One week until midterms, Trump takes campaign blitz to Texas

President Donald Trump floated Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, as a potential Supreme Court nominee Tuesday, joking that the senator could win unanimous confirmation because both parties would be eager to get him out of Congress.

"I would pick Ted Cruz to be the next Supreme Court justice," Trump told supporters during his rally in Lubbock, Texas.

"The Democrats will 100% vote for it because they hate the guy, and they want to get rid of him. And the Republicans would 100% vote for it because they can't stand him," Trump joked.

"So I'd get 100% of the vote, and he would be a Supreme Court justice, and he'd do a great job."

Trump praised Cruz as a "brilliant lawyer" with top credentials, recalling the challenges of securing Senate confirmation for his three Supreme Court nominees during his first term.

The president suggested he could turn to Cruz if he encountered difficulty confirming another justice, though he did not announce a nomination or identify a vacancy.

Later in the rally, Trump offered a more affectionate tribute to his former 2016 presidential primary rival.

"We had our fights during the campaign," Trump recalled, before praising Cruz as "a tough guy and he's a good guy, and he's a brilliant guy, and he's my friend, and he fights with me in a positive way all the time."

President Donald Trump gave supporters in Lubbock, Texas, an unexpected souvenir Tuesday evening, tossing MAGA hats into the crowd before taking the stage for his second campaign rally of the day.

The playful entrance came just one week before Election Day as Trump made a final push for Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton, who is locked in a competitive race against Democrat James Talarico.

Trump traveled to Lubbock after addressing supporters earlier Tuesday in Corpus Christi, continuing his whirlwind campaign schedule ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms.

The president's latest Texas swing comes as Republicans work to defend a Senate seat in a state that has not elected a Democrat to statewide office in more than three decades.

President Donald Trump floated the possibility of making Venezuela the 51st U.S. state Tuesday, joking that the oil-rich South American nation could eventually elect a governor instead of a president.

"And who knows, maybe someday soon it will become a prosperous 51st state. That's possible. Let's make it. Let's make it the 51st state," Trump told supporters at the Port of Corpus Christi in Texas while campaigning for Republican candidates there.

"And instead of a president, we'll have an election for a governor. How about that?" he added.

Trump made the remarks while celebrating what he described as a historic American victory in Venezuela and hailing the country's vast oil reserves.

The president also pointed to a tanker carrying 1 million barrels of Venezuelan oil near the port, saying the shipment was being provided to the United States at no cost to taxpayers.

Trump returned to the idea moments later, asking oil executive Harold Hamm, "Now let's make it, Harold, the 51st state. You like that?"

More than 2 million Georgians have cast their ballots in person ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, shattering the state's previous early voting record, according to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger's office.

As of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, 2,000,452 voters had cast ballots in person, a 22% increase over the same number of early voting days in 2022, when 1,640,652 Georgians voted early in person.

"Georgia voters deserve the highest praise," Raffensperger said. "They are shattering in-person turnout records because they trust our election process."

Including 97,382 accepted absentee ballots, statewide turnout reached 28%, matching the rate recorded seven days before Election Day in 2022, according to the secretary of state's office.

Early in-person voting continues through Friday, Oct. 30.

The Federal Election Commission's electronic filing system was knocked offline Tuesday amid reports of an attempted cyberattack, disrupting campaign finance disclosures just one week before the midterm elections.

Reuters reported that hackers targeted the federal agency's systems, citing an email obtained by the outlet in which an FEC official warned of an attempted breach.

"We have a bad actor attempting to breach FEC systems. As a result, we’ve had to temporarily shut down our web facing services," the official wrote, according to Reuters.

An FEC spokesperson declined to confirm the reported cyberattack when contacted by Fox News, but acknowledged the outage.

"We have no comment on that story, but at this time we can point to the status update posted to the FEC’s website that the electronic filing system is currently offline and our IT staff are actively working to restore service," the spokesperson said.

The agency confirmed that previously filed campaign finance reports remain searchable online.

The FEC does not administer elections, and the disruption does not affect voters' ability to cast ballots.

Fox News' David Spunt contributed to this reporting.

Trump supporters lined up in Lubbock, Texas, on Tuesday, with some fighting back tears as they spoke about the stakes of the midterm elections just one week before Election Day.

Fox News correspondent Brooke Taylor spoke with voters ahead of President Donald Trump's rally, his fourth visit to Texas this election season, as a new Fox News poll shows Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico tied at 49% in the state's Senate race.

One retired military veteran grew emotional while explaining why the election mattered personally.

"Because I love my freedoms, I love country. And we fought for it," the veteran said. "I'm retired military. I spend time overseas. I know what it's like outside of this country. And this is what I'm fighting for now, is to keep it red so we can have our freedoms."

Another supporter described concerns about immigration and crime.

"It scares me what could happen if we lose it again and we go back to the open borders and all the crime," the voter said.

Others dismissed the possibility of a Democrat victory in Texas.

"Not in my lifetime, I just don't see it. I'll just see California Red before I see Texas Blue," one supporter told Fox News.

The mother of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, who was brutally murdered in Houston in 2024, delivered an emotional tribute to her daughter Tuesday after President Donald Trump invited her onstage during his Corpus Christi rally.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank President Trump for keeping my daughter Jocelyn Nungaray's name alive, keeping and sharing her story, and proving that her death was not just a number. She was important and she was special," Alexis Nungaray told the crowd.

Alexis described a little girl whose life was stolen before she could realize her dreams.

"She was a 12 year old girl who had her entire life ahead of her with dreams beyond her wildest imaginations," she said.

"No parent should ever have to go through the grief that I'm going through and learn how to live life differently without your child."

Alexis thanked Americans for remembering Jocelyn and credited her faith in Jesus Christ with giving her the strength to share her daughter's story.

Trump, who has repeatedly shared the story of Jocelyn's murder while advocating tougher immigration enforcement, embraced her mother's message.

"I promised Alexis that I would deliver justice for Jocelyn," Trump said, pointing to his administration's crackdown on Tren de Aragua and the naming of a national wildlife refuge in Jocelyn's honor.

Nearly 1.4 million Michigan voters have already cast their ballots ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, representing 18.8% of the state's active registered voters, according to the Michigan Department of State.

As of Tuesday morning, 1,392,170 ballots had been cast, including 1,176,375 absentee ballots and 215,795 votes at early in-person voting sites.

"Michigan voters are showing enthusiasm for early in-person voting, making the first weekend a great success," Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie said.

The state also reported more than 2.15 million absentee ballot requests, up from approximately 1.9 million at the same point before the 2022 midterms.

Michigan's early in-person voting period continues through Nov. 1, with Election Day set for Nov. 3.

Far-left streamer Hasan Piker dodged his controversial past in an exchange with Fox News Digital on Tuesday, hours after teaming up with embattled Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., on the campaign trail to co-host an event in her home state of Minnesota.

He also dismissed his disagreements with Democratic Party leaders after he called Republicans "terrorists" and Omar said the GOP is the "pedophile protection party" during the stream on Monday.

Omar's decision to embrace Piker on the campaign trail marks a potentially risky political alliance, coming on the back of a high-profile raid on her Washington, D.C., home amid two dueling investigations — one for alleged immigration fraud, which could threaten her political future and citizenship status, and the other for fishy financial disclosure statement discrepancies.

The lawmaker's appearance with Piker comes after Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed drew backlash from his own party for campaigning with the controversial Twitch streamer earlier this cycle.

Fox News Digital confronted Piker at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport heading out of Minnesota after the Monday livestream. He was pressed on the criticism stemming from Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., and Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., after the two condemned Piker’s comments and pushed back on Democrats’ choice to engage with him on the campaign trail.

"Well, Angie Craig lost, and I think Klobuchar is going to make for a great governor," Piker told Fox News Digital while walking to security.

Klobuchar condemned Piker’s past statements as "reckless and unacceptable," while Craig called his rhetoric "polarizing and dangerous" and directly called out Minnesota Democrats, like Omar and Fateh, for hosting Monday’s event with Piker as a "mistake."

When asked if the two Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota were right to call out the rhetoric, Piker wrote off their disagreements as "the beauty of democracy," while also throwing jabs at Fox News.

"I know this is probably going to come across as confusing, because you work for Fox News, but we sometimes disagree with our leadership in the Democratic Party," he said. "And sometimes our leadership disagrees with us."

This is an excerpt of an article by Fox News Digital's Hannah Brennan.

Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed leads Republican Mike Rogers by roughly six points in Michigan, according to a new WDIV/Detroit News poll released Tuesday, just one week before Election Day.

The survey found El-Sayed ahead 51.4% to 45.1%, with 3.6% of likely voters undecided.

The poll also found El-Sayed with a 42.2% favorable rating compared to Rogers' 32.2%.

The Glengariff Group surveyed 600 likely Michigan voters from Oct. 19 to Oct. 22.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.

Vice President JD Vance suggested Tuesday that Michigan Democratic senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed and far-left streamer Hasan Piker would be cheering on rioters if protests similar to the ones recently seen in France made their way to American soil. 

"My friends, the scene of destruction in Paris may be an ocean away, but ask yourselves, are they really so hard to imagine here in the United States of America?" Vance told a crowd during a midterm rally in Howell, Mich. 

"And I guarantee you, if those rioters were burning down New York or Detroit, the Hasan Pikers and the El-Sayeds would be right there leading them and cheering them on," Vance added. 

"Because what we saw in France, the hatred, the ingratitude, the desire to destroy rather than the desire to build. That exact same cancer is what has corrupted Abdul El-Sayed writ large. It is absolutely the sort of thing that has taken over the man's soul," the vice president continued. 

"And I believe that the state of Michigan refuses to turn over its Senate seat to a man who would tear down this state and tear down this country," Vance later said. "Next Tuesday, Michigan is going to remind the entire country exactly who it is. It loves the United States of America, and it's going to send Mike Rogers to fight for it in the Senate." 

Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday that "Michigan is the most important election in the United States of America in a week, because, more than any other state, it highlights the clash of competing visions that the far left has decided to run with against common sense American values."

Vance made the remark during a rally in Howell, where he declared that Michigan "is going to elect Mike Rogers to the United States Senate."

Vance said Rogers will "make a great fighter for the people of Michigan."

"Now, did you all see the interview that Mike did with Kristen Welker of fake NBC News? What you saw in that interview is the reason why Mike Rogers is going to make a great United States senator," Vance continued. "He didn't lose his cool. I would have. He didn't get angry. He sat there and he calmly and carefully explained why Abdul El-Sayed is a crazy person that should never be in the seat of power."

"You know, one of the important jobs of the United States senator, because you spend your life around a bunch of politicians, is that you have to be able to calmly and carefully deal with bulls--- ladies and gentlemen. And that's exactly what Mike showed he was able to do," Vance also said.

He described "the battle for your Senate seat [as] a proxy fight over whether America can be truly sovereign, if it belongs to men who feel contempt and disdain and hatred for the United States of America."

Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., repeatedly stopped short of saying she was "fully behind" Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed when pressed on national television Sunday, months after he narrowly defeated her in a bitter primary and just days before the midterm elections.

CNN's Dana Bash first pressed Stevens on why she has yet to campaign alongside El-Sayed despite endorsing him after the primary. Stevens responded by pointing to her work campaigning for Democratic House candidates across Michigan.

But when Bash later asked directly whether she was "still fully behind" El-Sayed, Stevens again stopped short of saying yes.

"Look, I'm on the Democratic ticket," Stevens said. "I can't say that I agree with everything that's gone on."

Stevens instead highlighted her support for Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson and House candidates, but not El-Sayed.

Bash pointed out that she had not mentioned him.

"Well, look, I would just say you asked me if I'm still on the team," Stevens responded. "I'm on the team."

Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville advised Democrats on Sunday that they need to pay attention to what Black southerners want when picking a nominee for 2028, warning they are not a very socially liberal demographic.

Political strategist Mark McKinnon spoke to Carville on the most recent episode of the "Politics War Room" podcast, noting the 2028 Democratic presidential primary will begin in South Carolina. When he asked Carville what impact that might have, the Democratic strategist offered one key piece of advice for the party.

"The key, single most important voting demographic in selecting a Democratic nominee is, was, and should continue to be southern Blacks," Carville said. "There's no more loyal constituency in the party. And by the way, just so people understand this, they're not that liberal, OK?"

"And what they want and what we're going to find out, and there's an expression, is, ‘I don't want someone that's talk the talk. I want somebody that's walk the walk.’ And when you go to South Carolina and make a pitch — advice from James Carville — talk about things you've done," Carville continued.

He then parodied recent Democratic Party rhetoric, saying, "Don't say, ‘I am a great friend of people of color.’ That's the stupidest f---ing expression I ever heard."

He advised that if a politician can actually show they have provided opportunities for Black Americans, then they will have actual credibility. Meanwhile, ideologically far-left intellectuals, he warned, would steer the party in an unwise direction, warning, "But don't ever take power of nomination away from southern Blacks. 'Cause if you give it to overly educated people, overly educated people f--- everything up."

"As long as that's there," he said of Black southerners being the core guidance of the Democrats’ 2028 nominee pick, "we're going to have a pretty good nomination."

Former President Barack Obama is increasingly throwing his political weight behind socialist and socialist-aligned Democrats as the party's left wing gains ground ahead of the midterm elections.

Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates have scored several notable primary victories this year, adding to signs of the left wing's growing influence in Democratic politics ahead of November's midterms. While Obama is not backing every socialist candidate, his recent endorsements and campaign appearances show he is willing to bring some of the party’s most progressive figures into the Democratic coalition.

"President Obama remains the most popular figure in Democratic politics and a kingmaker whose support candidates actively seek," Democratic strategist Kevin Walling told Fox News Digital of the president who left office nearly a decade ago. "He understands that a Democrat who can win in New York City and a Democrat who can win in Michigan and Ohio have different politics, and the ability to bring those people into the same coalition is exactly what makes him so valuable."

Obama's embrace of the party's progressive wing was on display Saturday in Michigan, where he campaigned alongside Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, while also lending his support to Florida Senate nominee Angie Nixon in a campaign video.

While El-Sayed does not identify as a democratic socialist or a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, he has embraced progressive policies, including Medicare for All, that have become central to the party's left wing.

During the Michigan rally, Obama invoked healthcare to defend Democrats against accusations that the party has moved too far to the left.

"What is so radical about wanting everybody to have health care?" Obama asked, as he promoted El-Sayed’s pledge to expand access to affordable coverage.

A new poll released Tuesday shows Democrats are holding an 8-point advantage over Republicans in a generic congressional ballot. 

The NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll of 1,289 registered voters was conducted from Oct. 19 to Oct. 20, October 19th through October 20th, with a likely voter weight "applied to registered voters based on each respondent’s estimated probability of voting in the November 2026 election," according to its methodology. 

The poll found that 52% of likely voters support Democrats on a generic congressional ballot, compared to 44% for Republicans. 

However, NPR reported that some "key pillar groups" for the Democrats are not very enthusiastic to vote on Election Day. 

The poll found that only 42% of likely voters under 45, 53% of non-white voters and 56% of white women with college degrees, all groups who disapprove of the job President Donald Trump is doing, are "very enthusiastic" to vote. 

President Donald Trump told reporters Tuesday that Ken Paxton is "the best attorney general in the history of the state of Texas." 

Trump made the comment as he is heading to a midterms rally in Corpus Christi, Texas, later this afternoon. 

"So we're going to Texas campaigning for Ken Paxton, who is the best, according to just about everybody, the best attorney general in the history of the state of Texas," Trump said. "That's a big statement, but that's a true statement. And he's one of the best in the country. He deserves to win this race." 

"Ken Paxton deserves to be the next senator. The other guy, he does not stand for Texas values," Trump added, referring to Democrat James Talarico. "Nothing. Nothing from get rid of the oil, get rid of the guns and get rid of the meat. Between the three things, it's ridiculous." 

"A midterm is usually not that exciting," Trump also said, previewing his event. "This has become very exciting. And the crowds are incredible." 

National Democrats are getting aggressive in the homestretch of this election cycle, sending money and party figureheads to a state that, for decades, has been out of reach.

Mississippi has been a Republican stronghold for the GOP in the Senate since the 1980s, but in a political environment that is proving tough for incumbents of the party in power, Democrats appear to smell blood in the water.

But Republicans aren’t buying the last-minute play in the Deep South, arguing that it’s a reach, at best, to make the race competitive.

"Largely, I think they’re just throwing s— at the wall at this point," a GOP political operative told Fox News Digital.

The Senate Majority PAC, a political action committee with close ties to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., reserved $1.2 million in advertising in the state to boost Scott Colom, a district attorney mounting a bid against Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.

And major figures in the Democratic Party, like former Vice President Kamala Harris and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, have also made the trip or are set to appear in the state — Buttigieg is scheduled to hold a rally on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast on Tuesday.

Jake Monssen, Hyde-Smith’s campaign manager, told Fox News Digital in a statement that "This is simply Washington insiders making a last-ditch effort to give life to Scott Colom's failing campaign."

"Scott is bankrolled by the radical left because he is in lockstep with their agenda," Monssen said. "He supports tax increases, open borders, taxpayer benefits for illegal immigrants, and sex change surgeries for minors."

Like in other races across the Senate map, Colom has a fight with history to contend with. Mississippi has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1982, and the Magnolia State has consistently supported President Donald Trump.

Oregon Republican gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan told "America's Newsroom" on Tuesday that incumbent Democrat Gov. Tina Kotek has "absolutely failed to deliver" for the people of her state.

"It is razor thin margins right now. And this race is going to come down to who wants this win more," Drazan said. "We need people in my home state of Oregon to turn out and vote if we want change, which we desperately need."

When asked about a CNBC ranking of Oregon as #42 in America's top states for business, Drazan said her opponent is "talking kind of a big game right now since it's election season.

"But the reality is, in the four years that she's been governor, that business ranking you just mentioned, when she started, we were a top 20 business environment state. In the four years since she's been there, she has dropped kicked us to the bottom eight," Drazan continued.

"When it comes to our schools, she's made no progress since Covid. She was speaker of the House and voted to keep our schools closed longer than any other state in the nation, and our kids have not recovered," she also said.

"We are now at a point in our state where we've got homelessness numbers that have gone up. We've got an economy that's on the decline, we've got kids that are suffering in our schools. You couldn't pick an issue set that where she has actually succeeded in delivering results for the people of this state across any issue that Oregonians care about right now, including affordability," Drazan told "America's Newsroom."

"So we have a failed governor in the state of Oregon who just has absolutely failed to deliver for the people of this state. And that's what this election is about," she concluded. "It's about a bigger vision for the future. It's about optimism. It's about opportunity and affordability."

Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday that Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed "certainly has a lot of weird friends." 

Vance made the remark after being asked by a reporter if he believes El-Sayed is "a jihadist like the president said." 

"He's said a lot of crazy stuff. And he's identified himself with a segment of the Democratic Party, which, by the way, I don't think represents most Democrats in the country, but unfortunately, it represents a lot of elected Democrats who seem to align with people who justify violence against the United States of America," Vance added. "I don't know what's in the guy's heart. I just know he has a lot of weird friends." 

Republican New York attorney general candidate Saritha Komatireddy told "Fox & Friends First" on Tuesday that incumbent Democrat Letitia James' office is grappling with a "crisis of confidence" as a hearing is set for her removal from the Cornell 7 case. 

Attorney Andrew Miltenberg, who represents Cornell student Gillio Lopes, previously argued to Fox News that the case has become a "cultural battleground" and that James’ public statements supporting the accuser compromised her ability to conduct an impartial investigation as a special prosecutor. 

You have to have a system and a prosecutor who inspires confidence in the process of investigating and prosecuting a case if prosecution is warranted," Komatireddy said. "And what we have right now is no confidence, because Tish James has already prejudged the case. 

"We have an attorney general here in New York who's actually never prosecuted a criminal case in her entire career," she continued. "And a few days ago we found out that her office is frantically looking for outside counsel, someone else to pay to handle the case for her, because she hasn't even staffed her office in a way that there is anyone prepared to investigate and prosecute this case. 

"So we have a crisis of confidence in the attorney general's office right now and it's an issue that's certainly specific to this case, but it's broader to this case," Komatireddy also said. "And I think about how much attention is being paid to this particular case because of the publicity involved with it. There are so many crime victims across New York and they're dealing with an incompetent attorney general's office. It's a problem."

Fox News Digital's Madison Colombo contributed to this post. 

Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate John James told "Fox & Friends" on Tuesday that "now it's time for a change" in the state as outgoing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer – whom he described as the "COVID queen" – is term-limited. 

Speaking to Fox News' Steve Doocy at Four Corners Diner in Romeo, north of Detroit, James said Michiganders haven't forgotten the impact of Whitmer's leadership during the coronavirus pandemic.  

"One in 6 restaurants, like this, one closed forever. When you consider the learning loss we have, our kids are now 45th, our education 45th and our fourth graders 44th out of 50 in literacy. That was because of the Covid shutdowns," James said. 

When James was asked by Doocy how he will bring back jobs to Michigan, he said, "When I become governor, I'm going to be working with both sides." 

"I'm going to be working with Democrats and Republicans to put the people of the state of Michigan first. The fact of the matter is, we're 42nd out of 50 in infrastructure, 43rd out of 50 in economy. They've been in charge in Michigan for eight years. And they want to blame the president," James continued. "Well, guess what? The president was able to bring investment into this country and none of it is coming. They are celebrating a $2.4 billion automotive plant in Georgia. None of that's coming here. That development needs to come here. But we're not even on the bid list because of the failures in Lansing." 

GOP Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers claimed Tuesday morning during an appearance on "FOX & Friends" that his Democratic opponent Abdul El-Sayed "wants to represent Palestine," while he wants to represent the state.

"I mean, we cannot afford Abdul El-Sayed's policies and we can't risk his ideology," Rogers said.

Rogers, a former House lawmaker backed by President Donald Trump in the U.S. Senate contest, fielded questions from people at a diner in Romeo, Michigan.

One person asked about the potential "of us getting some help on the gas tax in this state."

Rogers explained that he has advocated for a "gas tax holiday until" the conclusion of the "Iran conflict." He has previously called for suspending the state and federal gas taxes.

Another person asked Rogers if he would support a data center moratorium.

Rogers said that he has "called for a moratorium. Make sure it stays local control. I don't think they should take that to the state. I think that would be a mistake."

He also called for "every dollar" in tax revenue resulting from a data center in a local community that allows such a facility to be utilized to "defray their property tax in the community" where the data center is located.

El-Sayed's campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's comment request on Tuesday.

As the GOP tries to cling to the House majority during the 2026 midterm elections, Speaker Mike Johnson, who recently surpassed three-years of wielding the speaker's gavel, said that "extraordinary success" had been accomplished via a "team effort."

"It has been my highest honor to serve these past three years as the 56th Speaker. Our extraordinary success has been achieved through a total TEAM effort, and I’m grateful for the hard work and faithful support of so many trusted friends," Johnson stated in the post on X.

"We look forward to delivering even more in the days ahead," he added.

Johnson became House speaker on Oct. 25, 2023.

Multiple GOP lawmakers who spoke with Fox News Digital earlier this month said they anticipated Johnson would step aside if Republicans lost the House. If they win, however, Johnson is all but assured of keeping his job — and with Trump’s blessing.

Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report

LUBBOCK, Texas — President Donald Trump is heading back to Texas in the final stretch of the midterm campaign in an attempt to rally Republican voters in a too-close-for-comfort Senate race.

Trump will campaign in Corpus Christi on Tuesday morning before heading to Lubbock, deep in West Texas, alongside Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton.

The two-stop visit comes exactly one week before Election Day and with early voting already underway. And Republicans are confronting an unusually competitive Senate contest in a longtime red-stronghold state that Trump carried by nearly 14 percentage points just two years ago.

A new Fox News poll shows the closely-watched race against Democrat State Rep. James Talarico in a deadlock.

This is an excerpt from an article by Amanda Macias and Paul Steinhauser, click here to read more

FIRST ON FOX: A mysterious new group purporting to be part of an "anti-globalist," pro-American movement is targeting Republicans in battleground House races across the country in what some are calling a coordinated scheme to suppress GOP votes.

The American Forge Coalition has sent out a flurry of mailers to voters this month accusing vulnerable Republicans of not being conservative enough. Some believe it's a coordinated effort by the left to depress GOP voter turnout in the midterm election just a week away.

"This is a shady Democrat dark money scheme using a front group that isn't even registered with the [Federal Election Commission], mailing Republicans at the start of early voting to suppress them from turning out," Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., campaign spokesman Ciro Riccardi told Fox News Digital.

In fact, an investigation by Fox News Digital found that the group's targets include Lawler's race in New York's 17th Congressional District, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., in Pennsylvania's 1st Congressional District, Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., in Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District, Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, in Iowa's 1st Congressional District, Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District, and Laurie Buckhout, who is running to unseat Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C., in North Carolina's 1st Congressional District.

Click here to read more

WICHITA, Kan. — Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., knows that he’s running for his political life, even in deep-red Kansas, where a Democrat hasn’t won since the Great Depression.

It’s a Senate race that, until just a few months ago, was not on national Republicans’ radar. But Adam Hamilton, a well-known megachurch pastor styling himself as a moderate, has made the race uncomfortably close for Marshall and the GOP and pushed what was once a safe bet into toss-up territory.

In an interview with Fox News Digital in Wichita, Kan., hours before President Donald Trump was set to rally behind the embattled incumbent, Marshall acknowledged that if he falls, Democrats may very well gain control of the Senate.

"I think that, you know, I'm not a political expert, I'm a physician, but if we lose Kansas, I don't see how we keep control of the Senate," Marshall said. "And that's why a vote for Adam Hamilton is a vote for Chuck Schumer and Democrat control of the Senate. It’s that simple."

Click here to read more

Trump supporters in Georgia are standing behind the president amid rising affordability concerns and higher gas prices stemming from the Iran war, with one voter calling him the "best president" in her lifetime.

While Trump' s approval rating teetered at 36% and his disapproval rating stood at 64%, praise for Trump was high in Perry, Georgia, Saturday as he campaigned alongside Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson, CEO of a healthcare staffing group; Rep. Mike Collins, R- Ga., who is vying to unseat Sen. Jon Ossoff, D- Ga.; and candidates in House races across the state.

The race for Ossoff's seat is highly contentious, as Republicans are seeking a pickup that would help them maintain control of the Senate. Ossoff won the seat in a January 2021 runoff election by 1.22% — less than 55,000 votes. Trump, meanwhile, won Georgia in 2024 by 2.2%. He told voters Saturday to act like "he's on the ballot" come Nov. 3.

Rallygoer Gloria Barkman said she supports Trump because he delivers on his promises. 

"I know people are upset because things don't look good with the gas and everything like that, but give him time and they'll be seeing the difference," Barkman said.

Click here to read more

With the midterm elections just a week away, House Speaker Mike Johnson warned that GOP voter enthusiasm should not be underestimated, and the Democratic Party’s increasingly left-wing agenda will drive Americans toward Republicans, despite polls showing Democrats with a national advantage.

"If these Democrats took control of Congress, it would be crazier than the Obama years and the Biden-Harris years, because they've taken a far lurch to the left," he said on "The Ingraham Angle" Monday. "And people see that, and I think it's going to juice enthusiasm for our side."

Johnson decried the policy stances of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which several prominent midterm congressional candidates have affiliated themselves with. He warned that their proposals to abolish borders and prisons and defund police departments would be dangerous for the country.

"This is not our father's Democrat Party," the speaker said. "This group is taking a far turn to the left. You see it by their all-star candidates they're promoting around the country."

Click here to read more

With just one week until Election Day, the AAA national average price for regular gas remains above the $4 mark while the average for diesel is still over $6.

The AAA national average for regular gas is $4.2661 as of Oct. 27, while the average for diesel is $6.3521, only slightly below the record high of $6.5276 set in September.

The highest recorded AAA national average for regular gas was $5.0165 set in June 2022.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is urging South Carolina voters to support Sen. Darline Graham.

“Please come out and vote. Vote for Darline Graham. Vote for common sense. You don't want to empower, crazy, left-wing Democrats,” Cruz said in part of a video message while standing alongside Graham.

Graham , the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, was appointed to the Senate by Gov. Henry McMaster earlier this year to fill the vacancy caused by her brother's death.

The senator is facing Democratic challenger Annie Andrews in the U.S. Senate contest.

"I’m grateful for Senator @tedcruz’s support and joining us on the trail to remind voters just how crucial this election is. Senator Cruz is absolutely right. Your vote matters and this race will be close. Make your plan to vote and help defend our South Carolina values,” Graham noted in the post on X that features the video of her and Cruz. 

Reid Hoffman, the billionaire co-founder of LinkedIn who has faced scrutiny over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, was among the largest donors to House Majority PAC, a key Democratic fundraising group that is now using Epstein-themed ads to target GOP candidates, according to Federal Election Commission filings released last week.

In recent weeks, HMP has begun spending heavily as Election Day nears, pressing the case that Republicans have failed to make good on promises to bring transparency to Epstein’s child sex trafficking activities and whether he facilitated illegal sexual encounters for others. The filings do not identify which donor funds were used for specific advertisements, but Hoffman’s contribution came as HMP ramped up spending on Epstein- focused ads just two weeks ahead of election night.

In one such campaign, HMP targeted Rep. Nick Begich, R-Alaska, over his vote against a procedural motion that would have advanced consideration of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Begich later voted in favor of the legislation, which passed with near-unanimous support.

"How did Jeffrey Epstein hide it? He was protected by the elites — elites like Nick Begich. Begich voted against releasing the Epstein Files, trying to hide the truth. Alaskans need someone who cares more about bringing down costs than protecting a rapist," the ad claims.

Click here to read more

Detransitioner Soren Aldaco said in an interview Monday that she tried to attend a CNN town hall with Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico earlier this month, but organizers did not respond to her request until the night before the event and allegedly told her she could not participate.

During an interview on "The Katie Miller Podcast," host Katie Miller asked Aldaco, a 23-year-old detransitioner who alleged she was groomed online and subsequently pursued medical treatment as a teenager, about her criticism of Talarico and what her message to him would be.

"He needs to have a long-form conversation, a real face-to-face with someone like me. And, you know, I tried to when he did the CNN town hall, where he did the 'prove me wrong' [Steven] Crowder format, engaging with constituents, right? We tried to get me in that room to talk to him about this issue and to be able to give him my message through conversation, which I think is most effective. And they actually didn't get back to us until the evening before and said, 'No, we can't get you in that room,' like 'you can't talk to him,'" Aldaco said.

Click here to read more

DETROIT – Supporters of Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed voiced support for guaranteed income, a social safety net concept gaining traction in municipalities across the nation.

"I think it's a good idea," one rallygoer told Fox News Digital. "With the prices rising and programs being cut like they are and trying to get access to them. Yeah, I think it's a good idea. I hope he supports them."

Fox News Digital spoke with voters outside Cass Technical High School in Detroit, where El-Sayed hosted a campaign rally featuring former President Barack Obama . The event marked a key moment in the progressive candidate’s effort to strengthen ties with the Democratic establishment as he seeks to succeed retiring Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich.

Rallygoers leaving the overflow venue were asked whether guaranteed income programs are an effective policy and whether El-Sayed should make them a core pillar of his campaign.

"I do, and I think the billionaires should be paying for it," voter Dave told Fox News Digital.

Click here to read more

The campaign for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has distanced itself from an advertisement that links U.S. aid to Israel with high domestic food prices, while accusing his Republican opponent, former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, of being overly supportive of Israel.

The ad, produced by Rebellion PAC, an organization linked to “The Young Turks” co-founder Cenk Uygur, depicts a couple in a supermarket deciding not to buy basic groceries like eggs and bananas.

“This ad is not affiliated in any way with the Abdul for Senate campaign,” El-Sayed’s campaign said in a statement. “Abdul is focused on pushing back against Trump’s agenda that is raising prices for Michiganders. No one speaks for Abdul but himself and his campaign.”

In the video, the woman says they must set aside money “for killing Palestinians” as the couple discusses U.S. aid to Israel and suggests American taxpayers are also paying for Israel’s universal healthcare.

The commercial has drawn widespread backlash and accusations of antisemitism.

PORT HURON, Michigan - They're coping with high prices at the gas and diesel pumps and at the supermarket, but the MAGA faithful in this key battleground state remain firmly supportive of President Donald Trump.

In conversations with nearly 20 Michigan voters who waited in line for hours to attend a Trump rally in this small city on the shores of Lake Huron, voters made clear they're sticking with Republicans in the midterm elections and view Democrats as "socialists."

"He has our best interests at heart. He loves our country and he is doing the right things for us to get back on track," Carol Mocan of Warren, Michigan told Fox News Digital.

Click here to read more

The Trump administration is attempting to prosecute former FBI Director James Comey over what it describes as a decade-old leak of classified information.

The Justice Department filed a criminal information in federal court to extend the statute of limitations, while Comey’s attorneys argue that the filing is legally invalid and came too late.

Comey, a longtime critic of Trump, called the effort “an appalling abuse” of the Justice Department and said he remains innocent. The allegation had previously been investigated without charges being filed.

The case is the latest in a series of politically charged Justice Department actions unfolding shortly before the midterm elections.

With more than 30 million Americans already having voted, both parties are making final appeals in races that could determine control of Congress and state governments.

Vice President JD Vance campaigned in Kansas and Montana on Monday, where Republican candidates are urging voters to treat the election as a referendum on Trump’s agenda.

Democrats, meanwhile, are campaigning in states such as Wisconsin and Michigan. Former Vice President Kamala Harris backed Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate David Crowley, while Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed distanced himself from a controversial ad blaming grocery costs on U.S. support for Israel.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to hold rallies in Corpus Christi and Lubbock on Tuesday as he works to boost Republican turnout one week before Election Day.

Trump’s Corpus Christi rally is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET, with remarks beginning at 2 p.m. local time. He is scheduled to speak in Lubbock at 7 p.m. ET, or 6 p.m. local time.

The Texas stops come after Trump campaigned in Mississippi on Monday for Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, who is facing a stronger-than-expected challenge from Democrat Scott Colom.

Trump’s increasingly aggressive travel schedule underscores the Republican Party’s effort to protect its majorities in Congress, even in states that have traditionally been considered safely Republican.