Latest

Trump strikes back: GOP lawmakers who opposed president on redistricting pay price

Published

7 hours ago

May 6, 2026

He wasn’t on the ballot, but President Donald Trump was the big winner in Indiana’s primary.

The president scored decisive victories in a slate of state primaries in the solidly red Midwestern state, another sign that his immense grip on the Republican Party remains rock solid.

The political world was closely watching Indiana’s primary because it was the first of a series of major tests this month of Trump’s endorsement power in GOP nomination showdowns, and the president cleared his first hurdle with ease.

Five months ago, Republicans in the GOP-dominated Indiana state Senate withstood immense pressure from Trump and his allies and voted down congressional redistricting, which would have given Indiana two more right-leaning U.S. House seats ahead of the midterms.

DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB

Fast-forward to Tuesday and eight of those state senators faced GOP primary challenges. Seeking retribution, the president endorsed challengers to seven of the eight Republican lawmakers who voted against the redistricting bill.

Five of the Trump-endorsed candidates won, with one incumbent surviving, and one race yet to be decided as of early Wednesday morning.

“Everyone in Indiana politics should have learned an important lesson today: President Trump is the single most popular Republican among Hoosier voters,” Republican Sen. Jim Banks of Indiana, a top Trump ally in the Senate, said in a statement as the results poured in.

Banks, who was a key part of the team of Trump allies and advisors in the effort to defeat the incumbent GOP state senators, emphasized that “Indiana is a conservative state, and we deserve conservatives in our State Senate who have a pulse on Republican voters.”

SIX MONTHS TILL MIDTERMS: THE TEN RACES THAT WILL DETERMINE THE SENATE’S MAJORITY

Trump and his team started flexing their political muscles soon after the president’s push for redistricting in Indiana came crashing down last December.

A Republican source familiar with the effort to defeat the incumbent GOP state senators told Fox News Digital over $8 million was spent on TV and digital ads between the American Leadership PAC and Hoosier Leadership for America, two outside groups aligned with Banks and steered by team Trump strategist Andrew Surabian.

The source added that Team Trump operatives began organizing this plan in February and were responsible for the vast majority of the money raised that was spent by the two groups.

Republican Gov. Mike Braun of Indiana also donated several hundred thousand dollars to the effort.

Two well known national groups: Turning Point USA’s political wing and the Club for Growth, also had the president’s back in Indiana.

The intraparty battle was seen not just as a test of fealty to Trump but rather a fight between MAGA forces and more traditional conservatives for the future of the GOP.

Club for Growth President David McIntosh told Fox News Digital “this is a big win for Trump.”

And McIntosh, a former congressman from Indiana, said the primary victories are “a signal to the entire party that our base wants us to fight for what we believe in.”

Trump appeared to be closely watching the results. As each race was called, the president took to social media to tout the victory of another Trump-endorsed state Senate challenger.

The besieged incumbents significantly outraised their challengers, and were also boosted by the Indiana Senate GOP caucus.

But the outside spending and get-out-the-vote efforts by the pro-Trump forces proved decisive.

TRUMP VS. HISTORY: HOW PRESIDENT’S POLL NUMBERS COMPARE TO BIDEN, OBAMA, BUSH AHEAD OF MIDTERMS

“The resources that he [Trump] can bring to a state Senate race are overwhelming,” veteran Republican strategist Marc Short, who served as a key official in the first Trump administration, told Fox News Digital.

Short, a longtime top Pence advisor, said the showdowns in Indiana were “about allegiance to Trump,” and that the president “still has enormous sway in the party.”

Trump’s clout will be on the line once again in a week and a half, in the Louisiana primary.

Sen. Bill Cassidy is facing primary challenges from two Republicans: Rep. Julia Letlow and former Rep. John Fleming, who is currently the state treasurer. Trump earlier this year weighed in on the race by endorsing Letlow.

Cassidy was one of only seven Senate Republicans who voted in early 2021 to convict Trump after he was impeached by the House for his role in the violent Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters who aimed to upend congressional certification of former President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. Trump was acquitted by the Senate.

But since the start of Trump’s second term 15 months ago, Cassidy has been supportive of the president’s agenda and his nominees.

If no candidate cracks 50% of the primary vote, the top two finishers will face off for the nomination in a June 27 runoff election.

Another major test comes three days later, on May 19, in the primary in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District, where Rep. Thomas Massie is facing a challenge from Trump-backed Ed Gallrein.

Massie has long been one of Trump’s most vocal GOP critics in Congress, repeatedly taking aim at the president over the Epstein files and foreign policy.

Trump allies have spent big bucks to boost Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL, and to take aim at Massie.

The president’s endorsement is also being tested in Georgia’s GOP gubernatorial nomination, which is being held on the same day, in the 2026 race to succeed popular term-limited conservative Gov. Brian Kemp.

Trump has endorsed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who is trading fire in a high-profile, competitive and combustible battle with healthcare executive and mega GOP donor Rick Jackson, who has infused millions of his own money in his bid. Among the others battling for the nomination in a crowded Republican field are state Attorney General Chris Carr and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

While MAGA enjoyed a big night in Indiana, there were more midterm warning signs for the GOP in neighboring Michigan, a key Midwestern battleground state.

Republicans were hoping to flip a Democrat-controlled vacant state Senate seat in a special election, where the Democratic majority in the chamber was on the line.

But Republican candidate Jason Tunney was trounced by Democrat Chedrick Greene in the showdown in Michigan’s 35th Senate District, for a competitive seat in Midland and Saginaw in the central part of Michigan’s lower peninsula.

Greene’s victory was the latest overperformance by Democrats in special elections and off-year contests in the more than 15 months since Trump returned to the White House, energizing them as they work to flip the GOP majorities in the U.S. House and Senate in this autumn’s midterm elections.

Latest

Gunman Near JD Vance’s Motorcade Said ‘F— The White House’: DOJ

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Addison Blake

‘Kill me, kill me, kill me’

Latest

Florida man arrested for allegedly threatening to kill Trump, Rubio and Bondi

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Addison Blake

Nathaniel Sanders II, 32, is facing federal charges after allegedly threatening to kill President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former Attorney General Pam Bondi, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced Tuesday.

Sanders, who appeared in federal court Monday, allegedly sent numerous social media posts between January and April that threatened to kill the three leaders.

Sanders allegedly threatened to bomb the White House and mentioned first lady Melania Trump in social media posts while referencing the fact that he owned a gun, according to a criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of Florida.

“Imma bomb the (expletive) White House,” he posted on X, according to the complaint.

FAA EMPLOYEE CHARGED WITH ALLEGEDLY THREATENING TO KILL PRESIDENT TRUMP IN EMAIL TO WHITE HOUSE

“I don’t know what to do Melania, like, all I got is a gun. It’s the only thing I can use now is a gun,” Sanders said in a video posted to Instagram, per the complaint.

Another video allegedly targeted Rubio. “Like when I get my hands on him, I’m gonna hurt him. Simple as that,” Sanders said.

“Threats against public officials are not political speech,” U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones said in a statement.

SUSPECT WITH LENGTHY RAP SHEET ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED PAM BONDI ‘MURDER-FOR-HIRE’ SCHEME: FBI

“They are serious federal crimes that endanger public safety and the rule of law. The complaint alleges that this defendant repeatedly threatened to assassinate the President of the United States and other senior officials,” he added. “Those allegations will now be tested in court. Our Office will continue working with the U.S. Secret Service and our law enforcement partners to investigate threats, protect public officials, and ensure that those who violate federal law are held accountable.”

The U.S. attorney’s office charged Sanders with threatening the president of the United States and transmitting threats in interstate commerce. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.

Investigations into his threats involve the United States Secret Service (USSS), U.S. Capitol Police, U.S. Diplomatic Security Service and Miami Beach Police Department.

“Making threats against the President of the United States is a federal crime, and we treat it with the seriousness it deserves every time,” Special Agent in Charge Michael Townsend of the U.S. Secret Service, Miami Field Office also said.

“It does not matter where the threat is made or what platform is used, our agents will identify you, investigate you, and work alongside our federal and local partners to bring charges when appropriate. We remain relentless in our mission to protect the President and to act swiftly against anyone who puts others at risk.”

Sanders’ arrest was the result of a protected intelligence investigation which highlighted the efficacy of the Secret Service to identify threats “before they can make a plan,” a Secret Service spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

Fox News Digital contacted the U.S. Attorney for Florida’s Southern District for additional comment.

Latest

NEW: FBI Raids Powerful Democrat Politician

Published

5 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Addison Blake

NEW: FBI Raids Powerful Democrat Politician

Federal agents executed multiple search warrants at the office of L. Louise Lucas in Portsmouth, Virginia, as part of what officials have described as a significant corruption investigation, according to reports from law enforcement sources.

The activity was first reported by Bill Melugin, who said agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation were seen entering and securing the property while serving court-authorized warrants.

“BREAKING: Fox News is on scene in Portsmouth, VA where the FBI is raiding the office of Virginia Senate President Pro Tempore L Louise Lucas… Fed law enforcement sources tell FOX this is in connection to a major corruption probe,” Melugin wrote in a post on X.

According to the report, federal agents were not limited to Lucas’ office alone. Authorities also executed a search warrant at a neighboring cannabis dispensary located adjacent to the lawmaker’s office. Both warrants were approved by a federal judge, indicating that investigators had presented sufficient evidence to establish probable cause as part of an ongoing inquiry.

At this stage, officials have not publicly disclosed the specific nature of the alleged corruption or identified any charges connected to the investigation. Law enforcement sources have remained tight-lipped, and no formal accusations have been announced.

Alex Hogan, who was reporting from the scene, said that Lucas arrived at the location while agents were still actively conducting the search. Her presence drew attention as investigators continued to move in and out of the building, collecting materials and documenting evidence tied to the warrants.

Lucas is a prominent figure in Virginia politics, serving as Senate President Pro Tempore and wielding considerable influence within the state legislature. She is also considered a close political ally of Abigail Spanberger, further elevating the significance of the investigation given her role in shaping policy and legislative priorities in the state.

The development comes at a time when Lucas has remained publicly active, particularly on social media, where she has recently commented on political developments in Virginia, including the closely watched redistricting debate. That broader political backdrop adds another layer of attention to the unfolding situation.

Despite the high-profile nature of the search, neither the FBI nor Lucas’ office issued an immediate public statement addressing the incident. Requests for comment from multiple outlets had not been returned as of the latest reporting.

Federal search warrants, especially those targeting elected officials, are typically part of lengthy and complex investigations that can take months or even years to develop. They often involve financial records, communications, and other documentation that investigators believe may be relevant to potential criminal activity. However, the execution of a search warrant does not, by itself, indicate guilt or guarantee that charges will be filed.

For now, many details remain unclear, including what specific evidence authorities are seeking and how the neighboring business may be connected to the probe. The lack of official information has left observers relying largely on on-the-ground reporting and limited statements from law enforcement sources.

As the investigation continues, additional details are expected to emerge in the coming days or weeks. Until then, the situation remains fluid, with federal authorities maintaining control of the inquiry and the public awaiting further clarification about the scope and potential implications of the case.