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Hilton, Becerra, in the lead with votes still being counted in battle for California governor

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 03:12:11 -0400

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA - Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra were leading in unofficial early returns Wednesday morning and appeared positioned to advance to the November California gubernatorial election in the race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in steering the nation's most populous state and one of the world’s largest economies.

Hilton, a one-time British political strategist turned American conservative commentator and former Fox News Channel host who is backed by President Donald Trump, and Becerra, a former California attorney general who later served as a Cabinet secretary in former President Biden's administration, were in the lead early Wednesday morning, with votes still being counted and results not yet certified.

"Change is coming to California, and it's long overdue," Hilton told supporters at his primary night watch party in Orange County.

Hilton, in an exclusive Fox News Digital interview following his speech, said speaking "honest, simple truths" to voters boosted his campaign. "Everything is too expensive in California. We’re going to cut people’s costs," he pledged.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST PRIMARY RESULTS FROM FOX NEWS

Becerra, who, if elected in November, would make history as California's first Latino governor since Romualdo Pacheco briefly served in 1875, told supporters that his campaign's success is "more than a Hollywood ending. More than a milestone. That's the everyday miracle of living in a state that makes the improbable seem inevitable. And I couldn't have done it without you."

Democrat-dominated California holds what's known as a jungle primary in which all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, appear on the same ballot, with the top two finishers advancing to the general election.

Tom Steyer, a billionaire hedge fund founder turned environmental activist who unsuccessfully ran for his party's 2020 presidential nomination and who has shelled out over $200 million of his own money in his bid for governor, was in third place as the results continued to be tabulated and as additional mail and provisional ballots remained to be counted.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican, as well as Democratic candidates former Democratic Rep. Katie Porter, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, were also among the whopping 61 candidates on the ballot.

Hilton is hoping to become the first California Republican to win a gubernatorial election since then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's 2006 re-election.

In his speech, Hilton showed off the lining of his blazer, with American and California flags, that he said Schwarzenegger a few years ago urged him to wear. "Arnold, I did that for you," Hilton said.

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

Former Vice President Kamala Harris and Sen. Alex Padilla mulled launching Democratic bids for governor, but both last year announced they would take a pass. That resulted in the lack of a clear Golden State gubernatorial frontrunner for the first time in more than a quarter-century.

And the race was overshadowed for much of last year, as the devastation from the Los Angeles-area wildfires and President Donald Trump's immigration raids grabbed headlines in California.

But the showdown for governor entered the spotlight earlier this year when one of the leading candidates, Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, dropped out of the race and then resigned from Congress after facing multiple allegations of sexual assault and misconduct that he continues to deny.

Swalwell's exit from the race opened the door for first Steyer and then Becerra to rise in the polls.

Steyer, who unsuccessfully ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, spent more than $200 million of his own money to blanket the airwaves and the internet with ads. Meanwhile, more than $80 million in outside money has also been spent on the race.

Bianco, who launched his campaign for governor in April of last year, was among the top contenders in the race until Trump's endorsement of Hilton in early April appeared to blunt his momentum.

From courts, critics and his own party, Donald Trump runs smack into reality

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 03:00:56 -0400

President Trump hasn’t had a great week. I don’t think anyone can argue with that.

The man who has so utterly dominated the Republican Party has been forced to backtrack or reverse himself, in part because of on-the-record outrage by GOP lawmakers.

That involved his plan to create a $1.8-billion "anti-weaponization" fund, with most of it going to Jan. 6 rioters, who he calls patriots. The idea of rewarding people who attacked police officers, took over members’ quarters and chanted "Hang Mike Pence!" touched a very deep nerve (among the public as well).

When leaders of his own party, who usually roll over and play dead, started denouncing what some of them called a slush fund, Trump knew he had a loser on his hands and yesterday tried to cut his losses: He has officially killed the funding scheme.

This, of course, grew out of his suit against the IRS, where Trump was definitely wronged by the leaking of his tax returns, but as president was "negotiating" with his subordinates.

Then there are the courts, where even the Supreme Court has not escaped Trump’s wrath on decisions he dislikes, such as striking down his unilateral global tariffs. He called out justices by name, branding them "fools and lapdogs," a "disgrace" and an "embarrassment."

Which brings us to the Kennedy Center fiasco.

A federal judge ordered that Trump’s name be removed from the glittering marble portico overlooking the Potomac River that had just been the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The judge temporarily blocked the two-year shutdown planned to begin this summer.

The president posted that unless he was in charge, he had "no interest in continuing what could only be a hopeless journey," suggesting he would turn it over to Congress.

"Unfortunately, Judge Cooper and the Radical Left would rather see it DIE than have President Trump transform it into something that everyone could be proud of, much as I have done, in many cases, throughout my life," he wrote.

Judge Christopher Cooper, setting a two-week deadline, said Trump’s renaming violated a 1964 law that made it "crystal clear" the institution was to be named for the assassinated president and that only Congress can change it.

I happen to think the center could remain open while partial refurbishing takes place, but of course no shows are booked at the moment.

The larger pattern is that many judges no longer trust the administration’s lawyers.

"Their missteps in court come as the department’s leadership takes an unusually combative tone with judges who rule against them," The New York Times says.

A Trump Justice Department spokesperson said: "Any attack on the professionalism or integrity of DOJ attorneys is outrageous and unjustified."

Finally, there is the court of public opinion for Trump, who turns 80 next month.

A lot of folks are upset about the design of the $250 bill featuring Trump’s visage. I don’t worry about that because I don’t plan on buying anything with a $250 note, but it hasn’t gone down well.

I don’t believe many people are wild about the surprise demolition of the East Wing, plans for a 250-foot arch, or the obsession with building a White House ballroom. That was originally going to be paid for by private donations, but now Congress wants to appropriate $1 billion in taxpayer dollars — kind of bait and switch.

The Iran War, whose settlement "talks" have been blown up by mutual attacks, is increasingly unpopular. A PBS/Marist poll last month found that 60 percent of those questioned disapprove of the war and overall are frustrated by soaring food and gas costs.

As for the July 4 celebration, so many musicians, including Milli Vanilli, Flo Rida and Young MC, dropped out that the president canceled the concert and will turn it into a MAGA rally featuring … him.

Look, Donald Trump has always been at the center of his own narrative. He’s a born performer, dating back to "The Apprentice" days.

I’ve interviewed Trump numerous times, and he can sit for an hour and rattle off answers on a vast array of subjects, including stuff from 40 years ago. So any talk that he’s on the verge of dementia is utter BS by uninformed critics. But he does seem less sure-footed right now.

Physically, the worst you can say about Trump is that he’s got swollen ankles and sometimes closes his eyes in meetings.

Trump is full speed ahead — that’s what he knows. Where he comes off as angry and overheated is in the barrage of late-night and early-morning Truth Social posts in which he rails against his opponents.

Hey, you don’t really expect an 80-year-old man to change, do you?

South Dakota governors race remains up in the air as GOP contest goes to runoff

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 02:24:38 -0400

South Dakota Republican businessman Toby Doeden will move on to a July runoff in the GOP gubernatorial sweeps, while the race for the second contender remained too close to call overnight Wednesday.

The news is a blow to incumbent Gov. Larry Rhoden, who still has a shot to face off in the runoff depending on whether he, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., or South Dakota House Speaker Jon Hansen make it through.

Rhoden, the longtime lieutenant governor under former Gov. Kristi Noem, is a rancher who rose through the ranks of state legislative leadership before succeeding the former Homeland Security secretary.

Often seen with his trademark cowboy hat, the western South Dakota native spent 16 years in the state legislature and has focused on continuing Noem's platform of making South Dakota one of the nation's most affordable and business-friendly states.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR KRISTI NOEM? 2026 SENATE CHATTER GROWS AFTER DHS EXIT

Rhoden opposes abortion, supports Second Amendment rights and has worked with his former boss on homeland security matters, including cooperating with ICE on immigration enforcement operations.

President Donald Trump was conspicuously mute in the crowded primary, an observation South Dakota News Watch recently questioned Rhoden about.

"I don't spend a lot of time fretting about it," the governor said.

"If you look at who he's endorsed, he likes endorsing winners and seldom goes out on a limb. And here we have a four-way primary with a seated House member in the race," Rhoden said, adding that Trump appears to like making safe bets.

BLUE STATE GOVERNORS MOVE TO KEEP HEAT ON NOEM AS DHS FIRES BACK

Rhoden, along with Doeden and Hansen, faced a challenge from Rep. Dusty Johnson, the state's lone congressman, whose statewide profile was considered stronger than that of the other candidates in the race.

Doeden ran as a political outsider and positioned himself as a populist candidate.

Largely self-funded, Doeden positioned himself as a conservative alternative to the Pierre establishment.

Hansen, meanwhile, is the establishment conservative challenger who has served in the State House for more than a decade.

Supreme Court allows Alabama GOP-backed congressional map for midterms

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 01:15:59 -0400

The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave Alabama Republicans a victory, issuing an emergency order that the state can use a congressional map likely to benefit the GOP in November’s midterm elections.

The justices granted Alabama’s emergency appeal to use a map adopted by the state legislature in 2023 that includes a single majority-Black district for this election cycle. The court’s three liberal justices dissented.

Alabama Republicans had sought to revive the previously blocked map, which is expected to give the GOP an opportunity to gain an additional congressional seat by replacing a court-drawn south Alabama district that helped elect a Black Democrat with a map that contains only one majority-Black district.

The ruling came after the Supreme Court last month vacated a lower court ruling blocking Alabama's 2023 congressional map and sent the case back for further review. Last week, however, a three-judge federal panel again blocked the GOP-backed map and ordered Alabama to continue using a court-drawn map containing two districts in which Black voters are a majority or have an opportunity to elect their preferred candidates.

REDISTRICTING WAR INTENSIFIES AS GOP SUFFERS SETBACKS IN TWO STATES

Republican Gov. Kay Ivey celebrated the ruling Tuesday evening and confirmed that Alabama’s Aug. 11 special primary election would be conducted under the 2023 map.

"The U.S. Supreme Court confirmed what I have said all along and that is that Alabama knows our state, our people and our districts best," Ivey said in a statement.

"Today’s decision is a win for the people of Alabama and our elections," she continued. "Alabama is doing our part to keep America strong, and I am proud our state continues to fight the fight to ensure activists do not get the final say."

REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: DEMOCRATS SAY THEY CAN STILL FLIP THE HOUSE DESPITE GOP REDISTRICTING GAINS IN THE SOUTH

"I will see y’all at the polls August 11!" Ivey added.

The redistricting fight comes as President Donald Trump has encouraged Republican-led states to redraw congressional maps following the Supreme Court’s Callais decision, which limited the use of race in congressional redistricting. Alabama argued that the lower court’s remedial map improperly elevated race over traditional districting principles, while voting-rights groups argued that the state’s map diluted Black voting power.

In an unsigned majority opinion, the court wrote: "The State has also made a strong showing of irreparable harm and that the equities and public interest favor it."

SUPREME COURT JUST GAVE BLACK VOTERS A SHOT AT REAL POWER BEYOND SAFE SEATS

"We have repeatedly cautioned that lower federal courts should not "alter the election rules on the eve of an election," the majority added.

In a dissenting opinion, Justice Sonia Sotomayor argued that the map discriminates against Black Alabamians.

"Before the Court are two paths," Sotomayor wrote. "Down one lies an orderly election, held under a tried-and-tested congressional map that protects Black Alabamians’ right to vote and with which all voters, elections officials, and candidates alike are familiar."

SUPREME COURT RULES ON KEY VOTING RIGHTS ACT RULE AS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WAGE REDISTRICTING WAR

"Down the other lies a chaotic election, held under a never-before-used congressional map that intentionally discriminates against Black Alabamians, that Alabama adopted in unashamed defiance of a prior court order directly affirmed by this Court, and that will require officials to change the voter registrations of hundreds of thousands of voters in just days at best, a task that Alabama previously represented would take months," she continued.

"The majority chooses the second path and disregards both democratic values and the rule of law." she added.

The ACLU also criticized the ruling, arguing it permits Alabama to use a racially discriminatory map.

"Today’s ruling delays relief for voters who have already spent years fighting for an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice and to have their voices heard," Davin Rosborough, deputy director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project, said in a statement.

"We remain committed to pursuing equal opportunities in Congress for our clients and Black Alabamians," he added. "We will fight for those rights even in the face of those who continue to move the goalposts and undo our nation’s progress in realizing its promise as a multi-racial democracy."

Fox News Digital's Adam Pack and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Trump-endorsed Feenstra concedes to MAHA-backed Lahn in GOP governor primary upset

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:52:30 -0400

Trump-backed Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, conceded to MAHA-backed Republican Zach Lahn after the polls closed Tuesday night in Iowa’s GOP gubernatorial primary.

Lahn, a farmer and businessman who campaigned on an "Iowa First" message, pulled off a surprising upset over Feenstra in the race to succeed outgoing Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Besides Feenstra, Lahn beat out former state Rep. Brad Sherman, former Iowa Department of Administrative Services Director Adam Steen and state Rep. Eddie Andrews in his bid to move on to the November general election and eventually the governor's mansion.

The result marked a major setback for Feenstra, who represents Iowa’s 4th Congressional District and entered Election Day as the best-known Republican in the race. Feenstra had a congressional profile, a fundraising advantage, support from prominent Iowa Republicans, including former Gov. Terry Branstad, and a late endorsement from President Donald Trump.

TRUMP-ENDORSED HINSON SECURES IOWA SENATE NOMINATION AS DEMOCRATS EYE GOP SEAT

Lahn had just around a 1,600-vote lead ahead of Feenstra shortly after midnight Eastern Time with 99% of the votes counted, according to The Associated Press' elections tracker.

"I just called Zach Lahn, and said, ‘Hey, you got to carry this torch. We got to keep this state red. You got to make sure you beat Rob Sand.' And I’m all in to help him out," Feenstra said to supporters at his election night gathering, according to a video recording shared by Iowas News Now reporter Skylar Tallal.

Trump endorsed Feenstra just days before the primary, calling him "MAGA all the way" and giving him his "Complete and Total Endorsement." Feenstra campaigned as a close ally of the president, highlighting his support for Trump’s agenda on border security, tax cuts, energy production and agriculture.

Lahn, meanwhile, ran as an outsider candidate and drew support from MAHA Action, the political group aligned with the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. His campaign website describes him as a father, farmer and businessman advancing an "Iowa First" agenda.

IOWA MAN SUSPECTED OF KILLING 6 FAMILY MEMBERS IN ‘ACT OF EVIL’

The race opened after Reynolds announced she would not seek reelection despite being eligible to run again, creating Iowa’s first open gubernatorial contest since 2006. Republicans have controlled the governor’s office since 2011.

Lahn will now face Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand in November. Sand, Iowa’s only Democratic statewide officeholder, advanced unopposed through the Democratic primary and has built a political profile centered on government accountability and anti-corruption efforts.

Early ratings have suggested the general election could be competitive. The Cook Political Report moved the race from "Lean Republican" to "Toss Up" in April, while Inside Elections has rated the contest "Lean Republican."

If Sand were to win in November, he would become the first Democrat elected governor of Iowa since Chet Culver’s victory in 2006.

Booker set to face Navy vet after former local NJ official lost in 2024 Senate race

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:47:08 -0400

Justin Murphy won New Jersey’s Republican U.S. Senate primary late Tuesday night, setting up a general election fight against Democratic Sen. Cory Booker in a state where Republicans have not won a U.S. Senate race since 1972.

The race was close among the top three candidates with 90% of the votes counted. Murphy was followed by suspended New Jersey State Trooper Richard Tabor, and former News 12 New Jersey reporter Alex Zdan. Physician Robert Lebovics finished last.

Murphy is an attorney and U.S. Navy veteran from Tabernacle, New Jersey, who previously served as a local committeeman and ran unsuccessfully for the GOP Senate nomination in 2024, finishing a distant third. He launched another campaign this cycle to take on Booker, casting himself as a conservative, pro-Trump grassroots candidate.

‘JERSEY SHORE’ STAR MIKE SORRENTINO TEASES FUTURE RUN FOR NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR

Murphy faces an uphill but nationally watched race against Booker, a high-profile Senate Democrat and frequent Trump critic who is running unopposed on the Democratic side of the ticket as he seeks another term after first winning the seat in a 2013 special election. While Republicans are hoping to flip the seat, the party has not won a U.S. Senate race in the state since 1972.

Murphy, who describes himself as self-employed, is a former Tabernacle deputy mayor and a U.S. Navy veteran, according to the New Jersey Globe. He previously ran for the GOP Senate nomination in 2024, finishing far back in third, before launching another bid this cycle as a conservative candidate running on cleaning up his state's pollution, protecting it from ever-expanding windmill construction, parental rights, medical freedom and improving Medicare for seniors.

"I will convey my Conservative principles with confidence, energy, and optimism. The last time New Jersey elected a Republican to the US Senate was 1972; my campaign represents a new day in New Jersey politics," Murphy states on his campaign website. "Being self-employed, I can identify with middle-class voters. I know firsthand financial struggle, debt, and stress. I know the long hours and countless weeks without a paycheck that many small business owners experience as a normal part of their working adult lives. Small business owners will have no better friend in Washington."

DEMS PICK CHALLENGER FOR GOP CONGRESSMAN WHO VANISHED FROM PUBLIC VIEW AMID HEALTH MYSTERY

The GOP primary unfolded without an obvious Trump-backed favorite. Trump does not appear to have endorsed in New Jersey’s Republican Senate primary. His late New Jersey endorsements ahead of Tuesday’s primary went to House Republicans Tom Kean Jr., Jeff Van Drew and Chris Smith.

Murphy received support from two county Republican organizations and ran in some counties under the slogan "American Conservative Republican," according to NJ Spotlight News’ 2026 U.S. Senate primary voter guide.

The general election will test whether Republicans can make inroads in a state that has remained stubbornly difficult for GOP Senate hopefuls.

Booker won re-election in 2020 by more than 16 points, and early race ratings have generally listed the seat as safely Democratic heading into November.

Gregg Hull wins New Mexico GOP gubernatorial primary, setting up bid to flip governor’s office

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:23:42 -0400

Former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull has clinched the GOP nomination in New Mexico’s open-seat gubernatorial race.

Hull, widely viewed as a leading contender entering Election Day, campaigned on public safety, government experience and economic growth.

He defeated businessman Doug Turner and former New Mexico Human Services Secretary Duke Rodriguez.

Turner pitched himself as a business-minded conservative and political outsider focused on jobs and education reform. Rodriguez, a healthcare executive and former state cabinet secretary, emphasized addiction treatment, healthcare and government reform.

2026 MIDTERMS: PRIMARIES, KEY RACES AND ELECTION RESULTS

Throughout the race, Hull argued New Mexico needs tougher approaches to violent crime, fentanyl trafficking and border security while criticizing Democratic leadership in Santa Fe.

Hull’s victory solidifies Republican support behind a candidate many in the party see as a strong statewide contender heading into November.

THE RED STATES RACING AHEAD IN AMERICA’S POWERFUL WEALTH BOOM — AND THE STATES FALLING BEHIND

He will now face former President Joe Biden's Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in the general election as Republicans attempt to flip the governor’s office in New Mexico for the first time since 2019.

The gubernatorial race to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in November is expected to be one of the most closely watched political contests in the state in 2026.

Tomas Hertl scores game-winner as Golden Knights rally to beat Hurricanes in Game 1 of Stanley Cup Final

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 23:26:54 -0400

The Vegas Golden Knights have taken Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, erasing the Carolina Hurricanes' early 2-0 lead to win a thrilling 5-4 game in Raleigh and set the tone for this best-of-seven series.

It’s a seven-game win streak for Vegas now, as they haven’t lost since Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Anaheim Ducks. They surprisingly swept the Colorado Avalanche to win the West, and they kept that momentum going on the road.

Tomas Hertl was the hero for the Golden Knights in Game 1, as he scored the game-winning goal on a snipe with 3:25 left in the third period.

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But it wasn’t easy for Vegas in the first period when the Hurricanes were quick to assert their home-ice advantage just 25 seconds into the game.

It was the first shot on goal for either side when Nikolaj Ehlers poked a puck past an aggressive Shea Theodore for Vegas, and he sprinted down ice toward Carter Hart, who mans the Golden Knights’ net. Ehlers, though, had the perfect shot, ringing the post and sending the Hurricanes faithful into a frenzy with the 1-0 lead before some could even get to their seats.

DESPITE POTENTIAL RATINGS NIGHTMARE FOR NHL, VEGAS-CAROLINA STANLEY CUP FINAL STILL HAS PLENTY OF INTRIGUE

Then, midway through the period, Ehlers found himself in yet another breakaway scenario, and he didn’t squander the opportunity to take advantage. He put a nifty move on Hart, and his backhand found the net to make it 2-0.

Jalen Chatfield also had his eye down ice, recognizing that Ehlers was uncovered and quickly turned Jack Eichel’s turnover into the opportunity.

But if there’s anything the Golden Knights have proved in these Stanley Cup Playoffs, it’s to never count them out. Another example of that was seen on Tuesday night.

Theodore made up for his mishap to start the game with an absolute rocket off his stick on a one-timer that saw its way through traffic and past Frederik Anderson in net to get Vegas on the board shortly after Ehlers’ second goal.

Then, as the second period got underway, it was Ivan Barbashev who decided to return the favor of scoring in 30 seconds or less. As Vegas entered the offensive zone with speed, the puck found Jack Eichel's stick. He quickly spotted Ivan Barbashev cutting through the slot, and Barbashev fired a shot over Frederik Andersen's right shoulder before the goalie could react.

With that, the Golden Knights tied this game up, but they didn’t let the momentum go. William Karlsson, who already has a cup under his belt for Vegas, did his part in seeking the next trophy. Mitch Marner had a tremendous backhand pass from behind the net that found Karlsson’s stick all alone out in front, and Anderson had no chance as Vegas took a 3-2 lead.

At that moment, the air in the Lenovo Center was taken right out of the fans’ sails, but a trusty veteran restored that later in the period. Jordan Staal, who watched his brother and 2006 Stanley Cup champion with the Hurricanes, Eric Staal, get the crowd going with the siren at puck drop, potted his third goal of these playoffs.

Jordan Staal snapped a wrister past Hart thanks to a heads-up play by K’Andre Miller to keep the puck onside and find his teammate fast for the grade-A chance.

The bleeding was stopped, but the third period was bound to be a thriller based on how these two teams were finding clear chances to score. Who broke the tie first was the major question, and Brett Howden had the answer just 1:21 into the period.

The playoff leader in goals, Howden had a beautiful tip on a shot by Theodore for his 11th of the playoffs and perhaps his most important in Game 1. The scoreboard remained silent for some time after that, with both teams trying to set up solid forechecks, but to no avail. The Hurricanes even had a power play, but they couldn’t find the back of the net.

Then, with 8:41 left, some puck luck found the Hurricanes, as defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere saw an offensive zone face-off biscuit fall right into his lap with no one around. He secured the puck on his stick blade and wristed it past Hart for the 4-4 tie.

However, the rollercoaster ride for the Hurricanes didn’t have a happy ending when they got off, with Hertl’s goal, assisted on a crafty Sissons' pass following a face-off, being the final say in this one.

Game 2 of this series will be played once more in Raleigh on Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET.

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DOJ expands indictment against SPLC, alleging $4M secretly funneled to KKK and extremist groups

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 23:21:02 -0400

The Department of Justice last month announced an indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), alleging that the civil rights nonprofit defrauded donors by secretly paying informants associated with extremist organizations, including the Ku Klux Klan.

A federal grand jury in the Middle District of Alabama returned an 11-count indictment in April charging the SPLC with six counts of wire fraud, four counts of making false statements to a federally insured bank and one count of conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering, according to the Justice Department.

The superseding indictment retains those charges while expanding on the alleged misconduct.

According to the DOJ, the SPLC "secretly funneled" more than $3 million in donor funds between 2014 and 2023 to numerous individuals associated with extremist organizations, including the Ku Klux Klan, United Klans of America, the National Socialist Movement, participants in the Unite the Right rally and the Aryan Nations-affiliated Sadistic Souls Motorcycle Club.

NEO-NAZIS, ‘SADISTIC’ BIKERS AND CHARLOTTESVILLE ORGANIZER: 5 OF THE MOST SHOCKING SPLC INFORMANTS

The original indictment alleged approximately $3 million in payments between 2014 and 2023.

"The SPLC’s paid informants ('field sources') engaged in the active promotion of racist groups at the same time that the SPLC was denouncing the same groups on its website," the indictment states.

Prosecutors further allege the SPLC opened bank accounts tied to fictitious entities in order to conceal donor funds that were allegedly routed to confidential sources.

MIKE DAVIS: SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER: A TALE OF A RACISM SCAM

According to the indictment, the SPLC began operating a covert informant network in the 1980s, and between 2014 and 2023 allegedly paid those sources in a clandestine manner.

The DOJ alleges an SPLC employee instead encouraged the pair to remain involved and offered them a monthly salary of $1,200.

The two subsequently agreed to remain in the organization, according to the indictment.

DR. BEN CARSON: I KNOW HOW BAD THE SPLC WAS, IT CAME AFTER ME AND PUT ME AT RISK

Prosecutors allege an SPLC employee instructed the individuals to claim they worked for a company called Rare Books and helped college students with research and writing assignments if anyone questioned the source of their income.

The indictment alleges donor funds were used to pay both individuals through SPLC accounts.

According to prosecutors, the pair were also reimbursed for expenses related to Ku Klux Klan activities, including cross-burning events and associated costs such as wood and fuel.

One of the individuals is also accused of recruiting new members using donor-funded payments. The indictment further alleges the SPLC knew donor funds were used to purchase materials for Ku Klux Klan garments.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, attorney Abbe Lowell, who represents the SPLC, denied the allegations.

"This apparent superseding indictment attempts to shore up the flaws in the initial charges, but it changes nothing," Lowell said.

"The SPLC did not lie to its donors, it did not mislead banks it did business with, and its informant program prevented violence and saved lives," he continued.

"It appears the Justice Department shared the indictment with media before it was unsealed by the court – another example of the government’s troubling handling of this case."

"We will be addressing these irregularities with the court and look forward to presenting the truth at trial," he added.

NONPROFIT REVENUE TOTALS SURGE AMID GROWING SCRUTINY AFTER MAJOR FRAUD CASES

The superseding indictment also notes that the SPLC’s reported revenue increased from roughly $38.7 million in 2010 to more than $129 million in 2023, an increase of approximately 233%.

According to the filing, the organization’s net assets grew from approximately $238 million to nearly $787 million during the same period.

The SPLC is a longtime nonprofit organization that says it combats white supremacy and extremism through research, reporting and monitoring efforts intended to assist law enforcement and the public.

During a news conference announcing the original indictment, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche alleged the SPLC paid members of extremist groups so it could generate "work product" documenting their activities.

"To that end, [SPLC] was doing the exact opposite of what it told its donors it was doing – not dismantling extremism but funding it," Blanche said.

Fox News Digital's Alexandra Koch, David Spunt, Jake Gibson and Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.

Joel Klatt roasts SEC: Nick Saban isn't there 'with his big old coattails for you to ride as a conference'

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:45:06 -0400

The SEC has, for years, enjoyed a widespread belief that it is the strongest conference in college football. And for years, that belief was correct.

Starting in 2009, Nick Saban created one of the most impressive dynasties in the sport's history. The Alabama Crimson Tide won a BCS National Championship in his third year on the job. And just never stopped winning. They won again in 2011 and 2012. Then won three more College Football Playoff National Championships from 2015-2020.

But as hard as it is to believe, 2020 is now six years ago, and the times have changed. Dramatically. The Big Ten has won three consecutive National Championships, starting, coincidentally, when name, image and likeness rules were changed allowing college football players to get paid by outside collectives. Not only has the Big Ten won three in a row, but the SEC hasn't reached the championship game since 2022.

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SEC teams were 1-8 during the 2025-2026 bowl season against teams from other conferences, and 0-3 in the playoff against other Power 4 programs. Despite those obvious realities, along with plenty of other unflattering statistics, at the conference's recent spring meetings, Commissioner Greg Sankey and other prominent figures were adamant that they remain, by far, the country's best conference.

GREG SANKEY INSISTS SEC IS 'STRONGEST LEAGUE' DESPITE BIG TEN WINNING THREE STRAIGHT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

There are some who agree with that sentiment, and others who don't, and based on some comments made by FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt, he's squarely in the latter category. Why? Because Nick Saban's retired, and the conference can't ride his "big old coattails" anymore.

"This is not 2012, this is not 2016, 15," Klatt said during a recent episode of his show. "I'm sorry, Nick Saban is no longer there with his big old coattails for you to ride as a conference. It's not that way anymore. So I thought that we should recap what we learned from the SEC spring meetings, and I've gotta be honest, it wasn't a lot.

"What did we get? Propaganda. Awesome," he continued. "Let's start with what Greg Sankey said, and it was basically, 'hey, we're the best.' That is false. They are not by far the best conference in college football. And candidly, I don't even know if you can call them the best conference in college football."

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Klatt added that the "data" shows that the Big Ten has passed the SEC, and those who doubt that are predisposed to support the SEC or its schools.

"Why don't we just go to the data, why don't we call balls and strikes, because here's the thing: at a meeting like that, Greg is saying this to a group of writers who largely want that to be true. If you believe what he said, deep down in your heart, it's because you want to believe what he said. You don't want to see the data, you don't want to see the truth.

"And that's fine, and that makes college football great. If you're a fan and you're mad right now because you sense what I'm about to talk about, and you're thinking to yourself like, 'no way, here he goes,' that's fine, because the passion in our sport is what makes our sport great. What the data suggests is that what Greg said, is absolutely false. The Big Ten is 4-0 over the SEC over the last three playoffs. 4-0 is not a small thing now."

Yes, four games is a small sample size. But the playoff is the best against the best, ostensibly, providing a clearer comparison. Bowl games, too, went the Big Ten's way. Iowa beat Vanderbilt, a team that believed it should have been in the College Football Playoff. Illinois beat Tennessee, a team that was ranked for much of the season. Indiana obliterated Alabama, with the one win being Texas over Michigan. That same Texas team also lost to Ohio State in the first week of the year. Meanwhile, Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers went 16-0 a few months after Steve Sarkisian said undefeated teams were a thing of the past.

It's Sankey's job to ignore these results and point to metrics he prefers. But it's the job of those on the outside to be honest about where the SEC currently sits. Because activism from Sankey and other coaches has already impacted the selection committee. Alabama's inclusion in the 2025-2026 field proves it. And it's why Klatt's right to call it out for what it is, propaganda.

Montana Senate showdown emerges as Trump-backed Republican faces independent challenge

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:34:39 -0400

The race to replace a political titan from the Treasure State has taken shape with three challengers who will square off in November.

What was expected to be an easy path to victory in Montana was shaken up earlier in 2026. Now, three new faces — former U.S. District Attorney Kurt Alme, ex-University of Montana President Seth Bodnar and Alani Bankhead — are all headed to the big stage in November.

Republican Sen. Steve Daines' sudden exit from his reelection campaign opened up the race in ruby-red Montana.

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Now, it’s a three-way battle between his chosen successor, an insurgent independent candidate and a total political newcomer.

Alme has a home field advantage given the groundwork Daines laid throughout his political career, turning Montana from a purple to a ruby red bastion for the GOP.

But Alme hasn’t run for statewide office before. He was tapped twice by President Donald Trump to serve as U.S. District Attorney in Montana and had a stint in Gov. Greg Gianforte’s administration.

And he’s leaning into Trump’s backing, along with the endorsements of Daines and Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., to make his case to voters.

"We think that the Republican platform — and certainly President Trump’s approach to governing — is a winner in Montana," Alme told Fox News Digital in March. "And we think that if we stick to our conservative roots, we’re going to perform well against anyone."

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His opponents, however, have both been critical of the circumstances that led to his entering the race.

Daines, just as the candidate filing deadline in Montana was nearing its end, opted to drop out of the race. Then Alme stepped in almost immediately, a move that drew accusations that Daines tried to rig the Republican primary in the state.

Bodnar charged in a statement after collecting the needed signatures to make it on the ballot that "D.C. insiders tried to rig this election in March by installing a handpicked candidate who will do their bidding."

"Our campaign has spent months building a political movement of Montanans who want the chance to send leaders to Washington who will always put Montana first," Bodnar said. "I will never pay allegiance to party bosses or political elites, and I will work every day until Election Day to earn the vote of every Montanan."

Bodnar, who has similarly not run for public office, is leading all candidates in fundraising.

His latest financial filing showed the independent raised more than $754,000 since March for a total of $2 million since entering the race. Neill raised $294,000 during the same period, gaining an edge on Alme, who raised $259,000.

Given the GOP’s grip on the state, which Trump has won by double digits in each election he’s run, Bodnar and Neill both face an uphill battle.

FBI charges 35 in West Virginia drug and firearms operation, launches nationwide summer crime initiative

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:21:55 -0400

The FBI on Tuesday said 35 people had been charged for narcotics and firearms offenses stemming from a yearlong federal operation in West Virginia while also unveiling a new nationwide summer crime-fighting initiative.

The bureau said FBI Pittsburgh and FBI Baltimore launched Operation Turf War in early 2025 alongside the Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force.

The operation resulted in the seizure of illegal firearms and narcotics, along with the forfeiture of proceeds allegedly used to fund violent criminal activity, according to the FBI.

"Operation Turf War was this FBI answering the call of a community that needed it the most," FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

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"This was a massively successful operation right in West Virginia with nearly three dozen individuals arrested using sophisticated techniques, confidential informants, and precise collaboration across the entire FBI enterprise with our partners," he continued.

Patel said the operation demonstrated "exactly what partnerships are supposed to look like."

He pointed to coordination among the Martinsburg Police Department SWAT team, Jefferson County SWAT and Homeland Security Investigations SWAT.

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The FBI also announced the launch of Operation Summer Heat 2.0, a renewed version of an initiative led last year by then-Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino that the bureau said resulted in nearly 9,000 arrests nationwide.

The effort will run through Sept. 20 and focus on partnerships with state and local law enforcement agencies to combat violent crime.

"For the next 95 days, the entire country will see this FBI replicating these exact efforts across America with Operation Summer Heat – an extension of our work last year led by then Deputy Director Dan Bongino to crush violent crime," Patel said.

"We’re just getting started," he added.

According to the FBI, last year’s Operation Summer Heat resulted in more than 8,600 arrests, nearly 7,750 search operations, the seizure of 2,280 firearms and more than 44,560 kilograms of cocaine.

The bureau said this year’s operation will be conducted on a larger scale, with federal officials working alongside state and local partners to identify and disrupt violent criminals.

Drake London signs $141M deal with Falcons, becoming third highest-paid receiver in NFL: reports

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:20:02 -0400

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London can now call himself one of the highest-paid players in franchise history.

The Falcons and their top receiver have reportedly come to terms on a four-year, $141 million deal with $100 million guaranteed, according to ESPN. The deal can also reach $150 million with incentives.

At $35.25 million per year, London would become the NFL's third-highest-paid receiver. Only the Seattle Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who signed a record-breaking $168.8 million extension one month after helping his team win Super Bowl LX, and the Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase, who agreed to a $161 million deal in March 2025, would earn more.

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London, 24, was the Falcons’ first-round pick of the 2022 NFL Draft out of USC, and he has earned that draft slot after hauling in 309 receptions for 3,961 yards and 22 touchdowns across four seasons.

He was coming into this season on his fifth-year option, but the Falcons will not be playing that game with a cornerstone piece.

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However, they won’t be done shelling out massive deals, and London’s star offensive teammate, running back Bijan Robinson, might do more than just be one of the highest-paid players in franchise history.

Robinson cemented himself as one of the elite running backs in the NFL across just three seasons with Atlanta. Last season, he tallied a league-leading 2,298 scrimmage yards (1,478 rushing, 820 receiving, with 11 total touchdowns). He earned himself his first All-Pro honor, and there’s likely more to come for the shifty Texas product.

Philadelphia Eagles' Saquon Barkley is the highest-paid running back in the NFL at $20.6 million per year, but Robinson could crush that number depending on what he and the Falcons potentially agree to. It doesn’t have to come this year, but it’s certainly on the horizon.

The Falcons already picked up Robinson’s fifth-year option for the 2027 season.

As for London, the Falcons have a major decision to make heading into the 2026 season: determining who will be their starting quarterback. Whoever wins the job will be tasked with getting the ball to London and the rest of Atlanta's pass catchers, including tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., who will play the season on the franchise tag.

While Michael Penix Jr., who partially tore his ACL in his left knee last season, remains on the roster, the Falcons signed another lefty, former Miami Dolphins star Tua Tagovailoa, to give him some competition in training camp this summer.

Inconsistency at the quarterback position is what London and his teammates have had to deal with since he entered the league, with the likes of Desmond Ridder, Taylor Heinecke, and Marcus Mariota taking turns as the team’s starter before Kirk Cousins signed his massive three-year deal with Atlanta.

London’s best year was in 2024 when he was Cousins’ clear top target, hauling in 100 of his 158 targets for a career-high 1,271 with nine touchdowns. However, Cousins didn’t hold on to his starting role, as Penix took over as the Week 1 starter. Once he sustained his injury, Cousins had to come in, and yet London still almost reached 1,000 yards.

With a new front office in place, led by Falcons legend and President of Football Matt Ryan, it's clear the team is committed to retaining its young core as it tries to return to playoff contention in the wide-open NFC South.

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Jim Schwartz opens up about messy Browns split after being passed over for head coaching job

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:00:12 -0400

Jim Schwartz came up short in Cleveland's head coaching search, which ultimately led to his departure from the Browns after two seasons as defensive coordinator.

The Browns entered the offseason looking for a replacement after dismissing Kevin Stefanski, and Schwartz quickly emerged as a leading candidate after overseeing one of the NFL's top defenses.

Ultimately, however, ownership elected to hire former Baltimore Ravens Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken.

Now, Schwartz is opening up about the split with the Browns.

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Schwartz discussed his messy departure during an appearance on the "Ryan Ripken Show," shedding light on a decision that followed Cleveland's search for a new head coach.

While Schwartz said he understood the organization's decision, he also made clear that remaining on Monken's staff was never a realistic option.

"They wanted to go with an offensive guy. They chose Todd. I'm fine with that," Schwartz said. "They can make, you know, decisions that they want to make. But they can't expect me to stay on board for that."

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After believing he had earned consideration for the top job, Schwartz viewed a return to his previous role as an untenable situation.

"Anybody that's in any business, you get passed over for a promotion, when you've done a really, really good job in your job, and you think you were in line for that promotion, it's time to go," Schwartz said.

The veteran coach suggested the arrangement would have created an awkward dynamic from the outset.

Rather than attempt to make the situation work, he opted for a clean break.

"A forced marriage isn't gonna work in the NFL," Schwartz said.

He also questioned whether he could have effectively maintained his authority within the building after the hiring decision.

"I didn't feel like I could do my job after getting passed over for that coaching job," he added.

Schwartz ultimately resigned from his position and, because of the terms of his contract, will spend the upcoming season away from the sidelines.

Cleveland has since turned to Mike Rutenberg to lead the defense as Monken begins his tenure as head coach.

Whether the Browns made the right decision will ultimately be determined on the field.

What Schwartz made clear is that once Cleveland chose Monken, his own decision was already made.

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Missing GOP congressman reveals he's 'more energized than ever' to return to Washington

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:50:47 -0400

Rep. Tom Kean Jr., R-N.J., said Tuesday he is "more energized than ever" and plans to return to in-person work "within a matter of weeks," issuing a new statement after months away from Capitol Hill because of an undisclosed medical issue.

Kean, who represents New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, has been absent from Congress for months while dealing with undisclosed health issues keeping him away from Washington and the campaign trail. Kean said in April that he was addressing a "personal medical issue," but he has not publicly disclosed the nature of the issue.

"Serving the people of this district is the honor of my life. Every day, I wake up determined to build on the results I have delivered for New Jersey families such as lowering costs, restoring the SALT deduction, funding our law enforcement, helping veterans, standing with Israel, strengthening our economy, and making government work better," Kean said in a statement Tuesday, amid growing scrutiny over his absence.

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Kean has not cast a vote since March 5, according to The New York Times. House voting records also listed Kean as "Not Voting" on a May 21 roll call vote.

"I am optimistic about the road ahead, and ready to earn the support of voters in every corner of the district," Kean continued. "I am more energized then ever to keep fighting for the people of New Jersey's 7th District. Right now I am focused on my recovery and under the advice of healthcare professionals I will transition from virtual work to in person work within a matter of weeks. At that time I will be completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition."

Kean added that he "understand[s] the need for transparency on this matter" and looks forward to sharing his experience with the public.

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Ahead of Kean's Tuesday primary election, during which he ran unopposed, President Donald Trump endorsed the New Jersey Republican.

Trump praised Kean in a Truth Social post Monday night, describing him as a strong supporter of the president's "America First Agenda," adding the New Jersey Republican is "working tirelessly" on border security, crime, the economy, taxes, energy, veterans and Second Amendment issues.

"Tom Kean has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election," Trump concluded, telling people to get out and vote.

Trump’s support remains one of the most powerful forces in Republican primaries, with candidates across several states openly competing for his backing ahead of key contests. His endorsement of Kean signals the White House and GOP leaders are still lining up behind the incumbent as Republicans fight to defend their narrow House majority this fall.

Four Democrats — Rebecca Bennett, Michael Roth, Tina Shah and Brian Varela — were competing for the nomination to face Kean in November, but Bennett edged them out Tuesday night during the Democratic primary.

The Associated Press described Bennett as a former Navy helicopter pilot, Roth as a former Small Business Administration official, Shah as an intensive care doctor and Varela as a businessman, with each candidate raising seven figures as Democrats target Kean’s battleground seat.

Bomb threat standoff at Bakersfield Chase Bank continues as negotiators work to release hostages

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:48:01 -0400

A standoff involving a man who allegedly made bomb threats at a Chase Bank in downtown Bakersfield, California, continued into Wednesday morning as negotiators worked to secure the release of people still inside the building.

The Bakersfield Police Department said two hostages had been safely released and that all remaining individuals were in good health as of Tuesday evening.

Police said officers responded shortly after 1 p.m. to a reported bomb threat at the Chase Bank near Chester Avenue and 17th Street.

During a briefing with reporters, Bakersfield Police Sgt. Eric Celedon said authorities learned that an unidentified man entered the bank and remained inside with an unknown number of community members.

Police later clarified that the building houses both a Chase Bank branch and a school district office.

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"What I can guarantee the community right now is that every single resource is at the site's disposal," Celedon said, adding that SWAT officers, bomb squad personnel, K-9 teams, negotiators and drone operators had been deployed to the scene.

In a post on X, the department described the incident as a "confirmed bomb threat" and urged residents to avoid the downtown area, warning that road closures would remain in effect until further notice.

According to local station KBAK, authorities believe the suspect may have had a bomb strapped to his body and had barricaded himself inside the building with several people.

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The station reported that one person was safely released before 5 p.m. following negotiations involving Bakersfield police and the FBI's negotiation team.

"At this time, everybody else still remains inside the building, and everybody else still remains in good health," Celedon said.

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Jason Pack, a retired FBI supervisory special agent, told Fox News Digital that the fact negotiators remain in communication with the suspect is a significant development.

"As long as communication is open, you have options," Pack said.

Pack noted that suspects who introduce real or alleged explosive devices often do so to gain leverage rather than immediately carry out an attack, adding that negotiators are typically focused on understanding a suspect's demands and creating opportunities to secure the release of additional people.

"The FBI has confirmed it is aware of the situation and sending assistance," he said. "Any bomb threat at a financial institution triggers federal jurisdiction automatically, which means Bakersfield PD and the FBI are coordinating closely."

Authorities said the department's crisis negotiation team remains in contact with the suspect by telephone, while FBI agents have joined local officers at the scene.

KBAK reported that several city buildings, including City Hall North, City Hall South, the Development Services Building and Bakersfield Police Headquarters, were placed on lockdown as a precaution due to the nearby incident.

A spokesperson for JPMorgan Chase told The Associated Press that the bank branch is located on the ground floor of the building and is currently empty as the company works with authorities.

In a statement obtained by the outlet, Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh said city officials were closely monitoring the situation and thanked law enforcement personnel for their response.

"We continue to closely monitor the situation unfolding in our city and remain concerned for the safety and well-being of everyone involved," Goh said.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the office of Mayor Karen Goh for additional comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Democrats turn to Paralympian in bid to flip key GOP-held Senate seat

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:47:23 -0400

Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek of Iowa on Tuesday captured his party's Senate nomination in the race to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Joni Ernst.

Turek, a Paralympian, defeated state Sen. Zach Wahls in Iowa's Democratic Senate primary, The Associated Press reported, and will now face off against Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson, who cruised to the GOP nomination.

The Republican-controlled Senate seat in Iowa is a top target for Democrats, and the race is one of about a dozen crucial showdowns in this year's midterm elections that will determine whether Republicans successfully hold onto their slim majority in the chamber.

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Turek, a moderate Democrat who flipped a GOP-held Iowa House seat in 2022, was backed by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and had the tacit support of longtime Democratic Senate Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. And VoteVets, an establishment-aligned outside group, has spent big bucks on behalf of Turek.

"Josh Turek is a two-time Paralympic gold medalist who has represented his country on the world stage and has built a reputation in the legislature for working across the aisle to get things done for Iowans," Schumer and Gillibrand said in a statement. "His nomination tonight puts the Iowa Senate seat firmly in play, and in November, Iowans will reject Ashley Hinson’s self-serving politics and send Josh Turek to the U.S. Senate."

But National Republican Senatorial Committee Regional Press Secretary Samantha Cantrell said that "Chuck Schumer spent $10 million dollars to coronate Josh Turek as his rubber stamp for Democrats' radical tax-and-spend agenda. In November, Iowans will reject him and elect Ashley Hinson to keep fighting for Iowa families, farmers, and workers."

Wahls, a progressive candidate who Republicans likened to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, was endorsed by liberal champion Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. The Democratic primary grabbed plenty of national attention and drew tons of outside money.

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Hinson, a former TV news anchor who is in her third term representing Iowa's 2nd Congressional District, defeated former state senator and former U.S. Senate candidate Jim Carlin in the GOP Senate primary, The Associated Press reported.

Hinson was backed by President Donald Trump; Senate Majority Leader John Thune; the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is the campaign arm of the Senate GOP; and by Ernst as she cruised to her party's nomination. Hinson, who in 2020 flipped a Democratic-held seat, is seen as a rising star in the party.

Iowa was once a top battleground state that former President Barack Obama carried in his 2008 and 2012 White House victories. But the state has shifted to the right in recent election cycles with Trump carrying the state by nine points in 2016, eight points in 2020 and by 13 points in November 2024.

Republicans hold both of the state's Senate seats — Ernst and longtime Sen. Chuck Grassley — and all four of Iowa's congressional districts, as well as all statewide offices except state auditor.

But Democrats are energized heading into the midterms, when the GOP, as the party in power, will face traditional headwinds, a challenging political climate thanks to persistent inflation and sky-high gas prices due to what polls show is an unpopular war with Iran, as well as Trump's sinking approval ratings.

And Iowa Democrats, in particular, are energized after flipping two GOP-held state Senate seats in special elections in 2025.

The general election winner will succeed Ernst, a retired Army Reserve and Iowa National Guard officer who served in the Iraq War and was first elected to the Senate in 2014.

Ernst grabbed plenty of national attention in that campaign with her "make 'em squeal" ads as she won the high-profile Senate election to succeed retiring longtime Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin.

Fox News' Sally Persons contributed to this report.

'Jersey Shore' star Mike Sorrentino teases future run for New Jersey governor

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:46:10 -0400

"Jersey Shore" star, Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, announced he may run for governor of New Jersey in the future.

According to News 12, the 43-year-old reality star told VUE Magazine about his plans to enter the political sphere at their spring edition party on Thursday night.

"I'd like to save lives for the next three to five years with Archangels Centers," he said. "I’d like to have an Archangels center in every 50 states [sic], and after that, you know, I will introduce everybody to Governor Situation."

While he said he couldn't quite share which party he will run under just yet, he noted he believes "the residents of New Jersey would like no property tax."

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Fox News Digital reached out to representatives of Sorrentino for comment.

Sorrentino found fame as a cast member on the reality show "Jersey Shore," which followed a group of young men and women who lived together on the Jersey Shore and worked at a T-Shirt shop on the boardwalk. Fans were drawn to their wild antics, as they partied most nights and often argued with one another.

The show aired on MTV for six seasons from 2009 to 2012 and came back for eight more seasons in 2018, with "Jersey Shore: Family Vacation," which came to an end this year.

In between filming the original show and the reboot, Sorrentino sought treatment for an addiction to prescription painkillers, previously sharing he entered into three different rehab programs between 2012 and 2015.

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He celebrated 10 years of sobriety in December 2025, telling People in May that his wife, Lauren, "saved my life," adding she is the reason he is "going on my 11th year of sobriety this year."

"I feel like this new chapter of me using my story to help other people," he told the outlet. "You know, I now own a brand of treatment centers called the Archangel Centers where we live to help as many as we can. And I tell people all the time, like, I love being on TV, right? But I love helping people more."

The reality star founded the recovery and treatment center, Archangel Centers, with his wife in 2024, with the help of Ascend Behavioral Health Network.

He made the announcement in an Instagram post, calling himself "living proof that the comeback is always greater than the setback."

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"I didn’t get anything I prayed for until I became the kind of person who could receive it. I put in the work, never gave up, and now my story is someone else’s roadmap to survival," Sorrentino wrote. "Today, I’m on the front lines, ready to save lives. My experience, strength, and hope will help addicts find recovery, one day at a time."

Not only did Sorrento overcome addiction, he also served eight months in federal prison for tax evasion.

"Against all odds, I turned my life around," he said. "Today, I’m happily married with three amazing kids, a published author, nine years sober, and about to launch my own treatment centers: @thearchangelcenters. What once seemed impossible is now my reality."

Scott Pelley fired at CBS News after blowups with Bari Weiss, new '60 Minutes' producer

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:42:48 -0400

Veteran "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley was fired from the long-running CBS News show on Tuesday following a bitter clash with the network's editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and new "60 Minutes" executive producer Nick Bilton.

"Yesterday, you hijacked my first meeting with staff to disparage me, my qualifications, and my intentions with remarkable incivility and contempt. I welcome a diversity of viewpoints and respectful debate among the team, but this was nothing of the sort," Bilton wrote to Pelley in a memo obtained by Fox News Digital.

"Yesterday’s performative display of hostility—enacted in front of the staff instead of in a civil, private conversation—demonstrated that you have no interest in contributing to the future success of the show, or approaching my new tenure with a mind open to collaboration and progress. I am here to deliver first-in-class news programming, not to make headlines about newsroom drama. I am eager to work alongside those who share this goal," Bilton said.

"Despite yesterday’s misconduct, I had hoped that in sitting down with you today we could find a path forward together. You made clear that you are not interested in such a path," he continued. "Your antipathy to the future of the show has come through loud and clear. And I have heard you. I therefore write on behalf of CBS News, Inc. ('CBS') to inform you that your employment with CBS is terminated for cause effective immediately. Enclosed is your formal termination letter."

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Bilton sent a separate memo to "60 Minutes" staff informing them about Pelley's ouster.

"I know how much Scott meant to many of you, and I don't say this lightly. I made repeated attempts to have direct conversations with him over the weekend, and this afternoon I tried to find common ground. That was not the path Scott chose," Bilton wrote in the memo obtained by Fox News Digital.

"What I regret most is that this situation interfered with the conversation I had hoped to have with you about Season 59 and the future of this show. I realize this is a great deal of change in a very short time, and I wouldn't pretend otherwise," he told staff. "I won't relitigate the last week with you here. What I will commit to is this: My unyielding support for each of you, the journalism that you do and what we will do together going forward."

In his own statement, Pelley slammed parent company Paramount CEO David Ellison of tarnishing CBS News' reputation "to curry a moment of favor with the Trump administration."

"Last month, ‘60 Minutes’ lost its DNA when our entire senior leadership and two of our best on-air correspondents were cruelly fired without cause. Good people were silenced because they stood up for our audience. They stood for fairness against the forces of political bias; they stood for professionalism against chaos," Pelley wrote. "For my part, new management has instructed me to inject falsehoods and bias into a politically sensitive story. I’ve been told to include assertions that are unverified. To date, in every case, I have managed to ignore these instructions or refuse them.

After accusing new management of "incompetence and unprofessionalism," he said "the collapse of values at the top has become untenable."

"The leadership of 60 Minutes is no longer recognizable. The principles I hold dear are gone, and so I must leave as well," Pelley wrote.

Pelley's exit came after he lashed out at Bilton during an all-staff meeting Monday where he accused Weiss of "murdering" the storied newsmagazine program and bluntly told Bilton, who has no linear television experience, that he has "slender qualifications" for his new role. Before joining "60 Minutes," Bilton was a documentary filmmaker and a technology journalist for The New York Times and Vanity Fair.

Puck media correspondent Dylan Byers reported Tuesday that CBS News leadership held a meeting with Pelley and that "the two sides did not find common ground," accelerating Pelley's exit from the network. Weiss reportedly asked Pelley to make an apology and accused him of creating a hostile work environment.

Fox News Digital previously learned that Weiss and Bilton repeatedly reached out to Pelley to express they wanted him to remain a "60 Minutes" correspondent and that he hadn't engaged with them prior to Monday's tense showdown, according to a source familiar to CBS News leadership.

CBS NEWS CHIEFS TOLD SCOTT PELLEY THEY WANTED HIM TO STAY ON ‘60 MINUTES’ BEFORE TENSE CLASH WITH NEW PRODUCER

Pelley erupted at the meeting over last week's abrupt firing of several "60 Minutes" staffers, including correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega as well as executive producer Tanya Simon, referring to their ouster as "Black Thursday." Weiss appointed Bilton as Simon's successor the same day.

Pelley, who previously served as the "CBS Evening News" anchor from 2011-2017, first joined CBS News in 1989 and later joined "60 Minutes" as a correspondent in 2004.

In recent years, Pelley was outspoken with criticism of his bosses, including at CBS News' parent company Paramount. In April 2025, he took aim at Paramount following the resignation of "60 Minutes" executive producer Bill Owens, who claimed he no longer had editorial independence as the company was engaged in mediation talks with President Donald Trump's legal team to settle a lawsuit he filed in 2024.

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"Our parent company, Paramount, is trying to complete a merger," Pelley told viewers at the time. "The Trump administration must approve it. Paramount began to supervise our content in new ways. None of our stories have been blocked, but Bill felt he lost the independence that honest journalism required."

"No one here is happy about it, but in resigning, Bill proved one thing. He was the right person to lead ’60 Minutes’ all along," he added.

The merger was in reference to Paramount's $8 billion takeover by Skydance Media, run by David Ellison, Paramount's new CEO, who appointed Weiss as CBS News' editor-in-chief last fall.

Weeks later, he slammed Trump for filing lawsuits against journalists and their companies "for nothing" during a commencement address at Wake Forest University. Trump accused CBS News of election interference over how the network handled its "60 Minutes" interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Paramount made an eight-figure settlement to Trump days before his FCC approved of the Paramount-Skydance merger.

"Our previous owners at CBS faced political pressure and crumbled," Pelley reportedly said in March.

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Back in January, Pelley swiped Weiss, reportedly telling colleagues, "She needs to take her job a little bit more seriously." That comment came after Weiss clashed with Alfonsi, who accused her of having political motives when she pulled a segment about the infamous El Salvador prison CECOT moments before it was set to air in December. It ultimately aired a month later.

Remaining "60 Minutes" correspondents include Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker and Jon Wertheim. Anderson Cooper previously announced his departure from "60 Minutes" as a correspondent in February after nearly two decades.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Fox News' Brian Flood contributed to this report.

Plastic surgeon who testified for 1993 WTC bombing cleric wins NJ Dem primary

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:41:48 -0400

A pro-Palestinian plastic surgeon in New Jersey who testified as a witness in a major terrorism case on behalf of a convicted Islamic cleric won election in the New Jersey primary.

Adam Hisham Hamawy, a former Army combat medic born in Egypt, won a 12-way Democratic primary contest for a solidly blue House seat, according to The Associated Press.

Hamawy was considered to be the frontrunner to succeed retiring Trenton-area Rep. Bonnie Watson-Coleman, D-N.J., and garnered support from the Democratic Party's far-left flank.

He attempted to weather mounting scrutiny for his ties as a young adult to Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, who was convicted of inciting the 1993 World Trade Center bombing that killed six people and injured thousands. The infamous "Blind Sheikh" was also an influential figure among al Qaeda terrorists.

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Hamawy testified as a witness for the defense and has faced lingering questions for his role in the convicted sheikh's 1996 trial.

Fox News contributor Andrew McCarthy, the chief prosecutor in Abdel Rahman’s criminal trial, said Hamawy’s testimony ultimately helped the government’s case despite it being offered to undermine the prosecution’s case.

"As was uniformly the case with witnesses presented in the extensive defense case, his testimony, once cross-examination was over, did more to bolster the prosecution’s proof of a jihadist terrorism conspiracy against the United States than to help the accused," McCarthy said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

His campaign told Fox News Digital that a past affiliation with Abdel Rahman, who was also convicted of conspiring to assassinate Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, amounts to "guilt-by-association" shaming. He has denied any wrongdoing and was never criminally charged.

The political newcomer also faced questions over his ties to a now-shuttered al Qaeda-linked front group in Eastern Europe, which he briefly volunteered for in 1994, Jewish Insider first reported.

Hamawy was endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.; and controversial Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, among other leading progressives. American Priorities, a nascent pro-Palestinian super PAC, also poured money into the race to put him over the top.

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The district, spanning liberal Mercer County up through Somerville to the Plainfields, is considered a safe Democratic seat in a blue-trending state that has moved away from the relatively close margins President Donald Trump received in his 2024 race.

With a crowded field, few have coalesced around an alternative to Hamawy, while one opponent — Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp — did call out the surgeon as a "radical extremist."

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., told Jewish Insider he had "deep concerns" about Hamawy’s "associations with terrorist organizations and leaders who have attacked America."

Activist Sue Altman, who lost to adjacent-district Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. in 2024, is another of the dozen running against Hamawy.

She recently won support from influential figures among the party’s establishment, including former Gov. Jon S. Corzine, ex-Sen. Robert "The Torch" Torricelli and ex-Sen. Bill Bradley.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., notably credited Hamawy with saving her life on an overseas deployment to the Middle East in 2004, and he, in turn, credited her with helping secure his evacuation in 2024 after his medical mission was reportedly trapped by a closed border crossing near Khan Younis, Gaza.

During that humanitarian trip, Hamawy said he had "never … witnessed the level of atrocities and targeting of my medical colleagues," in an apparent reference to the Israeli government.

Trump-endorsed Hinson secures Iowa Senate nomination as Democrats eye GOP seat

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:26:40 -0400

Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson of Iowa on Tuesday captured her party's Senate nomination in the race to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Joni Ernst.

The Republican-controlled seat in Iowa is a top target for Democrats, and the race is one of about a dozen crucial showdowns in this year's midterm elections that will determine whether the Republicans hold on to their current 53–47 majority in the chamber.

Hinson was backed by President Donald Trump; Senate Majority Leader Sen. John Thune; the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is the campaign arm of the Senate GOP; and by Ernst as she cruised to her party's nomination. Hinson, who in 2020 flipped a Democratic-held seat that covers the northeastern portion of Iowa, is seen as a rising star in the party.

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"It has been working Iowans from all 99 counties – and I’ve visited every single one of them – who powered this campaign and delivered a resounding victory tonight," Hinson said in a statement released moments after her race was called.

And she emphasized, "We’re going to continue fighting every day to make life more affordable for Iowa families, to take on Big Pharma and Big Health Insurance, and to root out corruption in Washington by banning Members of Congress and their spouses from trading stocks and participating in prediction markets."

Iowa was once a top battleground state that former President Barack Obama carried in his 2008 and 2012 White House victories. But the state has shifted to the right in recent election cycles, with Trump carrying the state by nine points in 2016, eight points in 2020, and by 13 points in November 2024.

Republicans hold both of the state's Senate seats — Ernst and longtime Sen. Chuck Grassley — and all four of Iowa's congressional districts, as well as all statewide offices except for state auditor.

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But Democrats are energized heading into the midterms, when the GOP as the party in power will face traditional headwinds, a challenging political climate thanks to persistent inflation and sky-high gas prices due to what polls show is an unpopular war with Iran and Trump's sinking approval ratings.

And Iowa Democrats, in particular, are energized after flipping two GOP-held state Senate seats in special elections last year.

Hinson will face off in the general election against state Rep. Josh Turek, a Paralympian. Turek defeated state Sen. Zach Wahls in an expensive and contentious Democratic Senate primary.

Wahls, a progressive who Republicans have likened to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, had the backing of liberal champion Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Turek, the more moderate Senate contender who flipped a GOP-held Iowa House seat in 2022, was backed by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and had the tacit support of longtime Democratic Senate Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. And VoteVets, an establishment-aligned outside group, has spent big bucks on behalf of Turek.

But National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Regional Press Secretary Samantha Cantrell said that "Chuck Schumer spent $10 million dollars to coronate Josh Turek as his rubber stamp for Democrats' radical tax-and-spend agenda. In November, Iowans will reject him and elect Ashley Hinson to keep fighting for Iowa families, farmers, and workers."

And the NRSC quickly went up with a digital ad targeting Turek for what Republicans argued is his "radical agenda."

Hinson is aiming to succeed Ernst, a retired Army Reserve and Iowa National Guard officer who served in the Iraq War and was first elected to the Senate in 2014.

Ernst grabbed plenty of national attention in that campaign with her "make 'em squeal" ads as she won the high-profile Senate election to succeed retiring longtime Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin.

Fox News' Sally Persons contributed to this report.

Carolina Hurricanes not wasting any time, score on first shot of Stanley Cup Final

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:18:47 -0400

The Stanley Cup Final — like any best-of-seven playoff series — is typically more of a marathon than a sprint.

That said, you're not going to hear too many complaints about a quick start, and it's hard to get any quicker than the Carolina Hurricanes.

The game got underway on Wednesday night in Raleigh with the Vegas Golden Knights coming to town after clinching the Western Conference title by way of a stunning sweep of the Colorado Avalanche.

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While Vegas-Carolina is not exactly ratings gold by any stretch, it is a matchup between two insanely good hockey teams.

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Both have different styles that make them great, but Carolina's secret weapons are structure and quick starts.

Well, once the puck dropped in Game 1, the broadcasts hadn't even gotten through the starting lineups before Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers put the home team up by one on the very first shot of the series.

The Canes simply couldn't have asked for a better start.

And, needless to say, it's the worst possible start for the Golden Knights.

And, if that wasn't enough, Ehlers had another one up his sleeve later in the period.

Both of those goals were assisted on by Jalen Chatfield.

The Canes have absolutely torn through the Eastern Conference en route to their third Cup Final appearance in franchise history.

Despite the quick start, Vegas did catch a major break on a fortunate bounce to cut the lead to 2-1, a goal that was credited to Shea Theodore.

Carolina swept the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers in the first and second rounds, respectively. The Hurricanes then dropped Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Montreal Canadiens before rebounding to win the next four games and clinch the series in five.

Game 2 is Thursday in Raleigh, then the series will shift to Las Vegas for Game 3 Saturday and Game 4 the following Tuesday.

Dems pick challenger for GOP congressman who vanished from public view amid health mystery

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:14:05 -0400

Democrat Rebecca Bennett will face Rep. Tom Kean Jr., R-N.J., an embattled lawmaker sidelined for months by an undisclosed health issue, in November’s general election.

Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, won the Democratic nomination in a crowded primary for a battleground New Jersey House seat, according to The Associated Press.

Kean, who has not appeared in public since early March, ran unopposed for the GOP nomination.

Bennett’s primary victory sets up what could be the two-term incumbent’s toughest re-election fight yet. The suburban swing district is considered critical to House Republicans’ efforts to hold their slim majority.

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Gov. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., narrowly carried the northern New Jersey swing seat during her gubernatorial race in 2025. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rated the contest as a "toss-up."

The brewing general election battle comes as Kean has faced mounting scrutiny for a prolonged absence from Congress that has left even House GOP leadership in the dark.

"He’s had a medical issue, and he’s gonna be fully transparent and disclose all that," House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters in May. "I mean, that’s what he told me. But I don’t even know the details, and I have to respect that."

Kean released a written statement shortly before polls closed Tuesday saying he will be "completely transparent" about his medical issue when he resumes in-person work, which he said he expects to do "within a matter of weeks."

"I understand the need for transparency on this matter, and I look forward to sharing my experience with the public," he continued, without further elaborating on his condition.

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Kean previously said in mid-May that he would resume work "in the next couple of weeks," according to the New Jersey Globe.

The New Jersey Republican has missed all 104 of the most recent roll call votes, according to GovTrack, a website that monitors congressional absences. He last voted March 5.

His office has continued to post on social media and Kean has even introduced legislation during his absence.

President Donald Trump highlighted his endorsement of Kean in a post on social media, stating the incumbent lawmaker "WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN."

Tina Shah and Michael Roth — two former Biden administration officials — challenged Bennett for the Democratic nomination. Brian Varela, a businessman running on a progressive platform, also launched a bid for the seat.

Bennett, a first-time candidate, ran a less progressive campaign than the other Democrats in the race. She was the lone Democrat to stop short of calling for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Kean defeated Democratic challenger Sue Altman by roughly 5 points in 2024. He is the son of former two-term New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean, who led the Garden State throughout much of the 1980s.

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), House Republicans’ campaign arm, immediately criticized Bennett following her primary win.

"The truth is, Bennett is a tax-and-spend liberal who worships the socialist Squad and wants to make life more expensive for New Jerseyans," National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole said in a statement Tuesday.

Young YouTubers dominate the box office with 'Backrooms,' 'Obsession'

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:00:50 -0400

Young YouTubers are making big waves at the box office.

Twenty-year-old Kane Parsons became the youngest director to have the No. 1 film at the box office with his new horror flick "Backrooms," which earned a whopping $81 million.

"Backrooms" is a big screen adaptation of Parsons' 2022 found footage-style web series inspired from a 2019 image posted on the social platform 4chan. The series follows a group of scientists who discover an eerie dimension that comes in the form of seemingly-never-ending vacant indoor spaces.

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His YouTube account, dubbed Kane Pixels, has more than 3 million subscribers. And the first installment in his "Backrooms" series has over 81 million views.

Parsons' feature film, which stars Oscar-nominated actors Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve, reportedly had a $10 million budget and had early projections of grossing $20 million its opening weekend. However, as the release date steadily approached, projections began to explode, shooting towards $40–50 million and only crept upward.

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Variety reported "nearly 85% of audiences" were under 35 years old, according to PostTrak data, and "more than 50% were 25 or younger." It would quickly become the highest-grossing film for the independent entertainment company A24.

"This is an extraordinary achievement that is putting butts in seats in a measure that could not have been anticipated," Rotten Tomatoes box office columnist Erick Childress reacted.

Parsons isn't the only content creator to defy the odds at the box office. Twenty-six-year-old writer/director Curry Barker first made a splash last month with his low-budget horror film "Obsession." It made $17 million its opening weekend, upsetting box office projections that had it making less than $10 million.

Barker is part of the sketch comedy duo "That's a Bad Idea," which has over 1 million followers on YouTube and TikTok.

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"Obsession" went on to do the nearly-impossible; it made more money the following weekend, earning roughly $24 million — $30 million when including Memorial Day — a whopping 39% increase from its opening weekend, outpacing much bigger films like "The Devil Wears Prada 2" and the Michael Jackson biopic "Michael." It even outpaced the new Star Wars movie "The Mandalorian and Grogu" last Wednesday.

And in its third weekend, "Obsession" made even more money, grossing $26 million this past weekend.

"It has done something that no film since 2000 has done," Childress wrote. "You can go back to the ‘80s to find summer films like 'E.T.' and 'Superman II' that did it. Even R-rated films like 'Risky Business,' 'The Untouchables,' 'No Way Out' and 'Ruthless People.' But not in modern times, and not among films that began as wide releases."

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"Obsession" follows a young man who uses a novelty toy to make a wish that a friend he has a crush on falls in love with him — only to realize that his wish quickly backfires.

The film, featuring a cast of mostly unknowns and cost less than $1 million to make, has now grossed over $100 million domestically and $150 million worldwide.

"Backrooms" and "Obsession," both of which were produced by prolific horror financier Jason Blum of BlumHouse Productions, outgrossed "The Mandalorian and Grogu," placing third at the box office and suffering a staggering 69% from its already-underwhelming opening weekend.

"It won’t be as big of a financial loser as 'Solo' was, but ultimately grossing less than that film across the globe may call for a course correction for the [Star Wars] franchise," Childress said.

"The Mandalorian and Grogu" trailed the two horror films last weekend, making shy of $25 million domestically. While the Jon Favreau-directed film likely won't be considered a box office bomb due to its $165 million budget (it has so far grossed $250 million worldwide), it is likely going to be the worst-performing Star Wars movie at the box office ever.

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The disappointing numbers from the last Star Wars installment may leave Disney executives nervious, especially since another Star Wars film starring Ryan Gosling is slated for next year.

Meanwhile, "Backrooms" and "Obsession" will be considered two of the most profitable movies of the year.

Spencer Pratt stops at iconic LA restaurant on Election Day, vows to make city 'streets safe again'

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 20:56:13 -0400

Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt spent part of Election Day at Roscoe's House of Chicken 'N Waffles, one of the city's many recognizable culinary institutions, as voters headed to the polls in Tuesday's primary election.

Pratt first rose to fame on MTV's reality show "The Hills" alongside his wife, Heidi Montag.

This year he launched an unconventional bid for Los Angeles mayor as a registered Republican, running as an independent, in the city's open primary election.

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After eating at the restaurant, Pratt praised the food and contrasted his visit with a recent stop by incumbent Democratic Mayor Karen Bass at another one of the soul food restaurant's locations.

"Oh, it was incredible," Pratt told Fox News Digital. "We went to the actual Roscoe's in LA City."

"I saw Mayor Bass enjoyed a different Roscoe's. Still good," he snubbed. "I don't think she ate anything. I think she just had a soda and a photo op, but I wanted to actually go experience the LA City Roscoe's."

Asked what he ordered, Pratt replied: "I had waffles and chicken. It was incredible."

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Founded in 1975, Roscoe's House of Chicken 'N Waffles has become a Los Angeles institution known for its signature pairing of fried chicken and waffles and its place in the city's cultural history. The restaurant has long attracted a mix of local residents, celebrities, athletes and politicians.

Pratt entered the mayoral race after losing his Pacific Palisades home in the devastating 2025 wildfire and has since become a vocal critic of Bass and city leadership. His campaign has focused on public safety, homelessness, wildfire preparedness and government accountability.

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Speaking outside of Roscoe's, Pratt used the stop to reinforce his law-and-order message and vowed to clean-up the city.

"What am I doing on day one? We're gonna start making the streets safe again," Pratt said.

"It's gonna take the first couple weeks — I gotta warn everybody — the law's back in LA.," he continued. "But then, once everybody's been warned, we will be enforcing all the laws so that everybody can feel safe all across the city. Because right now, no one feels safe."

Though initially viewed as a celebrity long shot, Pratt has attracted attention through his social media presence, catchy campaign ads, viral debate performance, name recognition and outsider campaign message.

His Election Day appearance at Roscoe's reflected a campaign that has leaned heavily into Los Angeles culture while seeking to connect with voters frustrated by the city's challenges — especially in the wake of the deadly and widely destructive wildfires last year.