Senate. In 2026, it once again remains a pure toss-up.
Recent elections have been brutal for Michigan Republican Senate candidates. The party hasn’t won a Senate race in the state since 1994 — when star athletes Isaiah Thomas and Barry Sanders were still playing in Detroit.
<h3>Strong Start For Republicans</h3>
Republicans are hoping for a breakthrough in this year’s Senate election with former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, a familiar name on the ballot in Michigan. Rogers ran for an open Senate seat in 2024, but despite voters pushing Trump over the edge in Michigan, Rogers lost to Democrat Elissa Slotkin by just over 20,000 votes.
Asked if there is any lingering trepidation from the 2024 election loss, Rogers told The Daily Wire that he&#8217;s confident he has &#8220;enough votes in the bank to win this election.&#8221;
&#8220;We had over 100,000 people walk into the polls in 2024, vote for Donald Trump, and turn around and leave, didn&#8217;t vote for any other Republican,&#8221; Rogers said. &#8220;Here&#8217;s the good news: I got more Republican votes than any other statewide candidate for a state of Michigan office in the history of the state by 300,000 votes. So I have enough votes in the bank to win this election. We&#8217;ve just got to get people ginned up to get there.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_816855" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-816855" class="wp-image-816855 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/10/GettyImages-2166165020-1-864x576.jpg" alt="US Senate candidate Mike Rogers (R-MI) speaks before Republican Vice Presidential Nominee, Senator JD Vance to delivers remarks at Cordes, Inc. in Byron Center, Michigan, on August 14, 2024." width="864" height="576" />Mike Rogers (JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images)</div>
This year, Rogers once again boasts an endorsement from Trump, which came much earlier in the race than in 2024, marking him as the clear favorite to win the GOP primary. With the primary all but secure, Rogers is busy building a general election war chest as a crowded field of Democrats vie for the nomination. That&#8217;s a welcome development for the Rogers campaign, which fell far behind the Democrats in fundraising in 2024.
Rogers told The Daily Wire that he believes his campaign represents Republicans’ best chance to pick up a Senate seat in the 2026 midterms.
“Having President Trump’s endorsement early, having the Senate leadership support early, having our ground game organized early, all of that has made a tremendous difference,” he said. “And the result of that is that we’ve led in the last four current polls, which tells you in a state like Michigan, getting out a little bit early like this and having better ground game, better organization, better funding is really, really significant.”
Rogers said that after decades of Democratic control of both U.S. Senate seats in Michigan, residents are ready for “change.”
“People are fired up about this race, and they’re excited for change,” he said. “And why not have a voice of reason finally, after 30 years, representing somebody who actually started working on a factory floor and is now a candidate for Senate.”
As he gears up for a general election battle, Rogers is fine-tuning his messaging on the economy and the housing market, issues that President Trump has also focused on in recent months. Earlier this month, Rogers unveiled a plan to help Americans “unlock homeownership.” The Republican Senate candidate proposed expanding 529 savings plans to cover first-time home down payments and deferring student loan payments while saving for a down payment.
“The Democrats will find everything to be against. They don&#8217;t stand for much of anything for how to fix a problem,” Rogers said. “They know that I&#8217;ve fixed problems, and I&#8217;m going to fix problems when I become their next United States senator. That&#8217;s what people are fired up about.”
The Daily Wire asked Rogers about Americans&#8217; ongoing economic frustrations one year after Trump, who was largely elected on promises to fix those economic issues, was sworn in. Rogers said the Trump administration and Republicans are trying to fix &#8220;four years of really bad Democrat policies&#8221; under the Biden administration. The GOP Senate candidate specifically called out how former President Joe Biden&#8217;s policies affected Michigan autoworkers.
&#8220;They damn near put out of business two great American car companies with all these EV mandates. Even the Ford CEO came out and said it was the EV mandates that was the cause of the increase of cost for these cars,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Democrats have had years to do this damage. The Republicans and Donald Trump have had about a year to undo as much of that as possible.&#8221;
<h3>A Big Question Mark For Democrats</h3>
Three Democratic candidates are in a close primary race for the chance to face Rogers and maintain the Democratic Party’s dominance in Michigan Senate elections.
U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, state Senate leader Mallory McMorrow, and former health care director Dr. Abdul El-Sayed are at the top of the field in a crowded race. While Republicans are already focusing on the general election, the door remains wide open for Democrats. According to the most recent <a href="https://emersoncollegepolling.com/michigan-2026-poll-crowded-democratic-senate-primary-remains-wide-open/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">polling</a> from Emerson College, McMorrow leads the field at 22%, with Stevens coming in at 17% and El-Sayed standing at 16%. Nearly 40% of voters polled, however, remained undecided.
Each of the Democratic candidates is struggling to maintain momentum and has been hurt by recent controversies. A <a href="https://x.com/townhallcom/status/2001727745919680652?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2001727745919680652%7Ctwgr%5E8a533198239aecff6fa22f4f663189c37d2763b6%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailywire.com%2Fnews%2Fdem-senate-hopeful-says-shed-throw-beer-at-conservative-justices-lacks-self-control">video</a> published by conservative outlet Townhall in December shows McMorrow suggesting to supporters that she would <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-senate-hopeful-says-shed-throw-beer-at-conservative-justices-lacks-self-control">throw beer</a> at conservative Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh if she saw them in public.
“I talked to somebody yesterday who said they saw her with Brett Kavanaugh at a tailgate last weekend. I was like, ‘I would not be able to control myself,&#8217;” McMorrow said. “That would be bad — there would be beers thrown in people’s faces.”
<div id="attachment_983569" style="width: 875px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-983569" class="wp-image-983569 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2166823388-865x576.jpg" alt="CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES - AUGUST 19: State Senator Mallory McMorrow, a Democrat from Michigan speaks during the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, United States on August 19, 2024." width="865" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2166823388-865x576.jpg 865w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2166823388-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2166823388-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2166823388.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 865px) 100vw, 865px" />State Sen. Mallory McMorrow (Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images)</div>
Stevens was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-dem-files-articles-of-impeachment-against-rfk-jr-and-even-her-own-party-is-trashing-her">criticized</a> by some Democratic leaders late last year after she filed articles of impeachment against Health and Human Services Director Robert F. Kennedy Jr. According to The New York Times, some of Stevens Democratic colleagues viewed the move as a political stunt.
Stevens shot back, arguing that she’s “not one for political theater” and that she was “standing up for the health and safety of the people I represent.”
<div id="attachment_98743" style="width: 711px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-98743" class="wp-image-98743 size-full" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2020/03/Haley-Stevens.jpg" alt="Freshman Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-MI), center, celebrates after being sworn in by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for the 116th Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington DC on Thursday January 3, 2019. (Photo by Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images)" width="701" height="407" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2020/03/Haley-Stevens.jpg 701w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2020/03/Haley-Stevens-300x174.jpg 300w" sizes=" (max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px" />Rep. Haley Stevens (Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images)</div>
In October, El-Sayed sent a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-senate-candidate-accuses-israel-of-invading-gaza-in-oct-7-fundraising-email">fundraising email</a> on the anniversary of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, but in the email, El-Sayed made no mention of the terror group’s atrocities and blamed Israel for launching “a ground invasion of Gaza.” After the email was sent, the Democratic candidate said that it was pushed out by mistake, and he released a separate statement on the anniversary of October 7 condemning Hamas for the “heinous attack,” but also accusing Israel of committing “genocide.”
El-Sayed, who was endorsed by democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/im-not-a-socialist-michigans-mamdani-has-the-lefts-new-playbook-but-doesnt-want-the-new-label">told</a> The Daily Wire last week that the email had been approved to go out, but was supposed to be sent on a different day.
“It went out, and I very quickly reached out to leaders in the Jewish community to apologize for having stepped on their grief,” he said, adding, “The message in the email is something I stand by.”
<div id="attachment_983129" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-983129" class="wp-image-983129 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-1206289728-864x576.jpg" alt="Dr. Abdul El-Sayed speaks during a coronavirus public health roundtable with Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont and 2020 presidential candidate, not pictured, in Romulus, Michigan, U.S., on Monday, March 9, 2020. Sanders said any eventual vaccine for the deadly novel coronavirus should be made available free of charge once developed and approved for use." width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-1206289728-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-1206289728-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-1206289728-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-1206289728.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Dr. Abdul El-Sayed (Erin Kirkland/Bloomberg via Getty Images)</div>
The top Democratic candidates are already beating up on each other, and there are still months to go in the bitter primary battle before Michigan’s August 4 primary. In a forum hosted by the United Auto Workers in Detroit last week, the Democratic candidates clashed over multiple issues, including how far to the Left Michigan voters would be willing to go.
McMorrow, who is leading in early polls, suggested that El-Sayed — who is the farthest to the Left of the three Democrats — is focusing on “rhetoric” over delivering results, while arguing that Stevens is “too beholden to corporate interests.” During the forum, Stevens, who is viewed as most in line with the Democratic establishment and is endorsed by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, focused her attacks on Trump and Rogers, NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/democrats-vying-michigan-senate-seat-clash-corporate-money-first-forum-rcna258221">reported</a>.
El-Sayed, meanwhile, ran to the Left of both McMorrow and Stevens, calling for “Medicare for all” and for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be “abolished,” stances he also discussed in a 20-minute phone conversation with <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/im-not-a-socialist-michigans-mamdani-has-the-lefts-new-playbook-but-doesnt-want-the-new-label" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> last week.
The Daily Wire reached out to the campaigns of McMorrow and Stevens, requesting interviews, but they have not responded.
The race could ultimately come down to how well Republicans can maintain their focus on the general election and whether Rogers can maintain his fundraising advantage, as the Democrats battle it out for the nomination.
A lot can change in these political campaigns in a short amount of time — just like Michigan&#8217;s weather in late February.

Michigan Senate Race

The Senate Race Democrats Have Controlled For Decades — Now It’s Wide Open

Michigan

The storied Chicago Bears NFL franchise has been playing in the Windy City since 1921, but on Thursday, the team shocked the sports world and Illinois leaders by taking a &#8220;meaningful step&#8221; toward building a new stadium across state lines in Hammond, Indiana.
After the Indiana House of Representatives unanimously passed a proposed amendment to make Indiana the Bears&#8217; new home, the team said it is &#8220;committed to finishing&#8221; the process &#8220;to build a world-class stadium near the Wolf Lake area in Hammond, Indiana,&#8221; Chicago-based news outlet WGN 9 <a href="https://wgntv.com/northwest-indiana/indiana-lawmakers-to-meet-thursday-morning-to-review-proposal-for-bears-to-build-new-stadium-in-northwest-indiana/">reported</a>. The Bears thanked the Republican-led Indiana government for quickly working to open the door for the new stadium.
&#8220;We appreciate the leadership shown by Governor [Mike] Braun, Speaker [Todd] Huston, Senator [Ryan] Mishler and members of the Indiana General Assembly in establishing this critical framework and path forward to deliver a premier venue for all of Chicagoland and a destination for Bears fans and visitors from across the globe,&#8221; the Bears said. &#8220;We value our partnership and look forward to continuing to build our working relationship together.&#8221;
While a relocation to Hammond would keep the Bears in the Chicago metro area, it would mark a major loss for Illinois Democratic leaders, including Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. The Bears had planned to move to Arlington Heights, a village in Illinois northwest of downtown Chicago, but the plan has stalled in the Democrat-controlled state legislature.
A spokesman for Governor Pritzker <a href="https://x.com/thematthill/status/2024502208885080324">said</a> that state lawmakers had planned to hold a hearing on moving forward with the Bears&#8217; Arlington Heights plans, but the franchise requested the meeting be called off at the last minute. The hearing, scheduled to be held by the Illinois Revenue and Finance Committee, was set to look into a proposal to provide up to $850 million in infrastructure support, according to WGN 9.
&#8220;This morning, we were surprised to see a statement lauding Indiana and ignoring Illinois,&#8221; Pritzker&#8217;s spokesman, Matt Hill, added.
Local property taxes in Illinois also remain a major issue. Illinois Republican state Rep. Mark Batinick published a document detailing how the 7% property tax rate in Arlington Heights would require the Bears to pay around $210 million annually, the Purdue Exponent <a href="https://www.purdueexponent.org/city_state/general_news/chicago-bears-hammond-indiana/article_46293472-6987-4fe8-b4be-6a69f7280fb1.html">reported</a>.
Indiana Republican Governor Mike Braun released a statement on Thursday touting the state&#8217;s &#8220;pro-growth environment&#8221; that &#8220;continues to attract major opportunities like this partnership with the Chicago Bears.&#8221;
&#8220;The State of Indiana moves at the speed of business, and we&#8217;ve demonstrated that through our quick coordination between state agencies, local government, and the legislature to set the stage for a huge win for all Hoosiers,&#8221; Braun added. &#8220;We have built a strong relationship with the Bears organization that will serve as the foundation for a public-private partnership, leading to the construction of a world-class stadium and a win for taxpayers.&#8221;
Illinois businesses, especially businesses in Arlington Heights, could take the biggest losses if the proposal to move the Bears to Indiana goes through. Business owners and residents in Arlington Heights have largely supported bringing the NFL team to the village, as it would come with increased business and tourism opportunities.
A move to Republican-led Indiana, however, could ease the tax burdens of the franchise and its players. Indiana&#8217;s income tax currently sits at 2.95% and will be <a href="https://www.indianahouserepublicans.com/blog/general/new-tax-cuts-for-hoosiers-in-2026/">lowered</a> to 2.9% beginning in 2027. The state&#8217;s <a href="https://taxfoundation.org/location/indiana/">corporate</a> income tax rate is 4.9%. Illinois&#8217; <a href="https://tax.illinois.gov/research/taxrates/income.html">income tax</a>, meanwhile, is 4.95% and its corporate tax sits at 7%.
The potential relocation to Indiana comes as the Bears have once again become a top contender in the NFC following an NFC North division title and playoff run last season with star quarterback Caleb Williams and new head coach Ben Johnson.
The Bears could be the second NFL team to move across state lines, as the Kansas City Chiefs are preparing to build a new stadium on the Kansas side of the border after playing in Missouri for decades. Last year, Missouri Republicans <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-tale-of-two-kansas-cities-chiefs-and-royals-spark-political-battle-with-potential-stadium-moves">disagreed</a> over whether they should try to keep the Chiefs in the state, with Republican Governor Mike Kehoe arguing that the team brings business and state revenue for Missouri. Conservative Republicans in the Missouri Freedom Caucus, however, didn&#8217;t want to use taxpayer dollars for the benefit of the billionaire Chiefs owners.

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