Maine Gov. Janet Mills will be one of the recipients of the Human Rights Award from the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization. A ceremony will be held next month.
Mills will receive the award because of her battle with President Donald Trump’s administration over transgender athlete inclusion in women’s and girls’ sports.
"I am honored to receive this recognition named for former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, a heroic champion for civil rights and the rule of law that governs our nation and inspires the world," Mills said in a news release.
"Throughout my career as a District Attorney, Attorney General, and now as Governor of Maine, I have fought to uphold the Constitution of my state and my country. I feel it is the responsibility of all Americans to speak in defense of their principles, for the rights of others, and for the rule of law which protects us all. As a member of the generation of Americans who were inspired by the career of Robert F. Kennedy, I am truly humbled and grateful for this award, which recognizes how his remarkable legacy should inspire all of us today."
Mills, along with Justice Department pardon attorney Elizabeth Oyer and immigration and reform activist Jeanette Vizguerra, was given the award "for their moral courage and willingness to act on their convictions – even at great personal risk."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) sued the state of Maine in April as Mills bucked the president’s executive order to keep males out of girls’ and women’s sports. Maine’s transgender participation policies have been a source of consternation, leading to a public spat between Trump and Mills during a meeting with the governors in February. The USDA lawsuit was one of a few filed against the state.
The USDA announced a funding freeze and a review of federal funding to Maine for the state allegedly refusing to provide equal opportunities to women and girls in educational programs. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said at the time that the state must agree to protect female athletes from trans inclusion before funding would be restored.
Maine sued the USDA over the funding freeze and accused the department of "withholding funding used to feed children in schools, childcare centers, and after-school programming as well as disabled adults in congregate settings."
The state dropped the lawsuit against the administration as the USDA agreed to restore federal funding earlier this month.
Maine is still facing other legal battles over the issue.
The state of Maine has continued to go against President Donald Trump's executive order of keeping biological males out of girls' and women's sports.
The back-and-forth has been highly publicized and even included a war of words between Trump and Maine Gov. Janet Mills.
The Department of Education also launched a Title IX investigation into the state, while the Department of Agriculture froze federal funding, a decision that was reversed by a federal judge.
The state of Maine dropped its lawsuit against Trump once the funds were unfrozen, but there seems to be no clear resolution yet. And Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., ripped Mills for her actions against Trump.
Tuberville appeared on OutKick's "Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich" and was asked if there are any repercussions for states that defy the order.
"Well, if it’s a federally funded entity, it is. And of course, this Maine governor, who is a complete idiot, is fighting against the president of the United States," Tuberville said. "He told her, you cannot use federal funding, ‘Oh yeah we are going to do that anyway, we don’t care what you say, you’re not the boss.’ Yeah, he’s the president of the United States. Cut their funding off, cut them at the knees, make it hurt.
"We hate it for the athletes up there, we hate it for kids who actually want to get an education but make them hurt. And as I’ve said before, there are entire teams across the country that are women’s teams that are made up of transgender boys, entire track teams. It is a disaster and it’s picking up speed."
Tuberville added that there wasn't much for Trump to do due to state funding, but ripped the "woke" governors.
"These governors need to stand up and grow some and stand up for the women in this country, but they’re not going to do it. They are so woke, they are so over the top with all this nonsense that, ‘Oh yes, we’ve got to be nice everybody.' How about being nice to women for once? Although you can’t define a woman."
The U.S. Justice Department announced a lawsuit on April 16 against the state of Maine for its continued defiance of Trump’s executive order to keep biological males out of girls' and women’s sports and alleged violations of Title IX.
The Justice Department accused the state of "openly and defiantly flouting federal anti-discrimination law by enforcing policies that require girls to compete against boys in athletic competitions designated exclusively for girls," according to a complaint obtained by Fox News.
Fox News' Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
Florida state Sen. Jason Pizzo, who announced last month that he was switching from Democrat to no party affiliation, has revealed that he plans a Sunshine State gubernatorial bid.
"Yes I am," Pizzo said after CBS News Miami's Jim Defede asked the state senator whether he plans to run for governor.
In a written statement to Fox News Digital, Pizzo declared, "Florida is ready for someone to put people before party, and get … back to basics in public service. The state is facing significant fiscal and resiliency challenges, and I’m [the] best one to guide us through."
Current Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican who is currently serving his second term, is not eligible to run for governor again in 2026.
The state constitution stipulates, "No person who has, or but for resignation would have, served as governor or acting governor for more than six years in two consecutive terms shall be elected governor for the succeeding term."
"Byron Donalds would be a truly Great and Powerful Governor for Florida and, should he decide to run, will have my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, BYRON, RUN!" Trump declared in a February Truth Social post.
LEWISTON, MAINE - EXCLUSIVE - Former two-term Gov. Paul LePage of Maine says President Donald Trump is a major reason why he's coming out of political retirement at age 76 – and he's eyeing a campaign comeback.
"I never, ever had any aspirations to go to Washington until now," LePage said this week in his first national interview after launching his bid for the House in Maine's Second Congressional District, which is a top swing seat the GOP aims to flip in the 2026 midterm elections.
The contest will likely be one of the most closely watched House races in the country next year as the Republicans aim to hold their fragile majority in the chamber.
"Donald Trump, I think, is doing what is necessary in addressing the debt this country is facing. And I think that's a big, big thing for me," LePage said as he was interviewed in the Maine city where he was born and raised.
LePage highlighted, "I have a friend in the White House right now. I know President Trump. I think I can have an audience of President Trump. I know several of his secretaries very well. And so I think this is a good time. It's a good time for me to go help."
LePage – the brash and blunt politician who won over blue-collar workers struggling with economic woes, which helped the Republican businessman win election and re-election in the blue-leaning state – was one of the first major GOP elected officials to endorse Trump when the president first ran for the White House nearly a decade ago.
"I was Donald Trump before Donald Trump became popular," LePage joked at the time, in a line that's since become famous.
The conservative governor, who grabbed national attention with controversial comments made during his tenure, briefly moved with his wife, Ann, to Florida after finishing his second term in 2019.
"I am done with politics. I have done my eight years. It’s time for somebody else," he said at the time.
But LePage re-established residency in Maine five years ago and challenged his successor as governor, Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, in the 2022 election.
LePage ended up losing his bid for a third term by 13 points to Mills, but he did carry the 2nd Congressional District in that race.
Moderate Democratic Rep. Jared Golden, a U.S. Marine veteran who deployed to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and who often bucks his own party in Congress, has held the seat since first winning it in 2018.
But Golden won re-election by a razor-thin margin last year in the district, which is the second-most rural in the U.S. and the largest east of the Mississippi River.
And Trump, who carried the district in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 presidential elections by nine, seven and 10 points, earned an electoral vote each time, as Maine and Nebraska, are the only two states in the union to allocate their electoral votes partially by congressional district.
Golden, in a statement after LePage announced his candidacy, said, "I thought Paul was doing his best work in retirement."
But the 42-year-old Golden has yet to announce whether he'll seek re-election next year or instead run for either the state's Senate seat or the open governor's office.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) spotlighted LePage's tenure as governor.
"Paul LePage’s time in office was defined by his obsession with blocking Mainers’ ability to receive quality health care, opposing Medicaid expansion at every possible opportunity," DCCC national press secretary Viet Shelton argued in a statement. "At a time when Republicans in Congress are pushing the largest cut to Medicaid in history, Mainers can’t afford LePage’s crusade to rip health care away from people."
In his Fox News interview, LePage reiterated that the nation's debt is a top motivation for him to return to politics. As of May 8, the national debt was $36,212,886,111,158.26, according to Fox News' National Debt Tracker.
"It's the spending and the debt that this country has, and I'm worried about my grandchildren, great-grandchildren. And I think we have a president now that's really willing to tackle it, and I’m willing to help," he said.
But LePage added that "the other thing that is really big is what's happening in our country with the woke environment. I think I want to be there to help clean that up if we can. Having boys play in girls' sports is really sad."
He also highlighted his Tuesday meeting—part of a three-day swing through the congressional district—with Maine student Cassidy Carlisle, whom he described as "the courageous young woman fighting unfair male competition in girls’ sports."
Maine's 2nd Congressional District shares a long border with Canada.
When asked if he'll be spotlighting border security and immigration as major issues in his campaign, Lepage said, "Big time."
But the controversial tariffs the president placed on nations across the globe last month has strained relations with Canada.
"I'm all for the tariffs," LePage said. "The tariffs will fix our international trade and lower taxes."
LePage acknowledged: "Is it going to hurt in the short term? Yeah, it's going to hurt a little bit in the short term, but I think it's necessary."
And he predicted that "the tariffs are going to be a short-term problem. I think they're going to settle out."
LePage spoke with Fox News at Lewiston's Franco Center, a performing arts center and historic site of Franco-American culture located in a former Gothic church built in 1907 for French Canadian immigrants in Maine, which is located alongside the city's historical mills and canals.
The former governor, who survived a troubling and often brutal upbringing, gave Fox News a tour of the many dwellings within blocks of the Franco Center, where he spent his childhood.
The eldest son of 18 children, LePage grew up speaking French in an impoverished home with an alcoholic and abusive father who was a mill worker.
At age 11, he ran away from home after his father beat him and broke his nose. He lived on the streets of Lewiston and often crashed on friends' couches for a couple of years before earning a living shining shoes, washing dishes at a restaurant, and haling boxes for a local truck driver.
"I had a very, very, rough upbringing as a youth. We were in welfare, we were in poverty," he said.
LePage, speaking in the church where he was baptized and sought refuge during his family troubles, told Fox News, "It feels good coming in this building. This was a special building. A couple of nuns and priests were really helpful in my upbringing."
He went on to graduate from high school, and with financial help from friends, attended and graduated from college.
He later enjoyed success as a businessman, including greatly expanding Marden's Surplus and Salvage, a Maine-based discount store chain.
Years later, he ventured into politics, winning election to the Waterville city council and later serving as the city's mayor before winning statewide office in 2010.
The former governor says his rough childhood has influenced his political life in a way that not many other politicians can understand.
And he lamented, "Unfortunately, the mentality in the current society is not to help people get out of poverty, but it's to keep them in poverty."
"I want to help get them out of poverty," he said. "I think there are so many programs that we can institute that will elevate people in poverty, rather than keep them."
"Ever since the day we met in Skowhegan, I’ve known Angus has something special. He’s always been hard-working, smart, engaged, and caring, and I’m so proud of who he is today and the work he’s set out to do," Sen. King said, according to Angus King III's campaign website, which notes that he was born in Skowhegan.
"He’s a builder and an optimist who knows Maine and doesn’t quit until the job is done. He’s been building things to take care of people and make the world a better place throughout his life, and I think his combination of smarts, experience, and character will make him an excellent governor of Maine. In fact, I’m sure he’ll be in the top two governors named Angus ever," the senator added.
Current Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat who is currently serving her second consecutive term, may not run again in 2026.
The Maine constitution stipulates, "The person who has served 2 consecutive popular elective 4-year terms of office as Governor shall be ineligible to succeed himself or herself."
The Democrat mayor of Newark, New Jersey, on Tuesday continued his crusade to stop Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities inside a previously vacant prison that is being converted into an immigrant detention center.
Mayor Ras Baraka arrived at the gates of Delaney Hall this morning alongside activists to demand entry into the facility that he claims GEO Group, the building’s new owner, is unlawfully preventing from being inspected.
A lawsuit filed on behalf of the City of Newark on April 1 alleges that GEO Group failed to permit entry to safety inspectors and violated city construction code, including by conducting electrical and plumbing renovations without proper oversight.
Fox News Digital reached out to the mayor's office for comment on the ongoing litigation and Baraka's visit to the facility.
In a press conference on Monday, Baraka said GEO Group is "following the pattern of the president of the United States who believes that he can just do what he wants to do and obscure the laws, national and constitutional laws, and they think they can do the same thing in the state of New Jersey and in Newark."
Baraka said fire department officials were trying to verify whether people were being detained in Delaney Hall after hearing "from word of mouth that they said they've been putting people in the building, from an employee there who told us that detainees were in fact being allowed in the building."
"In the initial inspection, we found some violations. Some of them weren't grave violations, but they were, in fact, violations. Violations that put first responders at risk, violations that put detainees or workers that are there at risk," the mayor continued.
Possible violations listed later in the press conference by lawyer Kenyatta K. Stewart included unsanitary kitchens, lack of emergency exits and lack of proper ventilation.
Stewart and Baraka expressed concern about the possibility of children being detained in the building. The mayor said it violates the law to refuse access to fire inspectors, health inspectors and uniform code of construction inspectors.
GEO Group contends they are using an old certificate of occupancy from 2007, but Baraka says it’s invalid.
"The attempt by local and state officials to stop the opening of a lawful federal immigration processing center at the Delaney Hall facility in Newark is another unfortunate example of a politicized campaign by sanctuary city and open borders politicians in New Jersey to interfere with the federal government’s efforts to arrest, detain, and deport dangerous criminal illegal aliens in accordance with established federal law," a spokesperson for the group told Fox News Digital in a statement last month.
"These politically motivated tactics threaten both public safety and the local economy and are based on bogus claims about the Delaney Hall facility, which previously operated as a federal immigration processing center for six years under President Obama’s administration, without opposition from local political leaders," the statement continued.
Baraka, who is running for governor of the Garden State, denied politicizing the issue.
"The reality is, this is not a Republican or a Democratic issue, in my mind. It's an issue of human rights. It's an issue of due process. It's the issue of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States," he said.
The governors of six northeastern U.S. states have invited the premiers of six Canadian provinces to meet in Boston as both sides face the impacts of tariffs.
President Donald Trump's policy of imposing tariffs on products imported from America's northern neighbor and other nations has sparked controversy both in the U.S. and abroad.
The group of governors includes five Democrats — Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, Maine Gov. Janet Mills, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, and Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee — and one Republican — Vermont Gov. Phil Scott.
The governors are inviting the premiers of the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Québec, Healey and Mills press releases indicate.
"While the international uproar over tariffs threatens to upend the economies of our respective communities, we write to reaffirm our friendship and unique interdependence. Ours is a cherished relationship that is founded not only on mutual financial advantages but also on centuries-old familial and cultural bonds that supersede politics," the U.S. politicians said in their invitation.
"As Governors of the Northeast, we want to keep open lines of communication and cooperation and identify avenues to overcome the hardship of these uninvited tariffs and help our economies endure. As we continue to navigate this period of great uncertainty, we are committed to preserving cross border travel, encouraging tourism in our respective jurisdictions, and promoting each other's advantages and amenities," they noted.
Trump, who has repeatedly indicated that he would like Canada to become America's 51st state, is meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday.
"Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker asked Trump if he would speak to Carney about making the country the 51st state.
"I'll always talk about that. You know why? We subsidize Canada to the tune of $200 billion dollars a year. We don't need their cars, in fact we don't want their cars. We don't need their energy, we don't even want their energy, we have more than they do. We don't want their lumber, we have great lumber, all I have to do is free it up from the environmental lunatics. We don't need anything that they have," Trump declared.
Mills said that the economic and cultural relationships between the U.S. and Canada have been "strained by the president’s haphazard tariffs and harmful rhetoric targeting our northern neighbors," according to the press releases.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris headlines a top-dollar Democratic National Committee fundraising dinner on Tuesday, marking the latest step back into the political spotlight by the Democrats' 2024 presidential nominee.
The New York City gathering of top party officials, politicians and donors, where tickets range upwards of $25,000 per person, according to an invitation obtained by Fox News, comes as Harris is mulling her political future after last November's election defeat at the hands of Republican President Donald Trump.
Among her campaign options that she's weighing is a 2026 run for the open governor's seat in her home state of California and another bid in 2028 for the White House.
The event also comes as the Democratic Party, facing historically low favorable ratings in national polling, aims to leave the political wilderness after the party lost control of the White House and the Senate and fell short in its bid to regain the House majority in the 2024 elections.
And it is being held as an increasingly angry and energized base of Democrats is pushing for party leaders to take a stronger stand in pushing back against Trump's sweeping and controversial agenda during the opening months of his second administration.
"Kamala Harris understands the fight that we are in," DNC committee member and veteran Democratic strategist Maria Cardona told Fox News.
She added that "Kamala Harris is a beloved figure in the Democratic Party."
"The DNC is using every tool in their toolbox to bring people together, to get people excited about the campaigns that are coming in the next two cycles," said Cardona, a member of the DNC's influential Rules and Bylaws committee. "I think it's super smart for the DNC to use her, to use every other elected [official], to use governors, to use former administration officials. … I think this is just par for the course for what the DNC needs to do going forward."
The fundraiser is being held the day after the president helped haul in big bucks as he headlined a gathering of major donors at one of his golf courses in Virginia for MAGA Inc., which was the top Trump-aligned super PAC during the 2024 election cycle.
Harris proved her fundraising prowess last year, hauling in over $1 billion during her three-and-a-half-month White House campaign after replacing then-President Joe Biden atop the Democrats' national ticket in late July, amid mounting questions over the then-81-year-old president's physical and mental stamina.
"She raised an eye-popping record amount of money," Cardona noted. "She is still a tremendous draw for the Democratic faithful and donors and that will continue to be the case going forward."
The DNC is using much of the money brought in at its fundraisers to build its ground operations and messaging efforts ahead of next year's midterm elections.
A top progressive leader agreed that using Harris to help fundraise for the DNC makes sense.
But Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a major grassroots organization that promotes economic populism and democracy through electoral and issue advocacy efforts, pointed to Harris' 2024 setback as well as her flameout in the 2020 Democrat presidential primary when asked about how the left would receive a potential 2028 White House bid by Harris.
"She had her chance. Sometimes you have to know when to step away," Green told Fox News.
He argued that Harris felt more like a candidate from the party's establishment than a shake-up of the system, populist, during her two presidential campaigns, and that the more voters got to know her, the less they supported her.
Harris' appearance at Tuesday's DNC fundraiser, where she'll take part in a question-and-answer session with national party chair Ken Martin, comes a week after she made some of her first major public remarks since her 2024 defeat.
The former vice president at an event in San Francisco took aim at Trump's economic agenda. She said the president's controversial implementation of tariffs, which initially triggered a massive stock market selloff, "as I predicted, are clearly inviting a recession."
The stepped-up appearances by Harris come as she continues to meet with advisors and friends as she considers her political future.
A source in the former vice president's political orbit confirmed to Fox News Digital two months ago that Harris had told allies she would decide by the end of summer on whether to launch a 2026 gubernatorial campaign.
Harris served as San Francisco district attorney, California attorney general and represented the Golden State in the U.S. Senate before joining Biden's 2020 ticket and winning election as vice president.
And Harris would be considered the clear frontrunner for governor in heavily blue California in the race to succeed term-limited Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Meanwhile, extremely early polls in the next Democratic Party presidential nomination race, which are heavily reliant on name recognition at this point, indicate that the former vice president holds a significant lead over other potential White House contenders.
It is unlikely she could do both. Running and winning election in 2026 as governor of California, the nation's most populous state and home to the world's fifth-largest economy, would likely take a 2028 White House run off the table, allies and political analysts have indicated.
While no decisions have been made, the former vice president has vowed to remain politically involved.
Harris, in a video message to the Democratic National Committee as it huddled for its winter meeting in early February, pledged to be with the party "every step of the way."
And in an early April speech in California, Harris reiterated that she'll stay politically active, noting that "I’m not going anywhere."
But Harris is far from the only Democrat sparking 2028 speculation.
Among those making headlines in the extremely early moves for the next Democrat presidential nomination race is two-term Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois, who took aim at Trump and his own party as he headlined a state Democratic Party fundraiser a week and a half ago in New Hampshire, which traditionally has held the first primary in the White House race.
Also grabbing plenty of 2028 buzz is Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the four-term, outspoken progressive from New York City.
A viral video of her nationwide series of rallies with longtime liberal champion Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont, drew large crowds and sparked more speculation that the lawmaker known as AOC might have presidential ambitions in 2028 or that she could potentially primary challenge longtime Democrat Senate Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York in three years.
Green, in contrasting Harris and Ocasio-Cortez, said "this moment calls for authentic outsiders who want to shake up the broken political system and an economic status quo rigged for billionaires against working people. That's why Kamala Harris lost, and it's why a lot of people are looking at AOC."
Two-term Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who was the GOP's top Senate recruit in battleground Georgia in next year's midterm elections, announced on Monday that he is passing on launching a campaign.
"Over the last few weeks, I have had many conversations with friends, supporters, and leaders across the country who encouraged me to run for the U.S. Senate in 2026. I greatly appreciate their support and prayers for our family. After those discussions, I have decided that being on the ballot next year is not the right decision for me and my family," Kemp said in a social media post.
The popular conservative governor, who is term-limited and prevented from seeking re-election in 2026, was the GOP's dream candidate to take on Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, who is considered vulnerable, as Republicans aim to expand their 53-47 Senate majority next year.
Ossoff, who is running for a second, six-year term in the Senate after flipping the seat with a razor-thin victory in a January 2021 runoff election, is a top target of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) in a state that President Donald Trump narrowly carried last November.
"Republicans have a number of strong candidates who can build a winning coalition to add this seat to President Trump’s Senate Majority," NRSC communications director Joanna Rodriguez told Fox News in a statement.
Kemp, in his social media post, said that he "spoke with President Trump and Senate leadership earlier today and expressed my commitment to work alongside them to ensure we have a strong Republican nominee who can win next November."
The governor, who had been courted to run for the Senate for months, told Fox News Digital in a February interview while he was in the middle of Georgia's legislative session that "I know I can't keep holding out forever, so we'll have something to say on that down the road."
Kemp, who is currently chair of the Republican Governors Association, also emphasized that "we need to flip that seat. We should have a Republican in that seat, and I believe we'll have one after the '26 election."
But with Kemp out of the picture, the GOP faces the prospect of a crowded and potentially divisive primary that could include Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a top Trump supporter in the House who enjoys massive name recognition but is seen by pundits as too toxic to court crucial independent voters needed to win the general election.
Among the other Republicans who have expressed interest in running if Kemp bowed out are Reps. Buddy Carter, Mike Collins, and Rich McCormick, and state Insurance Commissioner John King.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee highlighted Kemp's announcement.
"Brian Kemp’s decision to not run for Senate in 2026 is yet another embarrassing Republican Senate recruitment failure as they face a building midterm backlash where every GOP candidate will be forced to answer for Trump’s harmful agenda. Senate Republicans’ toxic agenda and recruitment failures put their majority at risk in 2026," DSCC communications director Maeve Coyle said in a statement.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver her first major remarks since leaving the White House at the Emerge gala Wednesday in San Francisco — but those who want to virtually stream her speech will have to pay a fee.
Emerge, a training organization that seeks to prepare Democratic women to run for office, is charging $25 for viewers to gain access to the virtual livestream of the organization’s 20th anniversary gala. Other package options include a $100 fee for young professionals and a $250 general admission ticket.
A spokesperson for Harris confirmed she would deliver remarks at the Emerge gala and deferred to Emerge when asked about the price of the streaming fee. A spokesperson for Emerge did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Harris is expected to issue a harsh rebuke of President Donald Trump in her keynote address and will specifically encourage Americans to resist Trump’s economic agenda, Politico reports.
Other speakers at the gala include Democrat U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and New Mexico state Sen. Cindy Nava.
Likewise, Deb Haaland, who served as former President Joe Biden’s Interior secretary, will speak at the event. Haaland also previously served as a U.S. representative for New Mexico before heading up Interior.
Meanwhile, Harris is eyeing the race for California governor in 2026 and is expected to make a final call on a potential run by the end of this summer, Politico reports.
While all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories are all currently in compliance ahead of the federal deadline of May 7, REAL ID was once roundly opposed by several state governments.
As soon as two years after the law’s 2005 passage by President George W. Bush, several state leaders had already expressed objections to complying with the nationwide standard.
Then-Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat, called REAL ID a "harebrained scheme" in a 2008 NPR interview.
"[W]e are putting up with the federal government on so many fronts, and nearly every month they come out with another… unfunded mandate to tell us that our life is going to be better if we'll just buckle under on some other kind of rule or regulation," Schweitzer said.
"And we usually just play along for a while, we ignore them for as long as we can, and we try not to bring it to a head. But if it comes to a head, we found that it's best to just tell them to go to hell and run the state the way you want to run your state."
One year prior, Schweitzer signed a law banning Montana’s DMV from enforcing REAL ID stipulations, calling it a "threat to privacy" in a letter to then-Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, also a Democrat.
Not too far west in Washington state, fellow Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire signed similar legislation that required the feds to appropriate $250 million to cover the unfunded mandate.
"[E]ven worse, it doesn't protect the privacy of the citizens of Washington," Gregoire claimed when signing the bill.
On the Republican side, then-Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett signed a law in 2008 halting PennDOT's implementation of REAL ID.
"Neither the governor nor the Department of Transportation or any other Commonwealth agency shall participate in the REAL ID Act of 2005 or regulations promulgated thereunder," Act 38’s text read.
The policy was later reversed by Act 3 of 2017, signed by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.
Meanwhile, New Jersey has the lowest reported compliance with REAL ID, according to a CBS News analysis, with only 17% of the population having one - and many complaining of not enough bandwidth for the state to handle the number of applications.
On Wednesday, Kentucky Republican state Sen. Jimmy Higdon, wrote to DHS asking for an extension to the May 7 enforcement date, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.
State compliance with REAL ID means that a state has met the federal security standards outlined by DHS for the actual issuance of drivers' licenses. Since all states have done so, they are considered compliant.
Because the program is optional for the licenseholder – due to the alternatives, like passports – an insufficient proportion of residents not having REAL IDs does not affect statistical state compliance.
REAL ID requirements, endeavored out of a post-9/11 national security law from then-Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., dictate that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will no longer accept a photo-ID that does not have a star in the upper corner denoting verification, unless it is a passport.
To become verified, Americans must provide Social Security information or other personal identifiers.
The law’s implementation date has been delayed several times, due to COVID and concerns about varied state compliance and states’ abilities to summon the necessary resources to meet federal standards.
Fox News Digital reached out for comment from the current governors of the three states referenced: Democrat Bob Ferguson of Washington, Republican Greg Gianforte of Montana and Democrat Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania.
Chicago residents spoke out Tuesday after reports indicated Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is heavily weighing a potential presidential run.
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that the billionaire heir to the Hyatt hotel empire is considering making a bid for the Democratic nomination in the next presidential election, citing sources from former Barack Obama advisors to local leaders.
Residents agreed it seemed Illinois’ 43rd governor would make a play for the Oval Office.
But the 60-year-old governor’s reputation among some constituents indicates the billionaire may face backlash from residents that could bleed into the national conversation.
While crime, homelessness and a number of issues have plagued the city of Chicago and surrounding areas in the state, Pritzker's sanctuary policies, paired with the influx of migrants during the Biden administration, were a key theme among residents.
"A sanctuary city governor who provides more support to migrants than poor Illinois residents in need," founder of Chicago Community Roundtable and Chicago resident Cata Truss told Fox News Digital. "Do we really want him representing this country?"
Chicago, a sanctuary city, became a landing point when Texas Gov. Greg Abbott bussed thousands of illegal migrants to the Illinois city after millions poured in at the southern border, and the cost of harboring noncitizens fell to the locals. A February audit by GOP lawmakers in the state unveiled that Illinois taxpayers have shelled out a staggering $1.6 billion to fund healthcare programs for illegal migrants since 2020.
Pritzker has been called to testify before a May 15 House Oversight Committee hearing to address the shortcomings of the sanctuary state, as first reported by Fox News Digital.
Though a major issue, immigration policy was not the only concern residents took up with the potential presidential candidate.
"His policies put women and children at risk," Chicago resident Patricia "P Rae" Easley told Fox News Digital. "He passed a law that states that little girls can get abortions without their parents' consent, which gives abusers more power and made Illinois the abortion capital of the world."
"[Illinois] has the highest taxes in America, and people are fleeing the state like a sinking ship," Easley added.
There was also worry among residents that the governor may sideline the challenges Illinois faces should his focus be concentrated on running for higher office.
"I think the sentiment of a lot of people in Illinois and especially Chicago would be that [a presidential run] is very unfortunate," Chicago pastor Corey Brooks told Fox News Digital. "We have so many issues that need to be focused on, so many problems that need to be focused on. The last thing we need is a governor who’s running for president."
When asked if Pritzker had a shot at the White House, Brooks said there was "no chance to win."
A Pritzker run wouldn’t only shake up the Democrats' struggle to pin down a presidential candidate, it would also leave the door open for Republicans to have a shot at gaining momentum at the state level.
Longtime U.S. Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin announced his retirement Tuesday, and with that seat now on the market, an open governor role would shake things up even further. Richard Porter, a former Illinois RNC Committee member and Chicago resident, told Fox News Digital this era could be Republicans' chance to "break through."
"The entire statewide slate on the Democratic side will be up for grabs, and that creates opportunities for Republicans to break through by riding the growing wave of disgust over failed Democrat policies in Chicago and the state," Porter told Fox.
"Illinois is a center-right state with the most extreme gerrymander in the nation. Republicans have a better shot running for statewide offices because that extreme Democrat gerrymandering isn’t in play," Porter added. "Durbin is the first domino to fall. More to come – and we will be ready for the break."
Fox News Digital reached out to Pritzker's office for comment.
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., is considering a 2026 bid for governor in her home state, multiple sources close to her confirmed to Fox News Digital.
Stefanik was withdrawn from consideration as President Donald Trump’s United Nations Ambassador to shore up numbers of the House Republicans' narrow majority. She is now the chairwoman of House Republican Leadership.
Sources tell Fox News Digital that she is being encouraged to run by allies of Trump and longtime friends. Stefanik outperformed the president in her congressional district in 2016, 2020 and 2024, which one source says could be an indicator that she could do well with New York's swing voters. The Republican won with 62% of the vote in her strongly conservative district in November.
On Wednesday, Stefanik made the case for a GOP win in New York this year when she commented on a new poll by Marist, which is the latest to indicate that Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul's approval ratings are underwater with New York State voters.
"This latest bombshell polling proves what every New Yorker already knows: that we must FIRE Kathy Hochul in 2026 to SAVE NEW YORK. Hochul is the Worst Governor in America and it’s not even close," Stefanik argued in a statement.
Stefanik is a top Trump ally in the House, and the president posted on social media Wednesday morning that "Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is GREAT!!!"
The six-term lawmaker has $10 million cash-on-hand through her fundraising entities, and is considered popular among Republican voters in the state. Stefanik was the keynote speaker at a New York GOP event on Tuesday night.
At the time of her nomination's withdrawal, Hochul said it was a matter of holding the line in Congress.
"I have been proud to be a team player. The president knows that. He and I had multiple conversations today, and we are committed to delivering results on behalf of the American people. And as always, I'm committed to delivering results on behalf of my constituents," Stefanik said on Fox News' "Hannity" last month.
Trump said he would work on finding a replacement pick, which has not been announced yet.
"As we advance our America First Agenda, it is essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress. We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning," the president posted to Truth Social at the time.
"I have asked Elise, as one of my biggest Allies, to remain in Congress to help me deliver Historic Tax Cuts, GREAT Jobs, Record Economic Growth, a Secure Border, Energy Dominance, Peace Through Strength, and much more, so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat. The people love Elise and, with her, we have nothing to worry about come Election Day. There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations,."
Stefanik is far from the only well-known Republican in New York State considering a 2026 run for governor.
Rep. Mike Lawler, who is in his second term representing the state's 17th Congressional District, which covers a large swath of New York City's northern suburbs, is mulling a bid.
"I'll make a decision at some point — middle of the year. Obviously, you know if we're going to do it, you got to get out there, and you got to campaign hard," Lawler said last week in an interview with Fox News Digital.
He added, "I haven't made a decision yet. I think, obviously, there's a number of factors in play, but you know, we're working through that right now."
Among the other Republicans weighing a gubernatorial run are Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman, who, like Stefanik, is a major Trump supporter and ally. Longtime Bethany town supervisor Carl Hyde Jr. is also considering a run.
Democrats are salivating over a potential GOP gubernatorial primary in the Empire State.
"New York’s Republican primary is set to be a nasty and vicious race to see who can be the Trumpiest — and most out of touch with New Yorkers," Democratic Governors Association spokesperson Kevin Donohoe argued in a statement. "All three potential candidates in this race are running to bring Donald Trump’s extreme agenda of raising costs and taking away fundamental freedoms to Albany — and could not be more out of step with New York."
It's been 23 years since a Republican won a gubernatorial election in heavily blue New York State. You have to go all the way back to former Gov. George Pataki's second re-election victory in 2002.
But with Hochul's approval ratings and favorable ratings remaining in negative territory, Republicans are optimistic their losing streak will come to an end next year. The governor also faces potential long-shot Democratic primary challenges from her lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado, as well as Rep. Ritchie Torres.
Hochul, who at the time was the state’s lieutenant governor, was sworn in as New York’s first female governor in August 2021 after three-term Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned in disgrace amid multiple scandals.
But she narrowly won a full four-year term in the 2022 gubernatorial election, defeating then-Rep. Lee Zeldin, who now steers the Environmental Protection Agency in the Trump administration.
Zeldin — who lost to Hochul by less than six and a half points — had the best performance by a GOP gubernatorial candidate in New York since Pataki's 2002 victory.
Trump lost the state to then-Vice President Kamala Harris by 13 points in last November's presidential election, but that was a 10-point improvement from his loss margin to former President Joe Biden in the 2020 election.
"What is really telling is that you have three, at least, very qualified Republican candidates looking at it," a veteran Republican strategist who works on New York State races told Fox News. "I think it shows her [Hochul's] vulnerability."
Stefanik's departure could still have an impact on House Republicans' razor-thin three-seat majority, but GOP leaders hope to be done with their plans for a massive conservative policy overhaul via the budget reconciliation process by the end of this year.
If elected governor, Stefanik would not have to leave the House until the end of December 2026.
Her vote was critical to advancing Trump's budget framework legislation earlier this month. The bill appeared at risk of failing during a tense procedural vote last week, but Stefanik — who was among the last to cast her vote — carried it over the top, 216 to 215.
Fox News' Madeline Coggins contributed to this report.
I don’t care which party you identify with. I don’t care if you like or dislike Donald Trump. This has been building for years, and perhaps we’ve become as inured to it as we have with most mass shootings.
The most prominent example, of course, is the two assassination attempts against the president. On the shooting in Butler, Pa. that grazed his ear, Trump would not have survived if he hadn’t been turning his head to point to a chart. The second attempt was foiled by the Secret Service.
More than 60 years after the death of JFK, a would-be assassin’s bullet nearly changed the course of the 2024 election by taking out the man who would go on to win a second term in the White House. The photo of Trump, with a bloodied face, raising his fist became iconic.
It’s rather embarrassing that the press moved on so quickly after a few days.
Even more cringe-worthy was the way the media provided scant coverage of the man who was determined to kill Brett Kavanaugh in 2022. He had driven from California and was a block away from the Supreme Court justice’s Maryland home – with a Glock pistol, two magazines of ammunition, a knife, pepper spray and zip ties – when he called police and turned himself in.
The would-be murderer just pleaded guilty last week.
This has been going on since President Clinton tried to blame Rush Limbaugh for the Oklahoma City bombing. And since the New York Times blamed Sarah Palin for a crosshairs map never seen by the shooter who killed six people and wounded Gabby Giffords in Arizona. A retrial of her defamation suit is about to get under way.
When a liberal shooter who liked Rachel Maddow opened fire at a Republican baseball practice in Virginia, badly wounding GOP leader Steve Scalise, the finger-pointing began again. Inevitably, each side tries to score political points based on the perceived motive of the shooter.
And that brings me to the attempt to kill Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on the first day of Passover. The governor, who is Jewish. His family and friends are lucky to be alive.
It is frightening. It is infuriating. It is the epitome of anti-Semitism. The Harrisburg mansion, where Shapiro, his wife Lori and children live, was set on fire, and the 38-year-old arsonist admitted to police that he set the fires.
Imagine being woken up by state police at 2 a.m., with the smell of smoke in the air, and told that you, your family and friends must immediately evacuate. Who wouldn’t feel vulnerable, no matter their title?
The only reason they survived is that they were sleeping in another part of the mansion, which the arsonist had no way of knowing. The building remains badly damaged.
Shapiro was clearly and justifiably angry when he said: "This type of violence is not okay. I don’t give a damn if it’s from one particular side or another. It’s not okay."
The governor pointed out that it was the first night of Passover and members of the local Jewish community had been celebrating with him in the state dining room. "No one will deter me or my family or any Pennsylvanian from celebrating their faith openly or proudly," he declared.
Ironically, it was Shapiro who led the investigation of the attempted assassination of Trump at Butler, where a man in the crowd was killed.
The president has been posting up a storm at Truth Social, including messages on Easter Week and Passover, but hasn’t said a word about Shapiro.
I think Trump should call Shapiro as a way of demonstrating that he deplores political violence no matter which party is involved. FBI Director Kash Patel did call, but that’s not at the same level.
The Harrisburg man told police he was "harboring hatred" for Shapiro and had he found him, he would have beaten the governor with his hammer.
At the Free Press, Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Penn., a Republican who supports Trump, said:
"When Governor Josh Shapiro and I spoke on Saturday afternoon about a potential data center investment in Pennsylvania, he ended the call by noting that he needed to go prepare for an 80-person seder which he was leading. Less than 12 hours later, he and his family were evacuated from the governor's residence, because an arsonist had set it on fire.
"The pictures of the damage to the residence are horrifying. Yet even more frightening is the trend that this attack is a part of. And if left unchecked, this trend — of using political violence to settle our differences — has the potential to destroy our republic."
Now, it must be said the security was awful. This guy scales the fence and the state troopers on duty can’t stop him from reaching the mansion? And then let him get away?
As for journalists, we should resist the temptation to say, well, Shapiro wasn’t hurt, let’s move on. A Jewish governor was targeted and nearly assassinated. That’s not a one-day story by any stretch of the imagination.
Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds will not seek re-election in 2026 after nearly 10 years serving in the state's highest office, teeing up what may be a competitive Republican gubernatorial primary in 2026.
In a video announcement released on Friday, Reynolds thanked Iowans for their support throughout her political career and said she will not campaign for another term as governor to focus on her family.
"Today, I want to share a personal decision with you; one that was not made lightly, but comes with a full heart and a deep sense of gratitude. After a lot of thought, prayer, and conversations with my family, I have decided that I will not seek re-election in 2026," she said.
Reynolds began her political career in the Clarke County treasurer's office, before winning election as a state senator and later as the state's lieutenant governor.
She has served as governor since 2017, when then-Gov. Terry Branstad was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as ambassador to China during President Donald Trump's first term in office. Reynolds was elected to a full term as governor in 2018 and re-elected in 2022.
"This wasn’t an easy decision, because I love this state and I love serving you," Reynolds said in a video posted on social media. "But, when my term ends, I will have had the privilege of serving as your governor for almost 10 years."
Reynolds said the work isn't over yet and is committed to "working hard for you every single day until my term ends," referring to her time as governor as the "greatest honor of my life."
"This public service has been an incredible journey — one I wouldn’t trade for anything, but as Iowans know, family is everything," she said. "Through the years, my parents and my husband Kevin, our daughters, and our grandchildren have stood by my side, supporting me through every challenge and every victory. Now, it’s time for me to be there for them."
Seasoned Iowa-based Republican strategist Jimmy Centers, who served in the Reynolds administration, said "her governorship is historic" for more than being the first female elected Iowa governor.
"It’s more than just her agenda; it’s about what she accomplished as governor. She was bold. She went out and sold her vision and she got it passed," Centers told Fox News.
Nicole Schlinger, a longtime Iowa and Washington D.C.-based conservative strategist who is well-connected with evangelical groups, said that Reynolds "has been a transformation governor."
But Schlinger told Fox News that "Kim Reynolds has put a lot of things in her life on hold for the state of Iowa and if you’re going to decide what you’re doing for re-election in 2026, now is the time you’re going to be making that decision."
The Republican Governors Association (RGA) praised Reynolds for "her bold vision and conservative leadership" and said she "delivered transformational results for Iowa."
Iowa, which was once a key general election battleground state, has turned red over the past decade, and RGA communications director Courtney Alexander said "we are confident that Iowa will continue to remain in Republican control."
But the rival Democratic Governors Association (DGA), pointing to Trump's sweeping and controversial agenda during his first three months back in the White House, said that "even former RGA Chair Governor Kim Reynolds knows she can’t defend her party’s destruction of the economy and extreme, unpopular agenda for the next two years."
DGA communications director Sam Newton argued that "in addition to leaving behind a failed record of corruption, gutting public education, and banning abortion, Gov. Reynolds has thrown the wide-open GOP field for governor into complete chaos. We look forward to holding Iowa Republicans accountable as this competitive race ramps up."
Following Reynolds' announcement, there was instant speculation that Iowa attorney general Brenna Bird, who was a top surrogate for now-President Donald Trump during the 2024 campaign and who spoke at last summer's Republican National Convention, may make a bid to succeed the governor.
Bird, in a statement posted to social media, praised Reynolds but added that she and her husband will "consider what this decision means for our future."
"I appreciate the calls of encouragement I've already received. I am committed to continuing my work on behalf of Iowans and to support President Trump," she added.
Among the Republicans who may also have an interest in potentially running in 2026 to succeed Reynolds in the governor's office in Des Moines are longtime state agriculture secretary Mike Naig; state House Speaker Pat Grassley, the grandson of longtime Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; and all four members of Iowa's all-GOP congressional delegation — Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), Ashley Hinson (IA-02), Zach Nunn (IA-03) and Randy Feenstra (IA-04).
Two other names that are mentioned are Matt Whitaker, who ran statewide twice in Iowa but who is known nationally for serving as U.S. attorney general for a couple of months during the first Trump administration and who is currently serving as U.S. representative to NATO; and state Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, son of longtime Iowa GOP chair Jeff Kaufmann.
Longtime Republican strategist David Kochel, who has worked in Iowa politics for decades, noted that the Republicans have a "deep bench."
When it comes to the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, speculation centers on Iowa state auditor Rob Sand, who is currently the only Democratic statewide officeholder in the Hawkeye State.
Reynolds, pointing to Iowa's shift to the right in recent election cycles, said the GOP "will remain in great hands" as the next generation of Iowa Republicans build on her legacy.
Reynolds saw her national profile rise in recent years, through her previous tenure as RGA chair and by welcoming Republican presidential candidates to Iowa's first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses, which remain the lead-off contest in the race for the White House on the GOP calendar.
In the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, Reynolds' endorsement was coveted by the crowded GOP primary field. Reynolds ultimately endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and joined him repeatedly on the campaign trail in the lead-up to the caucuses.
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., launched a gubernatorial campaign on Friday, becoming the second Democrat to jump into the 2026 race to succeed term-limited Gov. Jared Polis.
Phil Weiser, Colorado's Democratic attorney general, has already announced a bid. Weiser has emerged as a high-profile opponent of President Donald Trump's administration, joining with other state attorneys general to file lawsuits over a series of policies and executive orders.
But Bennet, a former Denver Public Schools superintendent, immediately becomes the defacto front-runner in blue-leaning Colorado's gubernatorial contest.
"From expanding the Child Tax Credit to securing $7B for Colorado’s infrastructure, we’ve made real progress together," Bennet said on X. "Now, it’s time to keep building a future in Colorado that works for all of us."
Colorado was once a key general election battleground state, but it hasn't elected a Republican as governor since 2002.
Bennet in 2019 launched a bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. He ran as a moderate candidate, and his campaign failed to catch fire. After failing to qualify for most of the primary debates, he dropped out of the race.
His announcement on Friday makes Bennet the latest Senate Democrat planning to move on from Congress at the end of next year.
Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Gary Peters of Michigan, and Tina Smith of Minnesota announced earlier this year that they wouldn't seek re-election in the 2026 midterms.
In a statement announcing his launch, Bennett emphasized that "the best solutions to our challenges will not come from Washington’s broken politics. They will come from us.
Bennet was endorsed by fellow Democratic Sen. John Hickenlooper of Colorado, a former two-term governor.
"Michael will build on this work to shield Colorado from Trump’s corruption, create economic opportunity for every Coloradan and protect the environment," Sen. Hickenlooper said. "I think Michael has the potential to be a truly great governor- I wholeheartedly endorse his campaign."
Bennet served as Hickenlooper's chief of staff during Hickenlooper's tenure as Denver mayor.
Weiser released a statement following Bennet's news, highlighting his commitment to Colorado and emphasizing the need for keeping the state's experienced leaders in Washington.
"Two years ago, the voters sent Senator Bennet back to DC because we believed he would be there for us no matter what – especially in historically dangerous moments like the one we currently face. Now more than ever, we need experienced Democratic leaders in Washington," Weiser argued.
Republican Rep. Mike Lawler's opinion of Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York is crystal clear.
"I think Kathy Hochul is the most feckless, incompetent governor in America," Lawler said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
Lawler, who's in his second term representing the state's 17th Congressional District, which covers a large swath of New York City's northern suburbs, is mulling a 2026 GOP run for governor.
"I'll make a decision at some point – middle of the year. Obviously, you know if we're going to do it, you got to get out there, and you got to campaign hard," Lawler said.
He added, "I haven't made a decision yet. I think, obviously, there's a number of factors in play, but you know, we're working through that right now."
Lawler is one of three Republicans mulling a gubernatorial run. So are Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman and longtime Bethany town supervisor Carl Hyde Jr.
It's been 23 years since a Republican won a gubernatorial election in heavily blue New York. You have to go all the way back to former Gov. George Pataki's second re-election victory in 2002.
But Hochul's approval ratings and favorable ratings remain underwater, giving Republicans hope the losing streak will come to an end next year. The governor also faces potential, longshot, primary challenges from her lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado, as well as Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York City.
"There's a reason New York leads the nation in out-migration. It has nothing to do with the weather and everything to do with the high cost of living and the declining quality of life from the migrant crisis to the crime epidemic in New York to the overall cost of living," Lawler said.
And the former political strategist and adviser-turned-politician said "people can't afford to live in New York. They want balance and common sense, and I think that's where there is an opportunity, if you articulate the vision to New Yorkers. They're pragmatic, they're commonsense, and they understand the need for change."
Democrats disagree.
"Whether it’s working to lower costs for families or protecting fundamental rights, Governor Hochul is a fighter for all New Yorkers with a record of getting results," Democratic Governors Association spokesperson Kevin Donohoe told Fox News.
And Donohoe argued that "while Governor Hochul is laser focused on delivering on the priorities that matter to her state, New York Republicans every day are supporting Donald Trump’s agenda that is hurting the Empire State. By spending their time currying favor with Trump, Republicans are setting themselves up for a messy and chaotic primary that will leave whoever emerges as the nominee badly damaged."
In 2022, then-Rep. Lee Zeldin had the best performance by a GOP gubernatorial candidate in New York since Pataki's 2002 victory. Zeldin, who now steers the Environmental Protection Agency in President Donald Trump's second administration, lost to Hochul by less than six and a half points.
And Trump lost the state to then-Vice President Kamala Harris by 13 points in last November's presidential election, but that was a 10-point improvement from his loss margin to Joe Biden in the 2020 election.
While Republicans have been more competitive statewide in New York the last two cycles, Lawler said next year's elections will "be determined by a few things."
"No. 1, does the economy take off?" he said. "And with the tax bill, with energy production increases, you know, if the economy takes off, then I think people are going to be very willing and open to change in New York."
"Obviously, what we're doing at the border matters," Lawler said. "New York has borne the brunt of some of the disastrous decisions of the Biden administration and Kathy Hochul, spending billions of dollars of taxpayer money on free housing, clothing, food, education and health care for illegals."
And Lawler pointed to his push to raise the cap on the state and local tax deduction, known by its acronym SALT, which is a pressing issue for many New Yorkers.
"Do I deliver on things like SALT and lifting the cap on SALT? And so, if we get these things done, and you know, things are looking up, I think New Yorkers can be very open to a change," he said.
Lawler grabbed attention in 2022 by narrowly defeating incumbent Sean Patrick Maloney, the then-chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
But he's currently one of only three House Republicans who represent districts carried by Harris in November.
Asked if he needs to keep his distance from the president if he seeks statewide office in New York, Lawler told Fox News, "Look, he's the president of the United States, and [I] certainly would welcome his support."
But he also said "New Yorkers will make a determination, though, based on the choice before them" rather than on Trump.
"If you present a viable alternative vision to New Yorkers and explain how you're going to deal with housing, how you're going to deal with infrastructure, how you're going to deal with crime, how you're going to deal with the fact that Wall Street is leaving New York in droves, these are significant issues that we have to tackle," Lawler said. "And it requires leadership. It requires a plan. And I think if that is presented to New Yorkers, they'll make a determination based on that."
Former Vice President Kamala Harris took to social media this month to cheer on the growing resistance by Democrats to President Donald Trump.
"Today in every state across our nation, Americans are standing up to the administration," Harris wrote.
Also taking aim at Trump's most visible advisor and the world's richest person — Elon Musk — the former vice president emphasized that "the voices of working people will always be louder than the unelected billionaires."
Harris, in a possible tease of potential future political plans, spotlighted on social media a clip from the closing line of a speech from earlier this month.
Railing against moves by the Trump administration and vowing to remain active in the fight, Harris said, "I'll see you out there. I'm not going anywhere."
And earlier this year, Harris, in a video message to the Democratic National Committee as it huddled for its winter meeting, pledged to be with the party "every step of the way."
But five months after losing the presidential election to Trump, Harris' public appearances are still few and far between.
And unlike her 2024 running mate — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz — and other top Democrats, she has not appeared at rallies or town halls to directly address a Democratic Party base that is increasingly angry and energized over Trump's sweeping and controversial upending of the federal government during the first three months of his second tour of duty in the White House.
Harris has also avoided doing any television interviews or taking part in any podcasts, ceding the spotlight to others in the party.
But her every public word is quickly dissected.
"I’m not here to say I told you so," Harris said on April 3 in Dana Point, California, to a gathering of Black female business leaders, politicians and other prominent people, as she pointed to her warnings about Trump on the campaign trail last summer and autumn.
The clip, during which both Harris and the crowd cracked up, instantly went viral.
And there's intense speculation over what may be Harris' next political move.
Two potential options are launching a gubernatorial run next year in her home state of California, in the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom, or seeking the presidency again in 2028.
Extremely early polls in the next Democratic Party presidential nomination race — which are heavily reliant on name recognition at this point — indicate that the former vice president holds a significant lead over other potential White House contenders.
It is very unlikely she could do both. Running and winning election in 2026 as governor of heavily blue California, the nation's most populous state and home to the world's fifth-largest economy, would likely take a 2028 White House run off the table, allies and political analysts have indicated.
Harris previously served as San Francisco district attorney and California attorney general, and represented the Golden State in the U.S. Senate before joining former President Joe Biden's 2020 ticket and winning election as vice president.
A source in the former vice president's political orbit confirmed to Fox News Digital last month that Harris has told allies she will decide by the end of summer on whether to launch a gubernatorial campaign. The news was first reported by Politico.
But other California Democrats aren't waiting, as the gubernatorial field is growing.
Some of the candidates are criticizing Harris for waiting until the summer to decide. Among them are former Los Angeles Mayor Anotonio Villaraigosa.
"The challenges facing California are too great for us to wait for a candidate who wants to come in late in the game," Villaraigosa, who launched his 2026 campaign last summer, recently told the Los Angeles Times. "California is not a steppingstone to higher office."
"This will not be a coronation," he said in his interview. Pointing to Harris' three-and-a-half-month-long presidential campaign — she succeeded Biden as the party's nominee after he dropped his bid last July — Villaraigosa said, "You can’t run at the end of the rainbow. We saw a 100-day campaign. Look what that brought us."
Two other Democrats running for California governor — former Rep. Katie Porter and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra — made similar arguments.
But polls indicate Harris would be the clear front-runner if she entered the 2026 race in California, and other candidates already in the field have indicated they would defer to the former vice president if she ends up running.
One of those candidates who would likely drop their bid is California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, a close friend and ally of the former vice president.
Harris has reportedly received encouragement from top Democrats to run for California governor. Among them is former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a former DNC chair, according to a report from The New York Times.
Harris also received some unexpected encouragement — and a bit of advice — from her 2024 opponent.
"Let her run," Trump said in a recent podcast interview. "One thing she’s going to do, she’s got to start doing interviews."
FIRST ON FOX: House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., sent letters requesting testimony from "sanctuary governors" on Thursday as part of an ongoing committee investigation into sanctuary jurisdictions and their effects on public safety.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul were called to testify at a May 15 hearing before the committee to discuss the controversial sanctuary laws that are designed to protect illegal immigrants.
"The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is continuing to investigate sanctuary jurisdictions across the United States and their impact on public safety and the effectiveness of federal efforts to enforce the immigration laws of the United States," Comer told Fox News Digital. "Sanctuary jurisdictions and their obstructionist policies hinder the ability of federal law enforcement officers to effectuate safe arrests and remove dangerous criminals from American communities. This threatens Americans’ safety."
In addition to calling the Democratic governors before Congress, the committee is requesting:
"All documents and communications among or between any official, employee, contractor, or agent of the State of [Illinois, Minnesota, New York] related to the State of [Illinois, Minnesota, New York] sanctuary status;
"All documents and communications among or between any official, employee, contractor, or agent of the State of [Illinois, Minnesota, New York] and any official, employee, contractor, or agent of the federal government related to the State of [Illinois, Minnesota, New York] sanctuary status."
President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social post Thursday morning, continuing his push to eliminate sanctuary cities: "No more Sanctuary Cities! They protect the Criminals, not the Victims. They are disgracing our Country, and are being mocked all over the World. Working on papers to withhold all Federal Funding for any City or State that allows these Death Traps to exist!!!"
In March, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and New York City Mayor Eric Adams testified in a similar hearing before the House Oversight Committee, where members of Congress confronted the Democratic mayors on whether sanctuary status deterred immigration agents and law enforcement officials from successfully enforcing federal laws.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, roughly 2.4 million immigrants per year entered the U.S. between 2021 and 2024 under the Biden administration.
While the exact number of illegal migrants currently living in sanctuary cities is uncertain, there is a clear concentration of migrants in metro areas operating under sanctuary laws, creating barriers for ICE and immigration law enforcement officials to enforce laws.
"In addition to the efforts of the Trump Administration to ensure federal immigration enforcement can proceed unimpeded, Congress must determine whether further legislation is necessary to enhance border security and public safety," Comer told Fox News Digital. "It is imperative that federal immigration law is enforced and that criminal aliens are swiftly removed from our communities."
According to a New York Post report last week, a Department of Homeland Security official said the administration has made around 113,000 arrests and deported north of 100,000 illegal migrants.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is backing Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., for Florida governor.
"Byron Donalds is a principled conservative leader who Floridians can trust as their next Governor," Johnson said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital, which was first reported by Politico Playbook.
"In Congress, Byron has been tenacious in standing up for Florida and President Trump’s America First agenda. I have no doubt he will bring that same fighting spirit with him as Governor, working every day to improve the lives of Florida families. My good friend Byron Donalds has my full support," Johnson added.
The Sunshine State Republican thanked Johnson for his support, calling him a "good friend" in a post on X.
"From local Tea Party Activism to the State House & the halls of Congress to my candidacy for Governor of Florida, my fight for the Sunshine State has been unwavering. Together, we are Making America Great Again," Donalds added.
The congressman announced his gubernatorial bid in February after President Donald Trump had already pledged to endorse him if he chose to run.
"Byron Donalds would be a truly Great and Powerful Governor for Florida and, should he decide to run, will have my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, BYRON, RUN!" Trump declared in a February Truth Social post.
The Florida constitution stipulates, "No person who has, or but for resignation would have, served as governor or acting governor for more than six years in two consecutive terms shall be elected governor for the succeeding term."
