Despite a flurry of polling so far this year indicating the Democratic Party's favorability sinking to record lows, veteran Democratic strategist and pundit James Carville remains optimistic, as he points to recent ballot box victories by his party.

"You can't discount people winning elections," Carville told Fox News Digital this week.

Carville spoke the day after a new survey from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research was the latest to spell trouble for the Democratic Party, six months after they suffered setbacks up and down the ballot at the hands of now-President Donald Trump and Republicans.

The Democratic Party has been in the political wilderness since last November's elections, when Republicans won back control of the White House and the Senate and defended their fragile House majority. And Republicans made gains among Black and Hispanic voters as well as younger voters, all traditional members of the Democratic Party's base.

ON THE RISE: NEW POLL INDICATES TRUMP'S APPROVAL RATINGS EDGING UP

According to the survey, only about one-third of Democrats are very or somewhat optimistic about the future of the Democratic Party. That's a steep decline from last July, when around six in 10 Democrats said they were optimistic. The survey, conducted May 1-5, points to an increase in optimism among Republicans, with 55% more optimistic about the future of the GOP, up from 47% last summer.

HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLLING

Since Trump's return to power earlier this year, an increasingly energized base of Democrats is urging party leaders to take a stronger stand in pushing back against the president's sweeping and controversial agenda during the opening months of his second administration. And their anger is directed not only at Republicans, but also at Democrats they feel aren't vocal enough in their opposition to Trump.

And that's fueled the plunge in the Democratic Party's favorable ratings, which have hit historic lows in several recent surveys.

The Democrats' ratings stood underwater in the most recent Fox News national poll at 41% favorable and 56% unfavorable in a survey conducted April 18-21.

That's an all-time low for the Democrats in Fox News polling. And for the first time in a decade, the party's standing was lower than that of the GOP, which stood at 44% favorable and 54% unfavorable.

The figures were reversed last summer, when Fox News last asked the party favorability question in one of its surveys.

The Democratic Party's favorable ratings were well in negative territory in a Pew Research national survey — 38% favorable, 60% unfavorable — conducted in early April and at 36% favorable, 60% unfavorable in a Wall Street Journal poll in the field a couple of weeks earlier.

And national polls conducted in February by Quinnipiac University and in March by CNN and by NBC News also indicated the favorable ratings for the Democratic Party sinking to all-time lows.

Confidence in the Democratic Party's congressional leadership sunk to an all-time low, according to a Gallup poll conducted early last month.

The confidence rating for Democrats' leadership in Congress stood at 25% in the survey, which was nine points below the previous low of 34% recorded in 2023.

And the semi-annual Harvard Youth Poll, which was released late last month, indicated that approval ratings for Democrats in Congress among Americans aged 18-29 nosedived.

"I don’t doubt any of that’s true," Carville told Fox News. "But there’s one thing: We’re winning elections left and right as we’re talking about how the Democratic number or image is low."

John Ewing, Jr., a Democrat, this week ousted a longtime Republican mayor in Omaha, Nebraska, a blue dot in a reliably red state. Ewing will become Omaha's first Black mayor.

Last month, the Democrat-aligned candidate comfortably defeated the Republican-aligned candidate in a Wisconsin state Supreme Court election. The high-profile and expensive campaign grabbed plenty of national attention and outside money.

Democrats have also performed very well so far this year in special elections, including flipping red state Senate seats in Iowa and Pennsylvania.

In addition to looking back, Carville also pointed ahead to November's gubernatorial election in Virginia, where Democrats hope to win back the governor's office in Richmond.

"Let's see what's going to happen in Virginia," said Carville, who first grabbed national attention for his work as a lead strategist on former President Bill Clinton's successful 1992 presidential campaign.

And Carville predicted that "we’re going to win that."

President Donald Trump has some polling problems with his approval ratings sliding into negative territory since he reentered the White House three and a half months ago. But he's far from alone when it comes to taking a political punch in public opinion.

The opposing Democratic Party's favorable ratings keep sinking to new lows.

Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said this past weekend in a "Fox News Sunday" interview that the party's focus right now is "squarely on making sure that we stand up for hardworking Americans who are being left behind in this Trump economy."

But many Americans apparently don't believe that Democrats are up to the task.

KAMALA HARRIS TAKES NEXT STEP IN RETURN TO POLITICAL SPOTLIGHT

The Democrats' ratings stood underwater in the latest Fox News national poll at 41% favorable and 56% unfavorable in a survey conducted April 18-21.

That's an all-time low for the Democrats in Fox News polling. And for the first time in a decade, the party's standing was lower than that of the GOP, which stood at 44% favorable and 54% unfavorable.

The figures were reversed last summer, when Fox News last asked the party favorability question in one of its surveys.

HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLLING

The Fox News poll is far from an outlier.

The Democratic Party's favorable ratings were well in negative territory in a Pew Research national survey - 38% favorable, 60% unfavorable - conducted in early April and at 36% favorable, 60% unfavorable in a Wall Street Journal poll in the field a couple of weeks earlier.

And national polls conducted in February by Quinnipiac University and March by CNN and by NBC News also indicated the favorable ratings for the Democratic Party sinking to all-time lows.

But there's more.

Confidence in the Democratic Party's congressional leadership sunk to an all-time low, according to a Gallup poll conducted early last month.

The confidence rating for Democrats' leadership in Congress stood at 25% in the survey, which was nine points below the previous low of 34% recorded in 2023.

The semi-annual Harvard Youth Poll, which was released late last month, indicated that approval ratings for Democrats in Congress among Americans aged 18-29 nosedived.

POLL POSITION: WHERE TRUMP STANDS 15 MONTHS INTO HIS SECOND PRESIDENCY

An ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll conducted in mid-April indicated that more respondents trusted Trump (40%) than Democrats in Congress (32%) to handle the nation's main problems.

And a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted late last month suggested Republicans hold a significant advantage over Democrats on two top issues: the economy and immigration.

The Democratic Party has been in the political wilderness since last November's election setbacks, when Republicans won back control of the White House and the Senate and defended their fragile House majority. And Republicans made gains among Black and Hispanic voters as well as younger voters, all traditional members of the Democratic Party's base.

Since Trump's return to power, an increasingly angry and energized base of Democrats is pushing for party leaders to take a stronger stand in pushing back against the president's sweeping and controversial agenda during the opening months of his second administration.

"What we've seen over the last few months is some Democrats taking it upon themselves to tackle what has been a larger brand problem over the past decade and a half," a Democrat strategist and communicator who's a veteran of presidential campaigns told Fox News.

The anger not only at Trump and Republicans but also at fellow Democrats appears to be a factor in the party's polling woes, with the drop in positivity toward the Democrats in the Fox News poll partially being a self-inflicted wound. Party favorability among self-identified Democrats plunged 10 points from last summer (87%) to last month (77%) in the survey.

At the same time, the Republican Party saw a slight improvement among their party faithful: 83% of self-identified Republicans had a favorable view in 2024 vs. 85% in April.

But there's a silver lining for the Democrats.

"The higher favorable rating for the Republican Party is entirely due to Democrats feeling less favorable toward their party than Republicans do toward theirs," said Democrat pollster Chris Anderson, who conducts the Fox News surveys with Republican Daron Shaw. "This in and of itself is unlikely to translate into midterm success for the GOP as Democrats say they will almost universally vote for their party and independents favor the Democrats as well."

The Fox News poll indicates that if the 2026 midterm elections were held today, 49% of voters would back a generic Democrat in their congressional district, with 42% supporting the generic Republican candidate.

Fox News' Victoria Balara contributed to this report.

The Democratic Party will be the "Titanic at the bottom of the ocean" come 2028, according to Gen Z political commentator Brilyn Hollyhand, who is on a mission to continue building conservative support among the youth vote following President Donald Trump's strides with the demographic in 2024. 

"They've actually put up figures like Jasmine Crockett and AOC and Bernie Sanders as their leaders. None of those people are inspiring Gen Z. None of those people are bringing more voters into the party. It's just making this weird, radical wing of the party be the vocal voices. So, by all means, let Jasmine Crockett, AOC and Bernie Sanders be the voice, the future of the DNC. It'll make our job easier come the midterms and come 2028," Hollyhand told Fox News Digital in an exclusive Zoom interview this week. 

"It's a really weird position that they've taken to go more radical than Kamala Harris. And that's why Kamala lost, because she was too radical," he said.  

Hollyhand, 18, is a political commentator and chair of the RNC's Youth Advisory Council who was invited to meet one-on-one with Trump in Alabama on Thursday, when the president delivered the University of Alabama's commencement speech. Hollyhand said that he and Trump discussed how to keep momentum among young voters following the 2024 election, when Gen Z voters swung to the right as Trump courted young people on TikTok and in podcasts. The youth vote, he explained, had long been in the Democrat Party's court before Trump upped the ante on youth outreach during last year's election cycle. 

The 18-year-old activist does not graduate high school until later this month, but he has met Trump five times as of Thursday. The pair discussed how the Trump White House can continue expanding on the strides the Trump campaign made with young people, including Hollyhand suggesting Trump tweak former President Ronald Reagan's famed 1980 campaign question: "Are you better off than you were four years ago?"

DEMOCRATS ACCUSED OF BEING 'OUT OF TOUCH' AS NEW POLL SHOWS DROP IN SUPPORT FROM YOUNG VOTERS

"A comment I made to him was, 'Mr. President, I'm a huge history nerd. And so I loved when you talked about that famous Reagan quote of, 'Are you better off than you were four years ago?' And that's something he echoed on the campaign trail a bunch himself. But something I specifically pointed out to the president is, ‘We can tweak that a little bit.’ And he said, ‘What do you mean? What can we do?’ I said, ‘Well, now all you have to do is walk out on that stage and ask Gen Z, ’Are you're better off then you were 100 days ago?'" Hollyhand recounted. 

"The resounding answer every single time is going to be, ‘Yes.’ I mean, gas is cheaper, the border's secure, and the president performed CPR on the American dream. So, I think everybody in my generation can agree, whether you love Trump or hate Trump, he is improving the nation and making life better for us," he added. 

The political activist said that he floated to Trump that he could hold a 2025 version of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's fireside chats to talk directly to voters in a virtual setting, and he also told Trump that he has a "secret weapon" going into the 2026 midterms. 

"I said, 'Mr. President, you're doing this crazy novel concept in politics called actually doing what the people elected you to do in office and actually keeping your promises. I know we never see politicians doing that, but you're doing that and Gen Z loves it,'" Hollyhand said. 

On the flip side, Democrats have dangled promises of free college and cheaper costs of living to young people, while comparing Trump to Adolf Hitler and Elon Musk to a king, he argued. Hollyhand said such messaging has swayed some youths to rally around left-wing Democrats, such as New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, but that many Gen Zers are able to see through the "false bill of goods from the Democrats." 

DEMOCRATS' IDENTITY CRISIS: YOUTH REVOLT ROCKS PARTY AFTER TRUMP COMEBACK

The Democrat Party is in the midst of finding its footing and platform on a swath of issues ranging from transgender ideology to immigration and the economy after voters poured out in support of Trump and his policies in 2024 in an election that was viewed as a rebuke of left-wing policies. High-profile Democrats such as Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders have amplified their positions within the party in recent months, including hosting anti-Trump rallies and speculation mounting that Ocasio-Cortez could make a Senate or presidential run. 

Hollyhand said that Trump could use his "secret weapon" ahead of the midterms and publish bullet-point lists of his accomplishments, which he argued Democrats will struggle to campaign against. 

DEMOCRATS’ VICE CHAIR IGNITES CIVIL WAR, TARGETING 'ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL' INCUMBENTS IN PRIMARIES

"I think that's going to be a really hard thing to campaign against come the midterms. I think it's going to be super hard to campaign against this list of accomplishments come 2028. Where the Democrats are trying to … scare Gen Z with these emotions and dangle free things in front of them and say, 'oh, well, they're Nazis and they're Hitler and Elon Musk is trying to be a king.' And then we come out and just say, 'Hey, here's a bullet point list of the things we've accomplished in the first 100 days.' That's a really hard thing to campaign against," he said.

Hollyhand underscored that his meeting with Trump backstage at the commencement speech was relaxed and stood in stark contrast with how the media portrays the president. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"This guy is genuine. Like the first thing he said was, 'You've been killing it.' He took the time to say, ‘Hey, I actually watched your hit on Fox News this morning.’ He could have been saying, ‘Hey, Brilyn, get these youth numbers up, improve our numbers in this college campus, get more students out there in that arena.’ He immediately turned it to, 'Hey man, you've been killin' it. …. That shows just the testament of who the guy is. And it wasn't like a serious back and forth. We were laughing, we're cutting it up," Hollyhand said.

As DNC Vice Chair David Hogg seeks to spend millions on primarying older Democrats in blue districts, the Senate Republicans’ campaign arm suggested they are taking the exact opposite tact ahead of the 2026 midterms.

"With Democrats like Jon Ossoff openly calling to impeach President Trump, no one should put their personal ambitions above protecting the president’s legacy and majorities," National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) communications director Joanna Rodriguez told Fox News Digital on Thursday.

"Leader [John] Thune and Chairman [Tim] Scott have been clear that the NRSC’s goal is to protect President Trump’s majority in the Senate, and they know Mike Rogers and John Cornyn are the best candidates to do that in their respective races." 

The issue arose as both men – a former Michigan congressman seeking Sen. Gary Peters’ to-be-open seat and an incumbent Texas senator, respectively – may see substantive primary challenges.

SENATE FAILS TO REJECT TRUMP'S NATIONAL EMERGENCY ON TARIFFS AS REPUBLICANS SPLINTER

An NRSC official reportedly told donors on a Tuesday conference call that people seeking to aid Senate races in both states should only give to Rogers and Cornyn, according to Axios.

When reached, an NRSC official did not wave Fox News Digital off that report.

Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., is considering a run for Peters’ seat, and Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, is doing the same in the Lone Star State, according to several reports.

NRSC political director Brendan Jaspers said, according to Axios, that no other candidates but Rogers and Cornyn – "declared or posturing" – should be supported by substantive donors, unless and until they decide to hold onto their seats in a narrowly Republican-majority House of Representatives.

CHINA IS ‘CAVING’ TO TRUMP'S TRADE WAR STRATEGY, EXPERT SIGNALS

A Huizenga spokesperson told Fox News Digital it is important to "remember that Michigan voters have the ultimate say."

"We continue to hear from grassroots activists, Republican primary voters and donors both here in Michigan and around the country who are looking for an alternative. Sadly, it seems that Washington insiders prefer predictable candidates, regardless of success."

Fox News Digital reached out to the DNC for comment from Hogg regarding Republicans shaping their campaign strategy in direct contrast to his own.

"Republicans are clearly so afraid of losing seats in the House with their extremely unpopular agenda that party leaders are urging House members not to run for higher office," a DNC spokesperson told Fox News Digital. 

"Republicans should be afraid of losing elections as they push a budget bill that will cut vital programs for hardworking Americans to pay for another billionaire tax handout — all as the country braces for a Trump recession."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Hogg’s strategy incensed party elders, including Bill Clinton confidant James Carville, who recently remarked, "Does he really think the problem that we‘re facing in the United States today is because we got 65-year-old Democrats in office? Why don’t you take on a Republican? That‘s your job."

However, Carville has since softened his stance, appearing to compare Hogg to Ulysses S. Grant by referencing a popular anecdote in which President Abraham Lincoln purportedly defended Grant against calls for his dismissal after the 1862 Battle of Shiloh, reportedly saying, "I can't spare this man; he fights."

Hunt’s office could not be reached for comment for the purposes of this story. 

Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke, a Democrat, indicated that if Texans want him to run for the U.S. Senate, he will mount another election bid.

"But if it comes to pass that this is what the people of Texas want, that it's the highest and best use of what I can give to you, then yes I will," O'Rourke said while responding to someone at a town hall event who asked the former lawmaker if he would run.

O'Rourke served in the U.S. House of Representatives from early 2013 through early 2019, but he has fallen flat in bids for U.S. Senate, president, and governor.

WHO IS BETO O'ROURKE?

He lost a 2022 Lone Star State gubernatorial bid to incumbent GOP Gov. Greg Abbott. 

The Democrat announced but later dropped a presidential bid in 2019. 

He lost a 2018 U.S. Senate contest to incumbent Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. 

CORNYN'S RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN SPARKS QUESTIONS ON BOTH PARTY FLANKS AS DEMS CHASE ‘THE GHOST OF A BLUE TEXAS’

Responding to a post on X regarding O'Rourke's comment that he would run if that's what Texans want, GOP Sen. Mike Lee of Utah tweeted, "They don't."

Texas state Rep. Mitch Little, a Republican, tweeted, "'THIS SUMMER…from the producers who brought you ‘BETO’ and ‘BETO,’ you’ll fall in love—again—with ‘BETO.’"

Incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who has served in the Senate for more than two decades, is up for re-election in 2026.

TEXAS AG KEN PAXTON ANNOUNCES RUN FOR US SENATE

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has mounted a Republican Senate primary challenge against Cornyn.

It sometimes takes a pot a while to boil.

Democrats lost the presidency. Lost the Senate. Failed to flip control of the House.

And now, more than six months after last year’s election, the Democrats’ pot is starting to gurgle.

It was natural that Democrats would take some time to figure out what went wrong. Clang around some pots and pans. And finally pour some water into a pot and turn on the stove.

DEMOCRATS' IDENTITY CRISIS: YOUTH REVOLT ROCKS PARTY AFTER TRUMP COMEBACK

So Democrats are starting to get their pot to boil.

How hot it gets – and whether the stew is anything to wow political culinary taste buds – is unclear.

For starters, some Democrats are boiling at one another.

Democratic National Committee Chairman (DNC) Ken Martin handed down an ultimatum after DNC Vice Chairman David Hogg aimed to spend millions of dollars mounting primary challenges to Democratic incumbents.

"Let me be unequivocal. No DNC officers should ever attempt to influence the outcome of a primary election, whether on behalf of an incumbent or a challenger," said Martin.

Hogg defended his tactic to weed out Democrats who he believe lost a step, are older or just aren’t getting the job done.

SENATE PUTS TRUMP TEAM IN PLACE, SETS UP AGENDA FIGHT AFTER 100-DAY SPRINT

"We want people to know they're being watched," said Hogg. "It’s not to say it’s ‘out with the old in with the new.’ I would say it’s out with the ineffective and in with the effective."

Democrats contend their neutrality pledge is about assuring party unity.

"The reforms that Chair Martin is rolling out, including the one that we're talking about today of increasing funding for state parties, is not a reaction to David Hogg," said Jane Kleeb of the Association of State Democratic Parties (ASDC). "The reform package that Ken Martin is bringing forward, that he will be discussing over the next several months, that he ran on as chair, is not a reaction to David."

But Hogg is the elephant in the room to the party represented by the donkey.

"I have great respect for David Hogg," said Martin. "I understand what he's trying to do. I've said to him, ‘If you want to challenge incumbents, you're more than free to do that.’ But just not as an officer of the DNC."

And then there’s rage over age.

DNC'S DAVID HOGG TAKING ON DEMOCRATS IS ‘THE BIGGEST GIFT TO REPUBLICANS EVER,’ SAYS STRATEGIST

80-year-old Senate Minority Whip and the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee Dick Durbin, D-Ill., is the latest veteran Democrat to announce his retirement.

"I had to project forward. The campaign is going to last two years. And then you're going to serve six years. So are you ready to make an eight year commitment?" asked Durbin.

Durbin would be 87 when another term concluded in early 2033 – presuming he won and served the entire time.

"A lot of this is the fallout from Biden," said Rutgers University political scientist Ross Baker. "It sort of contaminated older Democrats."

Age is just a number. But it’s a number with consequences. Five House Republicans over the age of 65 have died within the past year. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., says Democrats could have sidetracked parts of President Trump’s agenda had the older members lived.

75-year-old Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., defeated 35-year-old Rep. Alexandria, Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., in November to become the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. The vote: 131-84. Connolly suffered from esophageal cancer – but pushed through. Democrats gave him a vote of confidence. However, Connolly just announced his cancer returned after treatment. He will give up his committee ranking post and retire at the end of this term.

DICK DURBIN, NO. 2 SENATE DEMOCRAT, WON'T SEEK RE-ELECTION

Durbin’s departure could intensify progressive pressure on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to quit, too. Liberals are fuming over Schumer intervening to side with President Trump and avoid a government shutdown in March.

"Sen. Schumer made the disastrous decision," said House Progressive Caucus Chairman Greg Casar, D-Tex. "I think we have to get to a place where we're willing to disagree with even our leaders, like Sen. Schumer, when they make a disastrous decision. Thats how we get better."

Schumer contends he isn’t going anywhere.

"No conversation about when you might step aside?" asked MSNBC’s Chris Jansing.

"I'm focusing on the decision that the Republicans in Congress have to make to whether support Trump with these horrible economic policies or not," replied Schumer.

The New York Democrat further rejected any chatter that he might step down when appearing on CNN.

"I am staying put and I'm fighting the fight every day, as is our caucus, in a united and successful way," said Schumer.

Democrats set out to hold town hall meetings over the recent Congressional recess in districts where they accused Republicans of ducking their constituents. But caveat emptor. In some instances, it was Democrats who got an earful.

DEMOCRATS' VICE CHAIR GETS ULTIMATUM: STAY NEUTRAL IN PRIMARIES OR STEP DOWN FROM PARTY LEADERSHIP

For instance, Casar conducted a town hall in the district of Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colo. Evans just flipped his district from blue to red by 2,500 votes.

"What are we going to do about the DNC?" asked one Colorado town hall attendee of Casar. "They need to listen to you young people."

"Democrats didn’t really, as far as I can tell, really do anything," observed another.

The pot really started to boil just before dawn early Sunday morning on the East Front of the Capitol.

Both clad in black, Jeffries and Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., began what they billed as a "sit-in" to protest President Trump’s policies and reject the "big, beautiful bill."

House committees are prepping that legislation this week.

"People will die if this budget is successful. That's how urgent the fight is," said Jeffries.

But when it comes to conventional tactics, younger, upstart Democrats say BLANK THAT!

JEFFRIES, BOOKER PROTEST TRUMP AND HIS POLICIES DURING SIT-IN ON CAPITOL STEPS

They’re urging their party to ditch the pleasantries and use, well, kitchen language.

"I say it's time to drop the excuses and grow a f***ing spine," said 26-year-old Democratic Illinois Congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh.

Abughazaleh is running in the district now held by 80-year-old Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill. She’s expected to announce her retirement in the coming days.

Democrat Mike Sacks is running against Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y. in a swing district just outside New York City.

"I'm running for Congress to tell you the truth, to fight for New York, and to unf**k our country," said Sacks in a campaign ad.

So the Democrats’ pot is churning. Democrats will soon have the water ready. But it’s unclear what dish they plan to prepare.

The only problem is that so far, Democrats are scalding themselves with that hot water. There’s infighting. Arguing. And everyone is trying to figure out what works.

For the Democrats, it’s enough to make their blood boil.

FIRST ON FOX: The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is targeting a list of 25 "vulnerable" Democrats in the House of Representatives, with a digital ad blitz offering to buy them plane tickets to El Salvador on the condition they "livestream the whole thing and snap plenty of selfies with their MS-13 buddies."

The ad campaign follows a Monday press release by the NRCC offering to foot the bill for any future trips by Democrat lawmakers to El Salvador, after several progressive lawmakers traveled to the South American country in protest of the Trump administration's deportation policies.   

"We’ll pay for the plane tickets, they just can’t forget to smile for the camera while they sell out their constituents," NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella said Tuesday. "If out-of-touch House Democrats are so desperate to cozy up to violent gang members, the least they can do is let Americans watch the show."

4 MORE DEMS TRAVEL TO EL SALVADOR TO PUSH FOR ABREGO GARCIA'S RETURN TO US

The Democrats targeted by the House Republican arm's ad blitz herald from states including California, New York, Nevada, Ohio, Florida, Texas and a few others.

They are: Josh Harder, D-Calif.; Adam Gray, D-Calif.; George Whitesides, D-Calif.; Derek Tran, D-Calif.; Dave Min, D-Calif.; Darren Soto, D-Fla.; Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla.; Frank Mrvan, D-Ind.; Jared Golden, D-Maine; Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Mich.; Don Davis, D-N.C.; Nellie Pou, D-N.J.; Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M.; Dina Titus, D-Nev.; Susie Lee, D-Nev.; Steven Horsford, D-Nev.; Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y.; Laura Gillen, D-N.Y.; Josh Riley, D-N.Y.; Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio; Emilia Sykes, D-Ohio; Henry Cuellar, D-Texas; Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas; Eugene Vindman, D-Va.; Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash.

REP. MAXWELL FROST EXPLAINS WHY HE AND OTHER DEMOCRATS ARE IN EL SALVADOR

Progressive Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., traveled to El Salvador last week in a highly publicized trip to visit Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant deported with a slew of other Venezuelan gang members and whom Democrats have said was illegally deported by the Trump administration. 

Van Hollen's visit was followed up by another visit to El Salvador on Sunday by four far-left Democratic lawmakers: Reps. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, Maxine Dexter of Oregon, Maxwell Frost of Florida and Robert Garcia of California.

Republicans, meanwhile, have been eager to tie Democrats to suspected criminals being deported to El Salvador. The NRCC's counterpart for the U.S. Senate, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), released a new digital ad this week as well that mocked Van Hollen's recent meeting with alleged MS-13 gang member Abrego Garcia. 

"¡Bienvenidos a El Salvador Senate Dems! Democrats should feel free to make their trip to hang out with MS-13 gangbangers one-way," the NRSC wrote in a post on X unveiling the new ad.

HOUSE DEMS DEMAND 'PROOF OF LIFE; OF ABREGO GARCIA AFTER BEING DENIED MEETING IN EL SALVADOR

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"Welcome to El Salvador. Home to breathtaking sunsets, world class surf breaks and gang banger Kilmar Abrego Garcia," a narrator from the video can be heard saying as well. "El Salvador is the destination for Democrats seeking the thrill of bringing violent, criminal, illegal aliens back to America," the ad continues, noting El Salvador was a good destination for travelers to "witness Trump Derangement Syndrome in its purest form."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's poll numbers in his home state of New York are taking a hit.

The top Senate Democrat and longtime lawmaker faced intense backlash from within his own party in March for supporting a Republican-crafted federal government funding bill that averted a government shutdown and was backed by President Donald Trump but opposed by most congressional Democrats.

That anger by Democrats appears to be reflected in a new poll of New Yorkers conducted by Siena College.

Schumer's favorable rating stands at 39% favorable and 49% unfavorable among New York state voters questioned in the poll, which was conducted April 14-16 and released on Tuesday.

HEAD HERE TO CHECK OUT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLLING

It's the worst showing by Schumer in the 20 years Siena College has been conducting polls in New York state.

"A first in a Siena College poll: Schumer is 10 points underwater, with a plurality of voters viewing him unfavorably," Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said.

Fueling the deterioration of Schumer's numbers is a plunge in favorability among Democrats.

PROGRESSIVE LEADER SAYS SCHUMER FACES ‘UPHILL CLIMB’ TO WIN BACK DEMOCRATS' TRUST

"While he continues to be viewed unfavorably by more than two-thirds of Republicans and a majority of independents, Schumer saw his standing with Democrats, particularly liberals, fall dramatically," Greenberg said. "Democrats view Schumer favorably 52-38%, down from 68-23%, and he’s still viewed favorably by a plurality of liberals, 47-41%, but that’s down from 68-21%."

While the poll shows that Schumer's favorable ratings are taking a hit, it also indicates that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's numbers are soaring.

Ocasio-Cortez, the four-term Democrat from New York City and a progressive champion, stands at 47% favorable and 33% unfavorable among New York state voters. That's a jump from 38%-39% the last time Siena asked about Ocasio-Cortez among a statewide sample of respondents, four years ago.

According to the poll, 64% of Democrats view Ocasio-Cortez in a favorable light, more than Schumer or Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. Six in 10 Republicans questioned in the poll view Ocasio-Cortez in a negative way, with independents evenly divided.

BERNIE SANDERS, AOC, AND OTHER ANTI-TRUMP PROGRESSIVES HAUL IN BIG BUCKS

Schumer has repeatedly argued that voting to advance the GOP federal funding bill was the best of two bad options and a government shutdown would have given more power to Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, the president's special White House advisor who's aggressively chopping the federal workforce as he steers DOGE.

While facing calls by fellow Democrats to be more vocal in his opposition to Trump, Schumer to date has kept his control of the Senate Democratic Caucus.

While the Senate minority leader isn't up for re-election until 2028, there are already suggestions that Ocasio-Cortez could wage a primary challenge against Schumer, with some early polling suggesting that she would top him.

Hochul, who is running next year for a second four-year term as New York governor, is enjoying a rise in her approval and favorable ratings, according to the poll.

The governor's approval rating stands at 48%-45%, up from 46%-48% in Siena College's March poll. 

And Hochul's favorable ratings now stand at 44%-43%, up from 40%-50% last month.

While only 39% of voters are prepared to re-elect Hochul in 2026 – with 48% saying they would like to see "someone else" – her standing is an improvement from March, when only 34% wanted to see her re-elected and 56% preferred someone else.

Greenberg noted that when it comes to the governor's approval and favorable ratings, "Hochul improved most among upstate and women voters."

Republican Reps. Elise Stefanik and Mike Lawler, and Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman, are all considering launching GOP campaigns for governor against Hochul.

Pointing to the latest poll results from Siena, Democratic Governors Association spokesperson Kevin Donohoe argued, "New Yorkers strongly support Governor Hochul's leadership because she is fighting to get results on the priorities that matter to them – from public safety to lowering costs."

Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich. took aim at President Donald Trump on Tuesday as she launched a bid for the open U.S. Senate seat in the crucial Great Lakes battleground state. 

In a video announcing her candidacy, Stevens was flanked by vehicles as she criticized the Trump administration’s tariff policies and vows to protect Michigan's auto industry.

"[Trump's] chaos and reckless tariffs are putting tens of thousands of Michigan jobs at risk," Stevens charged. She also accused the Trump administration of bringing "chaos."

"Haley will work to bring down costs for Michigan families, continue to boost Michigan's manufacturing and auto industries, and stand up to the Trump-Musk chaos agenda," a statement on Stevens' campaign website reads.

REPUBLICAN LAUNCHES SECOND STRAIGHT BID TO FLIP DEMOCRAT-HELD SENATE SEAT IN KEY BATTLEGROUND

Stevens, who has represented a seat covering parts of suburban Detroit since first winning election to Congress in 2018, highlighted her work to improve America’s auto industry during the Obama administration – and included a clip of former President Barack Obama giving her a shoutout. 

Stevens is the third prominent Democrat to throw her hat in the ring in the 2026 race to succeed retiring two-term Democratic Sen. Gary Peters. 

Earlier this month, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, a rising star in the party, announced her candidacy. McMorrow gained national attention in 2022, thanks to a viral speech she gave in the Michigan Senate as she forcefully pushed back against a Republican lawmaker who had accused her of "grooming" children.

Abdul El-Sayed, the former director of Wayne County’s Department of Health, jumped into the race last week. El-Sayed, who ran unsuccessfully for the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial nomination, was endorsed by progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., as he launched his Senate bid.

Former Michigan state House Speaker Joe Tate is also seriously considering a run for the Democratic Senate nomination.

Last month, Pete Buttigieg, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate who later served as Transportation Secretary in former President Joe Biden's administration, ruled out a campaign after seriously considering a bid.

LONGTIME HOUSE REPUBLICAN WEIGHS RUN TO FLIP DEM-HELD SENATE SEAT IN KEY BATTLEGROUND

As Fox News first reported, former Rep. Mike Rogers, who was the GOP Senate nominee in Michigan in last year's election, last week launched a second straight Republican run for the Senate.

Rogers, a former FBI special agent who later served as chair of the House Intelligence Committee during his tenure in Congress, narrowly lost to Rep. Elissa Slotkin, the Democrats' nominee, in last November's election in the race to succeed longtime Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who retired. Slotkin, who vastly outspent Rogers, edged him by roughly 19,000 votes, or a third of a percentage point.

But Rogers may not have the GOP field to himself.

Earlier this month, longtime Michigan Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga told Fox News that his phone "hasn't stopped ringing" since Peters' announcement.

The Senate race in Michigan is expected to be one of the most high profile and expensive contests of the 2026 election cycle.

The seat is one of three held by the Democrats that the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) is planning to heavily target as it aims to expand the GOP's current 53-47 majority in the chamber. The other two are in New Hampshire, where longtime Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is retiring rather than running for re-election in 2026, and Georgia, where the GOP considers a first-term Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff vulnerable.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., has been crisscrossing the country the past couple of months, taking a lead in amplifying the Democratic Party's message in resisting President Donald Trump's aggressive and controversial actions in overturning long-standing government policy and slashing the federal workforce.

But Khanna, the California Democrat who's in his fifth term in the House and who likely harbors national ambitions in 2028, is not only turning up the volume in his broadsides against Trump and Vice President JD Vance, Trump's heir apparent, but also against his own party.

"We have to have a whole rebrand of the Democratic Party with a coherent platform and a future-oriented platform, and many leaders need to do that. New leaders, not the old guard. And I hope to be part of that," Khanna said in an interview with Fox News Digital.

DEMOCRATS’ VICE CHAIR IGNITES CIVIL WAR, TARGETING 'ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL' INCUMBENTS IN PRIMARIES

When asked if party leaders need to be more vocal in pushing back against the Trump administration, Khanna quickly said yes.

"We need more from our leadership. And you know, if you're not willing to speak up about someone being snatched away from their home and deported without due process, you probably shouldn't be in elective office as a Democrat right now," he said. "We need Democrats speaking out, not just on the economy. We need them speaking out on civil liberties, on the rights of immigrants and on the rights of universities."

DEM RISING STAR EYES VANCE AS KEY LONG-TERM THREAT: 'NEEDS TO BE DEFEATED'

But Khanna also praised the recent record-breaking marathon Senate floor speech by Sen. Cory Booker D-N.J., and the large rallies across the country being co-headlined by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.

The Democratic Party is currently in the political wilderness, following last November's election setbacks, when Republicans won back control of the White House and the Senate and defended their fragile House majority. Republicans also made gains among Black and Hispanic voters, as well as younger voters, all traditional members of the Democratic Party's base.

Democrats have become increasingly angry and very energized in response to Trump's moves. That anger is directed not only at Trump and Republicans, but also at fellow Democrats. Many in the party's base feel their leaders in Congress haven't been effective or vocal enough in pushing back against the president.

BERNIE SANDERS, AOC AND OTHER ANTI-TRUMP PROGRESSIVES HAUL IN BIG BUCKS FOR 2026 MIDTERMS

And the energy has been evident at town halls this winter and early spring held by both Democratic and Republican members of Congress.

National polls conducted in February by Quinnipiac University, and last month by CNN and by NBC News, indicated the favorable ratings for the Democratic Party sinking to all-time lows.

And a Gallup poll released on Thursday spotlighted that confidence in the Democratic Party's congressional leadership has sunk to an all-time low.

Looking ahead to next year's midterm elections, when House Democrats aim to topple the GOP's razor-thin majority in the House, Khanna said he will continue his brisk pace on the campaign trail.

"I'm already going out to more red districts. We did three red districts in California. I'm headed out to Pennsylvania. Was invited to go out to Nebraska, to Nevada, down south to South Carolina," he said. "So we will be campaigning in red districts. Thousands of people are showing up. I'm very, very confident that we're going to succeed."

This past week, Khanna trained his verbal fire on Vance as he delivered two high-profile speeches in the vice president's home state of Ohio on Monday and on Tuesday at Yale Law School, where both politicians earned their legal degrees.

In his interview with Fox News Digital in New Haven, Connecticut, ahead of the Yale speech, Khanna was asked if his attacks on Vance were an early 2028 positioning move.

Khanna responded that "what I'm doing is providing an intellectual foundation for the Democratic Party."

A move by a top Democratic Party official to spend millions of dollars through his outside political group to primary-challenge some older Democrats in blue districts is further igniting intra-party tensions that have rocked the party since President Donald Trump's convincing election last November.

The reverberations started instantly after Leaders We Deserve, a political organization led by recently elected Democratic National Committee (DNC) vice chair David Hogg, announced on Wednesday that it will spend $20 million to help elect younger Democrats. The effort includes supporting primary challengers to House Democrats in safe seats that Hogg argues "are asleep at the wheel."

The move by the 25-year-old Hogg, a survivor of the horrific shooting seven years ago at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in south Florida, to spend money against fellow Democrats is seen as an unprecedented action by a DNC official.

FIRST ON FOX: REPUBLICAN PARTY SHOWCASES MASSIVE HAUL

"There are strong opinions on both sides," a DNC voting member told Fox News Digital.

The voting member, who asked for anonymity to speak more freely, said that "behind the scenes, people are expressing their strong opinions towards each other. There's certainly not a consensus."

DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S FAVORABLE RATINGS DROP TO HISTORIC LOWS

DNC chair Ken Martin, who along with Hogg and other party officials, were elected to their positions at the beginning of February, praised Hogg in a statement but also spotlighted the DNC's longstanding position of staying neutral in primaries.

"David Hogg is a passionate advocate and we are grateful for his service to the Democratic Party, whether it be in his role as a DNC Vice Chair or in an outside capacity," Martin said in his statement.

But Martin added, "In order to ensure we are as effective as possible at electing Democrats to office, it is the DNC's longstanding position that primary voters — not the national party — determine their Democratic candidates for the general election."

Those comments were echoed by another DNC voting member who asked to remain anonymous.

"David Hogg is a great activist who is inspiring young people and injecting enthusiasm into our political bloodstream, which is sorely needed," the committee member said. 

"But he is also now an elected DNC vice chair, which means that he should not be getting into primaries," the DNC voting member cautioned. "There is a reason that the DNC maintains neutrality, because we are the arbiters and the referees at the end of the day. You can’t be a referee and also pick a side because then you lose credibility."

The move by Hogg comes as the party's base is angry, and very energized, in fighting back against Trump's sweeping and controversial moves, since returning to the White House three months ago, in upending the federal government and longstanding national policies. That anger is directed not only at Trump and Republicans, but also at Democrats many in the party's base feel haven't been effective or vocal enough in pushing back against the president.

CASH DASH: BERNIE SANDERS, AOC, AND OTHER LEADERS ON THE LEFT LEADING FIGHT AGAINST TRUMP SEE SURGE IN FUNDRAISING 

The energy has been evident at town halls this winter and early spring held by both Democratic and Republican members of Congress. And progressive champions Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have drawn very large crowds to their "Fighting Oligarchy" rallies across the country over the past six weeks.

Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez, and other politicians who are leading the fight against Trump — including Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut — have seen a surge in their fundraising over the past three months.

Another leader on the left who has been among those vocal in their resistance to the Trump administration, Rep. Ro Khanna of California, emphasized in a Fox News Digital interview that "we have to have a whole rebrand of the Democratic Party with a coherent platform and a future-oriented platform, and many leaders need to do that, new leaders, not the old guard. And I hope to be part of that."

Khanna, who was interviewed on Tuesday, ahead of Hogg's news, added that "we need Democrats speaking out, not just on the economy. We need them speaking out on civil liberties, on the rights of immigrants and on the rights of universities."

While Democrats are increasingly energized to resist Trump, a slew of national polls earlier this year indicated the favorability ratings of the Democratic Party sinking to all-time lows.

Hogg, in a series of social media posts, pointed to one of those polls as he explained his move.

"The party has hit an all-time low approval rating of 27%," Hogg wrote on X.

And he argued that "too many elected leaders in the Democratic Party are either unwilling or unable to meet the moment and are asleep at the wheel while Trump is demolishing the economy, challenging the foundations of our democracy, and creating new existential crises for our country by the day."

Pointing to Democrats whom his group may target, Hogg said "through all of this, some incumbents will rise to the challenge and emerge stronger. Others will demonstrate why they should be replaced. Either way, we all win. Especially when we are not challenging frontline Democratic incumbents — we all want the House back."

A Democratic Party operative who works on campaigns and who asked to remain anonymous told Fox News Digital that "this is unusual, but we do need some better Democrats in office and there's been a push to have a new generation come in and replace the 70- and-80-year-olds who have been in elective positions and shown that they're not up to the fight."

Chris Moyer, a Democratic strategist and communicator who is a veteran of presidential and statewide campaigns, noted the timing of Hogg's move.

"It's all about how you break through, and the old ways of doing things have not worked. And this is an inflection point," Moyer said. "So it's understandable that there's a desire to get some new blood into important roles and take the party in a more effective direction."

But a DNC voting member who was granted anonymity to speak more freely said that "because we are so close to winning the [House] majority, having that money spent picking up seats to win the majority is probably a better use of the funds."

It apparently pays to lead the resistance.

Progressive lawmakers in Congress who have been among the most vocal in pushing back against President Donald Trump's aggressive and controversial second-term agenda are seeing a surge in fundraising.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, the longtime progressive champion, hauled in $11.5 million in the January-March first quarter of 2025 fundraising, according to Federal Election Commission filings this week.

The Vermont independent and two-time Democratic presidential primary runner-up also reports more than $19 million in his campaign coffers at the start of this month.

WHAT BERNIE SANDERS TOLD FOX NEWS ABOUT TRUMP, MUSK, AND DEMOCRATS

Sanders has been drawing tens of thousands of people to his "Fighting Oligarchy" rallies across the country over the past six weeks. Co-headling those rallies is Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, another rock star on the political left.

The four-term Democrat from New York City raked in a massive $9.6 million the past three months. The record-breaking fundraising haul was one of the biggest ever for any House lawmaker.

BERNIE SANDERS AND AOC TAKE AIM AT TRUMP AND MUSK, AS WELL AS DEMOCRATS, AT WESTERN RALLIES

Ocasio-Cortez's team highlighted that the fundraising came from 266,000 individual donors, with an average contribution of just $21.

"I cannot convey enough how grateful I am to the millions of people supporting us with your time, resources, & energy. Your support has allowed us to rally people together at record scale to organize their communities," Ocasio-Cortez emphasized in a social media post.

Another Democrat in Congress who has been very visible in leading the resistance to Trump is Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut.

Murphy, who won re-election last November and doesn't have to run again until 2030, hauled in $8 million over the past three months, his biggest quarterly fundraising ever.

"The people are sending Democrats a message about the direction they would like to see," top Sanders advisor Faiz Shakir said in a social media post.

Longtime Democratic operative and strategist Joe Caiazzo, a veteran of the Sanders 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, told Fox News that "there's a direct correlation between fundraising and action… this is an indication of the yearning for action over inaction… that is what Democratic voters and Democratic activists want."

And Caiazzo warned that "the stale ways of Washington have been rejected by the voters, and we need to understand that going into the next cycle."

HOUSE GOP TOUTS ‘UNSTOPPABLE MOMENTUM’ AS IT SHOWCASES FUNDRAISING

While not bringing in similar eye-popping numbers, House Republicans are touting their first-quarter fundraising, as they prepare to defend their razor-thin majority in the chamber in next year's midterm elections.

Seven GOP lawmakers in competitive districts who are being targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee each raised seven figures over the past three months.

Leading the way was Rep. Mike Lawler of the 17th Congressional District of New York, who hauled in nearly $1.5 million during the first quarter. Lawler is mulling a statewide bid for New York governor in 2026. Also on the list are Reps. Juan Ciscomani of Arizona's 6th District, Young Kim and Ken Calvert, of California's 40th and 41st Districts, respectively, Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa's 1st District, Jen Kiggans of Virginia's 2nd District, and Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin's 3rd District

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) highlighted that House GOP lawmakers in competitive districts enjoy a large fundraising advantage over Democrats in competitive seats.

And the NRCC emphasized that this is "a huge difference" from the first fundraising quarter during the 2024 election cycle, when the Democrats held a campaign cash advantage. 

"House Republicans aren't just winning the fundraising game against vulnerable Democrats – they're running laps around them," NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella argued.

EXCLUSIVE - Former Rep. Mike Rogers, who was the GOP Senate nominee in Michigan in last year's election, is launching a second straight Republican run for the Senate in the crucial Great Lakes battleground state.

Rogers, a former FBI special agent who later served as chair of the House Intelligence Committee during his tenure in Congress, announced his candidacy in the 2026 Senate race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters in a video that was shared nationally first with Fox News.

"As your next senator, I won't just represent Michigan, I'll fight for it," Rogers emphasizes in his video announcement.

Highlighting his long career in the military, the FBI, and as an elected state and federal lawmaker, Rogers says that he is "running to serve as your next senator because service is what I've always done. Michigan, let's get to work."

A LIKELY BRUISING SENATE BATTLE IN BATTLEGROUND MICHIGAN HEATS UP AS THIS CANDIDATE ENTERS THE RACE

And in his video, Rogers also spotlights his support for President Donald Trump, saying "I'll stand with President Trump, and we will deliver on the mandate given to him by the American people….for me it will always be America and Michigan first."

Rogers won the 2024 GOP Senate nomination in Michigan but narrowly lost to Rep. Elissa Slotkin, the Democrats' nominee, in last November's election in the race to succeed longtime Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who retired. Slotkin, who vastly outspent Rogers, edged him by roughly 19,000 votes, or a third of a percentage point.

WILL THIS BLUE STATE REPUBLICAN END THE GOP'S 20-YEAR LOSING STREAK IN HIS STATE?

The Senate seat in Michigan is one of three held by the Democrats that the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) is planning to heavily target as it aims to expand the GOP's current 53-47 majority in the chamber. The other two are in New Hampshire, where longtime Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is retiring rather than running for re-election in 2026, and Georgia, where the GOP considers a first-term Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff vulnerable.

Minutes after his announcement, Rogers was endorsed by Senate Majority Leader Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the top ranking Republican in the Senate.

"Mike Rogers is the conservative leader that Michigan needs in the U.S. Senate," Thune said in a statement.

And Rogers was also immediately backed by Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), the Senate GOP's campaign arm.

"Michigan is a battleground state, and with Mike as our candidate, I know we will add this seat to President Trump's Senate Majority in 2026," Scott said in a statement.

While Rogers is the first major Republican to enter the Senate race in Michigan, he may not have the field to himself.

Longtime Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga told Fox News last week that as soon as Peters announced earlier this year that he wouldn't seek re-election, "my phone started to ring and it hasn't stopped ringing."

LONGTIME HOUSE REPUBLICAN WEIGHS SENATE BID IN KEY BATTLEGROUND

Huizenga, who was first elected to the House in 2010 and represents Michigan's 4th Congressional District, which covers parts of the southwestern part of the state, highlighted that he's getting "encouragement" to seek the Senate from "grassroots folks," as well as donors.

As for his timetable, Huizenga said: "I'm still going to do my evaluation here, and need to kind of push through on the fundraising and need to make sure that I'm able to get the support that I really need to have to be able to do this kind of run."

Rogers, in an interview Monday morning with Fox News Digital, pointed to his potential primary rivals and said "I think they all understand the importance of being unified going into next year."

And he emphasized that" we’ve done a lot of back work trying to make sure that around the state of Michigan, people were ready to go, Washington D.C. people ready to go."

Asked about the quick endorsements by Thune and Scott, Rogers said "having the majority leader and the chairman of the National Republican Senate committee is huge for us. And it just sends a very clear message: let’s go and we’re in this to win this."

ONLY ON FOX NEWS: SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN CHAIR REVEALS HOW MANY SEATS HE'S AIMING FOR IN 2026

An endorsement by Trump, whose sway over the GOP is stronger than ever, is expected to play a significant role if there's a contested Republican Senate primary in Michigan.

And while Trump has yet to weigh in on the race, Rogers earlier this year hired veteran Republican strategist and 2024 Trump co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita as a senior advisor. LaCivita remains close to the president and his political team in the White House.

Rogers in 2022 and early 2023 mulled a 2024 Republican presidential nomination run of his own, and had a few critical comments of Trump at the time. But Rogers later became a strong supporter of the then-former president and Trump endorsed Rogers in the 2024 Michigan Senate race in March of last year, after clinching the GOP presidential nomination.

Pointing to Trump's sweeping and often controversial agenda during his first three months back in the White House, Rogers told Fox News Digital "working people in Michigan, they get it. And they understand what he’s trying to do for them, their kids, and their grandkids future."

"I would love to have him [Trump] not only endorse, but come to the state and have conversations about why this is important to the future of the country," Rogers added.

WHY PETE BUTTIGIEG SAID NO TO RUNNING FOR THE SENATE NEXT YEAR IN MICHIGAN

Besides Rogers and Huizenga, business executive, conservative commentator and 2022 Republican gubernatorial nominee Tudor Dixon has said she's seriously mulling another run for governor, or for the Senate, in 2026.

And Republican businessman and auto dealership executive Kevin Rinke, who ran for governor in 2022, is also thought to be considering another statewide run next year.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), in a statement following Rogers announcement, emphasized that "Michiganders have already rejected Mike Rogers and his record of abandoning them to walk through the revolving door and get rich, threatening Social Security and Medicare to pay for a tax giveaway for billionaires, and supporting the chaotic tariffs that will spike costs for families."

And DSCC communications director Maeve Coyle added that "no Republican has won a Michigan Senate race for more than three decades and Democrats will hold this seat in 2026."

But Rogers argued that "we know how to put a ground game together to keep us in a very tight seat. Imagine what we can do now that we’ve started this early, raising money, building our ground game. I think we’re going to do absolutely just find. And here’s the good news – all of our polling shows Michigan has moved to the right."

Earlier this month, Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow launched a campaign for the Democratic Senate nomination.

Reps. Kristen McDonald Rivet and Haley Stevens are considering a run, as is Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. 

Last month, Pete Buttigieg, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate who later served as Transportation Secretary in former President Joe Biden's administration, ruled out a campaign after seriously considering a bid.

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.  

LAWLER SOUNDS ALARM OVER DEMOCRATS ‘INCITING FAR-LEFT ACTIVISTS’

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.

KATHY HOCHUL'S POLLING PROBLEMS?

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.

REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS CAMPAIGN CHAIR REVEALS ELECTION BATTLE PLAN

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."

MAJORITY IN NEW YORK WANT CHALLENGER TO DEMOCRATIC GOV KATHY HOCHUL: POLL

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."

A former Marine Corps officer who deployed in the Iraq War and later served at the Pentagon and the Veterans Administration under former President Barack Obama is the first major candidate to jump into the high-profile campaign for an open congressional seat in swing state New Hampshire.

Democrat Maura Sullivan, in an interview with Fox News, said "our country clearly needs a new generation of leadership, period. And the Democratic Party needs new leadership, and I'm running to be one of those leaders."

Sullivan said in a statement announcing her candidacy in the race to succeed four-term Democrat Rep. Chris Pappas, "I am stepping up to serve because the issues we are facing aren’t Democrat or Republican issues, they’re American issues."

Pappas last week launched a campaign to succeed longtime Democrat Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who recently said she would retire at the end of next year rather than bid for a fourth six-year term representing New Hampshire in the Senate.

POPULAR REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR WHO TRUMP URGED TO RUN FOR SENATE IN KEY SWING STATE MAKES HIS DECISION

His seat, New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District, covers the eastern half of the northern New England state, and Republicans are aiming to flip it from blue to red in next year's midterm elections. The race is expected to be expensive and competitive.

This is Sullivan's second bid for Congress in the district. She came in second to Pappas in a crowded 11-candidate Democrat primary in 2018, when the congressman first won the office. 

Sullivan, a New Hampshire Democratic Party vice chair, took aim at President Donald Trump and his most visible White House adviser in a campaign launch video she posted on social media.

DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN TAKES AIM AT TRUMP, MUSK IN SENATE CAMPAIGN LAUNCH

"I saw too many of my fellow Marines give their lives for this country to just sit by and watch Donald Trump and Elon Musk tear it down," Sullivan said in a video shared on X. "They’re driving up costs for New Hampshire families, making it even more difficult to own a home and pay the bills. And that's why I'm running for Congress, to protect the promise of America and ensure a better future for our kids."

Sullivan, in her Fox News Digital interview, said that "I'm hearing from folks all around New Hampshire that they're worried, they're scared, they're frustrated, and I am too."

HOUSE GOP CAMPAIGN CHAIR TELLS FOX NEWS WHAT HE'S MOST CONCERNED ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO DEFENDING THE MAJORITY

While Sullivan is the first major candidate to enter the race, she likely won't be the last.

Former state Sen. Tom Sherman, a physician and the 2022 Democrat gubernatorial nominee in New Hampshire, told Fox News he's "definitely interested" in a potential bid for Congress and said he is "keeping my options open."

DEM CONGRESSMAN LASHES MUSK IN OPENING SALVO OF POPULIST BID IN 2026 SWING-STATE SENATE RACE

Also mulling a run is former state Sen. John Morgan, a cybersecurity executive who told Fox News he's "kicking the tires" on a possible congressional campaign. 

"New Hampshire is part of my heart and soul," Morgan said, adding that "it's really a time that calls for bold leadership."

Democrat state Sen. Rebecca Perkins Kwoka is also thought to be a possible contender for the nomination.

In the race for the Republican nomination, former state senator and former executive councilor Russell Prescott, the 2024 nominee who lost to Pappas, is mulling another run for Congress.

So are Hollie Noveletsky, Joe Kelly Levasseur and Chris Bright, who came in second, third and fourth, respectively, behind Prescott in the 2024 GOP primary in the district.

State Attorney General John Formella is also thought to be a possible contender for the GOP nomination.

FIRST ON FOX — As congressional Republicans gear up for a bruising battle in the 2026 midterm elections to hold onto their razor-thin House majority, President Donald Trump is stepping up his efforts as well.

The president on Tuesday evening will headline a major donor event in the nation's capital for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), which is the House GOP's campaign arm. 

The fundraiser is expected to haul in at least $10 million for the NRCC, a source familiar with the event tells Fox News.

Republicans currently control the House – when the chamber returns to full strength – with a fragile 220-215 majority, and fundraising will be crucial to the GOP's game-plan to keep control.

CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS TARGETING THESE HOUSE REPUBLICANS IN 2026 MIDTERM BATTLE

Asked what concerns him the most when it comes to defending the House majority, NRCC chair Rep. Richard Hudson said in a Fox News Digital interview on Monday that "Democrats have a structural advantage when it comes to fundraising. They always seem to have just mountains of money. So I think the amount of money the Democrats raise is probably the only thing that really concerns me."

"We have to raise enough money to keep up with the Democrats and make sure that our candidates can get their message out," Hudson emphasized.

Hudson, a North Carolina Republican and 12-year veteran of the House, said that "the President understands that he's got to keep the House majority in the midterm so that he has a four-year runway, instead of a two-year runway to get his agenda enacted."

And pointing to the House Democratic leader, Hudson added, "Speaker Hakeem Jeffries would fight President Trump on every front, and it would be really difficult for him to achieve his agenda. President Trump understands it's important to hold the House and he's, he's been extremely helpful to us and we appreciate it."

WERE LAST WEEK'S ELECTIONS IN WISCONSIN AND FLORIDA A CRYSTAL BALL FOR THINGS TO COME IN NEXT YEAR'S MIDTERMS?

Hours before Trump was scheduled to attend the NRCC fundraiser, the House Democrats' campaign arm took aim at nearly three dozen Republican-held seats in the chamber as they aim to win back the majority.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) on Tuesday morning released its initial 2026 target list, which included 35 GOP-controlled seats, and launched an effort to fundraise for the party's eventual nominees in each of the districts.

The DCCC emphasized that their moves signal that "Democrats are on offense and poised to win the majority in 2026."

POLL POSITION: WHERE TRUMP STANDS WITH AMERICANS 11 WEEKS INTO HIS SECOND TOUR OF DUTY IN THE WHITE HOUSE

The unveiling of the DCCC list came three weeks after the NRCC went up with its initial target list, which took aim at 26 districts controlled by House Democrats.

"House Republicans are running scared, and they should be. They’re tanking the economy, gutting Medicaid, abandoning our veterans, and making everything more expensive. In short, they’ve lost the trust of their constituents, and it’s going to cost them the majority," DCCC Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington state charged in a statement announcing the moves.

While the party in power, which clearly is the Republicans, traditionally faces serious political headwinds in the midterm elections, the NRCC is optimistic they can defend their majority.

"If you look at the landscape for the 2026 election, there are only three Republicans in districts that [former vice president and 2024 Democratic presidential nominee] Kamala Harris carried, but there are 13 Democrats in seats that Donald Trump carried, and half of those are majority Hispanic districts that President Trump has really put in play for us," Hudson reiterated.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The NRCC also points to the growing number of House Democrats who are seeking statewide office in 2026 rather than running for re-election.

Hudson said the trend would "absolutely" help the GOP defend the majority next year.

"It's much easier to win an open seat than a seat with a Democrat incumbent who's entrenched.," Hudson said. "I think it's incredibly helpful, and I think you're going to see a whole lot more Democrats running for other offices and retiring."

It appears that President Donald Trump has buried the hatchet when it comes to former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, who for years was a top Republican critic of the former and current president.

Trump now says that if Sununu runs for the Senate in 2026 for the seat currently held by retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, his former antagonist would have his full support.

Sununu, who in January completed his fourth and final two-year term steering swing state New Hampshire, told Fox News Digital in an interview last month that he aimed to make a decision regarding a 2026 campaign in the "next few weeks."

He emphasized that "I have no doubt I'd have the president's support," if he decided to make a bid for the Senate.

POLL POSITION: WHERE TRUMP STANDS WITH AMERICANS 11 WEEKS INTO HIS SECOND TOUR OF DUTY IN THE WHITE HOUSE

Trump, when asked by reporters about Sununu as he flew to Washington, D.C., on Sunday night aboard Air Force One, revealed that the two politicians met recently at the White House.

"I told him — He came to my office, came to the Oval Office, and [I] met with Chris Sununu, and I support him fully. I hope he runs," Trump said. "He’s been very nice to me over the last year or so, but no, I hope he runs. I think he’ll win that seat."

Sununu supported Trump during the 2016 general election and again when Trump unsuccessfully ran for re-election in 2020. The then-governor had a strong working relationship with the Trump White House, including close ties with then-Vice President Mike Pence.

WHY TRUMP, MUSK, FACE BLAME OVER BALLOT BOX SET BACKS LAST WEEK

However, Sununu pushed back against Trump’s unproven claims that the 2020 presidential election was "rigged" and "stolen." He also started stating in early 2021 that the GOP was larger than any one person, which was perceived as a swipe at the then-former president.

Sununu amped up his criticism of the former president during numerous national interviews on cable news networks and Sunday talk shows, repeatedly arguing that Trump had too much political baggage to win back the White House. Additionally, Sununu began mulling a possible 2024 White House run of his own, which he ultimately decided against. 

However, he ended up backing and becoming a top surrogate of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the 2024 GOP presidential primary. Haley ended up being the final rival to Trump in the nomination race.

Trump occasionally returned fire at Sununu, calling him a "spoiled brat" and a "nasty guy," among other things.

However, after Trump clinched the 2024 GOP nomination, Sununu said he would vote for his party's presidential nominee.

WHAT SUNUNU TOLD FOX NEWS ABOUT POTENTIALLY RUNNING FOR THE SENATE

Earlier this year, Sununu said in a Fox News Digital interview that "Donald Trump is the head of the party, and he's the voice of the Republican Party, and I got to say, I think he's doing a pretty darn good job in the first couple months."

Regarding a potential 2026 Senate run for a seat Republicans are aiming to flip from blue to red as they hope to expand their current 53-47 majority in the chamber, Sununu told Fox News Digital last month that while "the door’s open" to running, he emphasized "it's not open a lot, to be honest."

Sununu, who was elected and re-elected to four straight two-year terms as governor, touted that "I have no doubt I can win."

The former governor’s comments in recent interviews are a switch from last year, when he repeatedly said he would not seek to run for the Senate in 2026.

Four years ago, Sununu expressed interest in running for the Senate against his predecessor as governor, Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan, who was up for re-election in 2022. The popular governor was heavily courted by national Republicans to take on Hassan, but on Nov. 9, 2021, Sununu announced that he would instead run for a fourth term as governor, upsetting many Republicans in the nation's capital. 

Additionally, he heavily criticized the Senate. "They debate and talk and nothing gets done," he said at the time.

Sununu, who left office in January with very positive approval and favorable ratings, is seen by national Republicans as the best candidate to win the seat. However, he is not the only Republican mulling a Senate bid in New Hampshire.

Former Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts, who later narrowly lost to Shaheen in New Hampshire in the 2014 election, is seriously considering a 2026 run.

POPULAR FORMER GOP GOVERNOR WEIGHS IN ON POTENTIAL SENATE BID AND WHETHER TRUMP WILL ENDORSE HIM

Brown, who served four years as U.S. ambassador to New Zealand during Trump’s first administration, has been holding meetings with Republicans across New Hampshire for a couple of months and has met multiple times with GOP officials in the nation’s capital.

Earlier this year, Brown met with top Trump administration political officials at the White House, sources told Fox News.

When asked about the president's comments regarding Sununu, Brown told Fox News in a statement that "President Trump is the leader of the party, and he has earned the right to endorse whoever he supports. There is no path to a Republican nomination running against President Trump-backed candidates."

In the race for the Democratic Senate nomination in New Hampshire, four-term Rep. Chris Pappas formally launched his campaign last week. 

Using clips of a listening tour he made through all ten of New Hampshire's counties last month as he ramped up toward running for the Senate, Pappas said voters feel like "the system's rigged."

TRUMP'S SWAY OVER REPUBLICANS STRONGER THAN EVER, BUT SUNUNU SAYS GOP STILL A 'BIG-TENT PARTY'

"You think about the Social Security office that's going to be closed in Littleton, drastic cuts to Medicaid, all in the name of giving big tax breaks to billionaires like Elon Musk," he argued, as he pointed to Trump's top donor and the world's richest person, who is leading the administration's controversial downsizing of the federal government workforce.

Pappas emphasized, "I do get angry, because when you're talking about public service, you should be focused on how you can help people, how you can make people's lives better."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Pappas may not have the Democratic Senate primary in New Hampshire all to himself.

Sources close to Rep. Maggie Goodlander, New Hampshire's other House member, said last month that the first-term representative is considering a Senate run.

Striking a populist theme and showcasing that he is a fighter, Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas on Thursday declared his candidacy in the 2026 race to succeed retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a fellow Democrat, in the key swing state of New Hampshire.

"What I hear from people, they want someone who shows up, someone who listens and someone who isn't afraid to take on the big fights, and more importantly today, who knows how to win them," Pappas said in a campaign launch video posted on social media. 

Using clips of a listening tour he made through all 10 of New Hampshire's counties last month as he ramps up toward running for the Senate, Pappas said voters feel like "the system's rigged."

"You think about the Social Security office that's going to be closed in Littleton, drastic cuts to Medicaid, all in the name of giving big tax breaks to billionaires like Elon Musk," he argued, as he pointed to President Donald Trump's top donor and the world's richest person, who is leading the administration's controversial downsizing of the federal government workforce.

WHY THIS LONGTIME DEMOCRATIC SENATOR ISN'T RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION NEXT YEAR

Pappas emphasized, "I do get angry, because when you're talking about public service, you should be focused on how you can help people, how you can make people's lives better."

The four-term congressman, who represents the eastern half of the state, is the first major candidate in the race to succeed the 78-year-old Shaheen.

RISING DEMOCRATIC PARTY STAR CRITICAL OF SCHUMER'S LEADERSHIP LAUNCHES SENATE RUN IN KEY BATTLEGROUND 

Shaheen, the first woman in the nation's history elected governor and to the Senate, announced last month that she would not seek a fourth six-year term representing New Hampshire when she is up for re-election next year. 

The seat is one of the Senate Republicans' top targets as they aim to expand their 53-47 majority in the chamber in next year's midterms.

For its part, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) instantly took aim at Pappas as being out of step with everyday New Hampshire voters.

"Chris Pappas supports biological males competing in women's sports, wants to ban gas-powered vehicles, and voted to raise taxes on hard-working Granite Staters," NRSC regional press secretary Nick Puglia charged in a statement. "Pappas is extremely out of touch, and New Hampshire families deserve better."

Additionally, Fox News obtained a memo from the NRSC to donors making the case that the GOP can flip the seat.

"Our internal polling data in New Hampshire demonstrates a favorable political environment for Republicans in this toss-up Senate race," the NRSC argued in the memo. "With a registration advantage, edge on the generic ballot, stronger enthusiasm among our voters, and alignment with independents on core party policy issues, Republicans are well positioned to flip this open Senate seat in New Hampshire regardless of who either party nominates."

ONLY ON FOX NEWS: SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN CHAIR REVEALS HOW MANY SEATS HE'S AIMING FOR IN 2026

In the race for the GOP Senate nomination in New Hampshire, former longtime Gov. Chris Sununu told Fox News Digital last month that he was holding a dialogue with national GOP leaders about potentially running.

Sununu, who enjoys a large national profile thanks to his regular appearances the past few years on the cable news networks and Sunday talk shows, said he expected to make a decision in the coming weeks.

However, Sununu noted that while "the door’s open" to running, he emphasized "it's not open a lot, to be honest."

The former governor’s comments in recent interviews are a switch from last year, when he repeatedly said he would not seek to run for the Senate in 2026.

A POPULAR FORMER REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR MULLS SENATE RUN

Four years ago, Sununu expressed interest in running for the Senate against his predecessor as governor, Democrat Sen. Maggie Hassan, who was up for re-election in 2022. The popular governor was heavily courted by national Republicans to take on Hassan.

However, on Nov. 9, 2021, Sununu announced that he would instead run for a fourth term as governor, upsetting many Republicans in the nation's capital. 

He also heavily criticized the Senate. "They debate and talk and nothing gets done," he said at the time.

Sununu is not the only Republican mulling a Senate bid in New Hampshire.

Former Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts, who later narrowly lost to Shaheen in New Hampshire in the 2014 election, is seriously considering a 2026 run.

Brown, who served four years as U.S. ambassador to New Zealand during President Donald Trump’s first administration, has been holding meetings with Republicans across New Hampshire for a couple of months and has met multiple times with GOP officials in the nation’s capital.

TOP POLITICAL HANDICAPPER REVEALS DEMOCRATS CHANCES OF WINNING BACK THE SENATE MAJORITY

Pappas may not have the Democratic Senate primary in New Hampshire all to himself.

Sources close to Rep. Maggie Goodlander in New Hampshire's 2nd Congressional District said last month that the first-term representative is considering a Senate run.

Pappas, in his launch video, highlighted his Granite State roots, his business background and his record on Capitol Hill.

Pappas, a former state representative and county treasurer who later served on New Hampshire's five-member executive council before winning election to Congress in 2018 — including a re-election victory in 2022 over now-White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt — hails from a family that has owned and operated the famed Puritan Backroom restaurant and conference center for over a century. 

The restaurant, in Manchester, for decades has been a must-stop for White House hopefuls campaigning in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation presidential primary.

"I learned about serving the community, running our family business, which has been around for over 100 years, every day at the restaurant, you need to bring hard work and determination to get the job done," Pappas highlighted in his video. 

However, Brown took to social media to take aim at Pappas, in a possible preview of a potential general election clash.

".@ChrisPappasNH talks about being grounded in ‘New Hampshire values,’ good luck squaring that rhetoric with his record in Washington D.C. supporting wide open borders, men in women’s sports and lying to his constituents about Joe Biden’s senility," Brown charged in his post.

The Pappas campaign says the candidate will hold a kick-off event at the Puritan Backroom later on Thursday and will stump across the state over the weekend.

Pappas, who is the first openly gay man to represent New Hampshire in Congress, currently serves on the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and on the Transportation and Infrastructure committee.

As he gears up for what may potentially be his roughest re-election of his decades-long career, longtime GOP Sen. John Cornyn of Texas landed the backing of the top Republican in the Senate.

"I’ve been honored to work alongside @JohnCornyn—one of the most effective and respected conservative leaders in the country," Senate Majority Leader John Thune wrote in a social media post on Wednesday. 

Thune, who topped Cornyn last year in the Senate GOP race to succeed longtime leader Mitch McConnell, emphasized that his one-time rival "was tireless and instrumental in building our majority. We need to keep him in the Senate & in the fight to deliver on President Trump’s agenda."

ONLY ON FOX NEWS: SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN CHAIR REVEALS HOW MANY SEATS HE'S AIMING FOR IN 2026

The Senate Majority Leader's endorsement came a couple of hours after Cornyn — who previously served six years as the No. 2 Republican in the Senate — officially launched his 2026 re-election campaign, as he bids for a fifth six-year term representing Texas on Capitol Hill.

WHAT KEN PAXTON TOLD FOX NEWS ABOUT A POSSIBLE SENATE RUN IN 2026

The backing from Thune, which was widely expected, comes as the 73-year-old Cornyn faces a possible primary challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The conservative and MAGA firebrand who's an ally of President Donald Trump has repeatedly for a couple of years flirted with taking on Cornyn.

"I can’t think of a single thing he’s accomplished for our state or even for the country," Paxton said in a September 2023 interview on the Fox News Channel. "Somebody needs to step up and run against this guy," adding, "everything’s on the table for me."

And in a Fox News Digital interview earlier this year, Paxton said that he's "looking potentially at the U.S. Senate."

TOP POLITICAL HANDICAPPER REVEALS DEMOCRATS' CHANCES OF WINNING BACK THE SENATE MAJORITY

While Paxton is very popular with the conservative base of the party, political strategists note that toppling Cornyn in a GOP primary would likely be a very expensive proposition, and it's not clear if Paxton could raise the money needed for victory.

Paxton has claimed Cornyn does not represent the conservative values of Texans and accused him of not being an ally of Trump.

He has also regularly labeled Cornyn a "RINO," a "Republican in name only" and an insult MAGA and "America First" Republicans have regularly used to criticize more mainstream or establishment members of the GOP.

FORMER TRUMP AMBASSADOR EYES SENATE RETURN

Cornyn, during the early stages of the 2024 Republican presidential nomination race, had said he would prefer that the GOP take a new direction, which angered Trump. But the senator endorsed Trump in late January of last year, after the then-former president won both the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, the first two contests in the Republican White House calendar.

Since Trump returned to the White House two months ago, Cornyn has been supportive of the president's cabinet nominees and agenda.

And in the senator's campaign launch video, the announcer highlights that during Trump's first term in office, "Texas Sen. John Cornyn had his back."

"Now I'm running for re-election and asking for your support so President Trump and I can pick up where we left off," Cornyn says to camera in the video.

Cornyn is a former state senator, former Texas Supreme Court justice, and former state attorney general, who first won election to the U.S. Senate in 2002.

Fox News' Peter Pinedo contributed to this report

EXCLUSIVE: Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is endorsing Karrin Taylor Robson in the Arizona 2026 gubernatorial Republican primary. 

Robson is seeking to unseat Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs in what’s expected to be one of the most competitive races in the country.

"I am proud to join President Trump in endorsing Karrin Taylor Robson for Governor. Karrin is the conservative outsider and business leader Arizona needs. I know she will join me in partnering with the Trump Administration to secure our borders, create a strong economy, and say NO to the Woke Agenda. Join me in supporting Karrin today!" Sanders said in an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital.

REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS CAN'T WAIT FOR TRUMP TO UNLEASH PROSPERITY IN THE STATES

Sanders was a press secretary for President Donald Trump during his first term, and then followed in her father Mike Huckabee's footsteps and became governor in 2023, succeeding Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

"I am deeply honored to have Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ support. Her leadership in Arkansas and her dedication to President Trump’s America First agenda is an example for every Governor in the country to follow. I’m thrilled she’s joining President Trump in supporting my campaign to deliver results for Arizona by defeating radical Katie Hobbs, locking down our border, and building a stronger, safer state," Robson said in response to the endorsement.

SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS ON TARIFF THREAT: TRUMP IS TIRED OF AMERICA GETTING RIPPED OFF

At Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in December, Trump said he planned on backing her campaign if she jumped in. 

"Are you running for governor? I think so, Karrin, 'cause if you do you’re gonna have my support, OK?" Trump said during his speech.

In 2022, she mounted a primary bid for the governor’s office and narrowly lost to Republican Kari Lake, who serves as a senior advisor to the U.S. Agency for Global Media. Lake and Robson had a bitter primary battle in 2022, but Robson ultimately endorsed both Trump and Lake in their 2024 general election bids.

'I WILL NOT REST': BORDER STATE GUBERNATORIAL HOPEFUL LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN WEEKS AFTER TRUMP BACKED HER

Rep. Andy Biggs, who also supports Trump, threw his hat into the ring, and he’s racked up the endorsements of fellow Republican Arizona Reps. Eli Crane and Paul Gosar, as well as Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert. Critics of Robson believe that Biggs will have a better shot of winning over the Republican base and hope that the president will have a change of heart.

Meanwhile, there’s a long way until the primary, which is scheduled for Aug. 4, 2026. It’s unclear if any other major contenders will enter the race on either side. Cook Political Report ranks the general election race as a toss-up. Other statewide offices, including secretary of state and attorney general, will be up for grabs as well in the battleground state that Trump won in 2024.