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6 months to midterms: The Senate seats that could tip the balance of power

Mon, 04 May 2026 11:38:03 -0400

With six months to go until this year's midterm elections, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) chair, Sen. Tim Scott, says he believes the GOP can not only hold but expand its current 53–47 majority.

"There's no doubt the climate has gotten more and more difficult by the day," Scott, R-S.C., acknowledged in a recent ӣ��Ƶ Digital interview. But he emphasized he remains "incredibly optimistic" heading into the midterms as he defends the GOP's Senate majority.

Republicans — as the party currently in power — were already up against traditional political headwinds that lead to a loss of congressional seats. Add to that the challenging climate fueled by persistent inflation, rising gas prices tied to what polls show is an unpopular war with Iran and President Donald Trump's underwater approval ratings.

Scott's rival and counterpart at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, is optimistic that Democrats can flip the chamber. Gillibrand, D-N.Y., told ӣ��Ƶ Digital earlier this year she sees "all the makings of a blue wave."

DEMOCRATS BUILD MIDTERM MOMENTUM BUT REPUBLICANS STILL IN DRIVER'S SEAT IN SENATE MAJORITY BATTLE

Here's a look at the 10 Senate seats most likely to flip and potentially flip the balance of power in the chamber.

Maine

Republican Sen. Susan Collins is running for re-election for a sixth six-year term in blue-leaning Maine.

Collins is the only Republican senator running for re-election this year in a state that then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried in her 2024 presidential election defeat to Trump. And Collins has seen a deterioration of her poll numbers among Mainers from her last re-election six years ago.

But Collins, who has long been a top DSCC target, has proven tough to beat.

STRATEGY SESSION: TRUMP TEAM HUDDLES ON MIDTERM MESSAGING

Facing Collins will likely be veteran and oyster farmer Graham Platner, the all-but-certain Democratic nominee after two-term Gov. Janet Mills dropped out of the race last week. Platner is backed by progressive champions Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

Republican groups supporting Collins are already blasting Platner over controversial comments he made over a decade ago on Reddit about rape, and a well-publicized tattoo on his chest that resembled a Nazi symbol.

North Carolina

Republicans are defending an open seat in the southeastern battleground state, with GOP Sen. Thom Tillis retiring at the end of this year.

Democrats landed their top recruit when former two-term Gov. Roy Cooper launched a Senate campaign last summer. Cooper enjoys tons of name ID in North Carolina and is 6-0 when running statewide races.

Republicans are rallying around former Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Michael Whatley, who has the president's backing.

The Cook Report, a top nonpartisan political handicapper, recently shifted the race from toss-up to lean Democrat.

Ohio

Democrats scored another major recruiting victory when former longtime Sen. Sherrod Brown announced he would challenge Republican Sen. Jon Husted.

A former lieutenant governor, Husted was appointed to the Senate a year ago after then-Sen. JD Vance stepped down to serve as vice president.

Ohio, once a premier general election battleground, has turned red over the past decade, and Democrats view Brown as their only competitive candidate in the race to serve the final two years of Vance's term.

Brown lost re-election in 2024 by roughly four points while Trump carried Ohio by 11 points.

But the Cook Report last month shifted its ranking from lean Republican to toss-up, noting that "even recent GOP polling" has indicated the race is all knotted up.

Georgia

Republicans view first-term Sen. Jon Ossoff as the most vulnerable Democrat seeking re-election in 2026.

But Ossoff has built a massive war chest while the GOP faces a nasty three-way primary battle for its nomination in the crucial southeastern battleground state.

The Cook Report recently shifted the race in Georgia from toss-up to lean Democrat.

Michigan

The GOP's aiming to flip an open seat in battleground Michigan, where Sen. Gary Peters is retiring.

Former Rep. Mike Rogers, who won the 2024 GOP Senate nomination in Michigan but narrowly lost to Rep. Elissa Slotkin, is making a second straight bid and is the all-but-certain GOP nominee.

Democrats are dealing with a three-way fight between center-left Rep. Haley Stevens, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, a self-described "pragmatist," and progressive physician Abdul El-Sayed, who is backed by Sanders.

The primary has already exposed numerous Democratic Party divisions and provided Rogers, who is backed by Trump, with plenty of ammunition, and the nominee won’t be decided until August.

Alaska

Democrats were given a big boost in the red-leaning state when former Rep. Mary Peltola announced in February that she would challenge GOP incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan.

Peltola lost re-election 15 months ago in the at-large district that covers the entire state by three points, while Trump carried Alaska by 11 points.

Texas

Longtime Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas is in the middle of a competitive and combustible GOP nomination runoff battle against state Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton.

Trump, to date, has stayed neutral in the runoff, which will be held in late May.

Cornyn enjoys the backing of Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and the NRSC, which worries that the seat would be vulnerable if Paxton, who has plenty of political baggage, wins the primary.

The Democrats, who are eyeing the seat in the right-leaning state, nominated state Rep. James Talarico, a rising star in the party.

Talarico hauled in an eye-popping $27 million in fundraising the first three months of this year.

New Hampshire

Republicans are hoping to flip the long-held Democratic Senate seat in New England's only swing state, thanks to the retirement of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the first woman in the nation's history to be elected governor and senator.

Four-term Rep. Chris Pappas is expected to capture the Democratic Senate nomination in the state's early September primary.

There's a primary race on the Republican side between two former senators seeking a return to Capitol Hill. Former Sen. John E. Sununu, an older brother to former Gov. Chris Sununu, has the backing of the president and has a double-digit lead in public polling. But Trump's first-term ambassador to New Zealand, former Sen. Scott Brown, remains in the race.

Iowa

Republicans are defending an open seat in Iowa, a onetime swing state that's shifted to the right over the past decade.

But the GOP has rallied around Rep. Ashley Hinson, who is backed by Trump, in the race to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Joni Ernst.

Hinson, a former local TV news anchor who flipped a Democratic-held seat in 2020, is seen as a rising star in the party.

Democrats have a contested primary that includes state Rep. Josh Turek, a Paralympian, and state Sen. Zach Wahls.

Florida

Republican Sen. Ashley Moody, who as Florida's attorney general was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis last year to fill the seat once held by now-Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is the all but certain Republican nominee.

Moody will likely face off in November against Democratic challenger Alex Vindman, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, whistleblower in the 2019 Trump-Ukraine controversy and brother of Rep. Eugene Vindman.

Recent polling suggests a competitive race between Moody and Vindman in right-leaning Florida.

Honorable mention: Minnesota

The retirement of Democratic Sen. Tina Smith is giving the GOP hopes they can flip the seat in the blue-leaning state.

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And the NRSC landed what they say is a top-tier recruit in former NBC sports reporter turned conservative pundit and activist Michele Tafoya, who is part of a crowded GOP field.

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, a progressive, is facing off against more moderate Democratic Rep. Angie Craig, who appears to have the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in the race for their party’s nomination.

10 Senate races that could decide control of the chamber in the 2026 midterms

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 06:00:20 -0400

Republicans face high hurdles as they defend their razor-thin control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, but the Senate GOP campaign chair says he remains "incredibly optimistic" his party can not only hold but expand its current 53–47 majority.

Republicans are battling stiff political headwinds as the party in power in the nation's capital traditionally loses seats in the midterms, and a rough political climate fueled by economic concerns amid persistent inflation and President Donald Trump's underwater approval ratings.

"There's no doubt the climate has gotten more and more difficult by the day, it seems like at times," National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chair Sen. Tim Scott said in a recent ӣ��Ƶ Digital interview.

But he added, "The good news is we have a president who made promises, he's been keeping those promises, and we have been able to recruit the highest quality candidates anyone could want in every single battleground state."

WHAT THE SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN CHIEF TOLD FOX NEWS

The NRSC chair told ӣ��Ƶ Digital in December 2025 that in the battle for the majority, "54 is clearly within our grasp right now, but with a little bit of luck, 55 is on our side."

Asked again a week ago, Scott said, "I think we have a possibility of more than 53 seats."

STRATEGY SESSION: TRUMP TEAM HUDDLES ON MIDTERM MESSAGING

Scott's rival, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand told ӣ��Ƶ Digital in January that "President Trump is creating a toxic agenda that's harming people."

And Gillibrand emphasized she's "optimistic that we have a shot to take back the majority."

Here's a look at the top 10 Senate seats that could flip in the midterms.

MAINE

Longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins is the only Republican senator running for re-election this year in a state that then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried in her 2024 presidential election loss to Trump.

And Collins has seen a deterioration of her poll numbers among Mainers from her last re-election six years ago.

But Collins, who has long been a top target of the rival Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) has proven impossible to beat, to date.

Complicating the Democrats' push to flip the seat is a competitive primary between two-term Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, who has the tacit backing of longtime Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and the DSCC, and veteran and oyster farmer Graham Platner, who is running to the left of the governor and who is backed by progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

NORTH CAROLINA

Republicans are defending an open seat in the southeastern battleground state, with GOP Sen. Thom Tillis retiring at the end of 2026.

Democrats landed their top recruit when former two-term Gov. Roy Cooper launched a Senate campaign in summer 2025. Cooper enjoys tons of name ID in North Carolina and is 6–0 when running statewide races.

Republicans are rallying around former Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Michael Whatley, who has the president's backing.

The race is expected to be one of the most expensive and competitive Senate showdowns this year.

OHIO

Democrats scored another major recruiting victory when former longtime Sen. Sherrod Brown announced he would challenge Republican Sen. Jon Husted.

A former lieutenant governor, Husted was appointed to the Senate a year ago after then-Sen. JD Vance stepped down to serve as vice president.

Ohio, once a premiere general election battleground, has turned red over the past decade, and Democrats view Brown as their only competitive candidate in the race to serve the final two years of Vance's term.

Brown lost re-election in 2024 by roughly four points while Trump carried Ohio by 11 points.

Similar to North Carolina, the showdown is expected to be very expensive and competitive.

ALASKA

Democrats were given a big boost in the red-leaning state when former Rep. Mary Peltola announced in February that she would challenge GOP incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan.

Peltola lost re-election 15 months ago in the at-large district that covers the entire state by three points, while Trump carried Alaska by 11 points.

IOWA

Republicans are defending an open seat in Iowa, a onetime swing state that's shifted to the right over the past decade.

But the GOP has rallied around Rep. Ashley Hinson, who is backed by Trump, in the race to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Joni Ernst.

Hinson, a former local TV news anchor who flipped a Democratic-held seat in 2020, is seen as a rising star in the party.

Democrats have a contested primary that includes state Rep. Josh Turek, a Paralympian, state Sen. Zach Wahls and military veteran Nathan Sage.

TEXAS

Longtime Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas is in the middle of a competitive and combustible GOP nomination runoff battle against state Attorney Gen. Ken Paxton.

Trump, to date, has stayed neutral in the runoff, which will be held in late May.

Cornyn enjoys the backing of Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the NRSC, which worries that the seat would be vulnerable if Paxton, who has plenty of political baggage, wins the primary.

The Democrats, who are eyeing the seat in the right-leaning state, nominated state Rep. James Talarico, a rising star in the party.

MICHIGAN

Republicans are optimistic they can flip a seat in the Great Lakes battleground, where Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is retiring.

The GOP, led by Trump, has coalesced around former Rep. Mike Rogers, who lost an extremely close Senate race in 2024 even as Trump won Michigan by one point.

The Democratic primary is a three-way race between center-left Rep. Haley Stevens, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, a self-described "pragmatist," and progressive physician Abdul El-Sayed, who is backed by Sanders.

The primary already has exposed divisions on the future of the state’s manufacturing sector and support for Israel, and the nominee won’t be decided until August.

GEORGIA

Republicans view first-term Sen. Jon Ossoff as the most vulnerable Democratic senator seeking re-election in the midterms.

The aim was to paint Ossoff, the only Senate Democrat running for re-election in a state Trump won in 2024, as a far-left progressive.

But ousting Ossoff won't be easy, in part because the senator's robust fundraising has built a massive war chest.

And Republicans are in the middle of an ugly three-way among Reps. Mike Collins and Buddy Carter, and former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley, who has the backing of term-limited popular, conservative Gov. Brian Kemp.

Trump has remained neutral, to date, ahead of the May primary.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

While most Democrats are rallying around four-term Rep. Chris Pappas, there's a spirited primary on the Republican side between two former senators seeking a return to Capitol Hill. Former Sen. John E. Sununu, an older brother to former Gov. Chris Sununu, has the backing of the president. But Trump's first-term ambassador to New Zealand, former Sen. Scott Brown, remains in the race.

Republicans are trying to break their 16-year losing streak in U.S. Senate elections in the Granite State.

MINNESOTA

The retirement of Democratic Sen. Tina Smith is giving the GOP hopes they can flip the seat in the blue-leaning state.

And the NRSC landed what they say is a top-tier recruit in former NBC sports reporter turned conservative pundit and activist Michele Tafoya.

Tafoya is part of a crowded GOP field that also includes 2024 Senate nominee Royce White, a former NBA basketball player; retired U.S. Navy officer Tom Weiler, a 2022 GOP congressional nominee; former state Senator David Hann and former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze.

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Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flannagan, a progressive, is facing off against more moderate Democratic Rep. Angie Craig, who appears to have the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, in the race for their party’s nomination.

Democrats plan luxury Napa retreat as government shutdown threat looms over Congress

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:32:07 -0400

Democrats have come under fire for planning a luxury jaunt to California’s wine country while Washington heads toward a possible government shutdown.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), chaired by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, allegedly invited lawmakers to an expensive two-day Napa Retreat from Oct. 13–14 at Hotel Yountville, a five-star resort with hot tubs and vineyard views, according to an invitation obtained by Politico Playbook.

If Congress fails to pass funding legislation before the end of September, the government may still be shut down when some Democrats gather for wine tours and dinners, the outlet reported Saturday.

THUNE SLAMS DEMOCRATS' 'COLD-BLOODED PARTISAN' TACTICS AS FUNDING DEADLINE NEARS

The retreat, was also said to include dinner at the expensive Staglin Family Vineyards, an organic estate known to be one of Napa’s premier winemakers.

Attendees will include Gillibrand, Sen. Angela Alsobrooks and other Democrats. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich, is also expected to attend, a Democrat briefed on the plans told Politico.

In a statement to the Daily Caller, Alyssa Brouillet, spokesperson for GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers, criticized Stevens for "running off to wine and dine in California" while Michiganders brace for potential paycheck disruptions.

TRUMP-APPROVED PLAN TO AVERT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN SCUTTLED BY SENATE

"If it was outrageous for Trump, it’s hypocritical for Senate Democrats," the GOP strategist told the outlet after Democrats had criticized Trump for heading to the Ryder Cup Friday at Bethpage.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas also shared news of the "invitation obtained by Playbook for a Napa Retreat" on X.

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So far, the DSCC has not disclosed the retreat’s costs, nor clarified whether the event would be canceled if a shutdown persists.

ӣ��Ƶ Digital has reached out to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Rep. Haley Stevens of Michigan for comment.

Anti-Israel protesters arrested after storming Schumer, Gillibrand's NYC office building

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 15:25:44 -0400

Anti-Israel protesters were arrested after storming the lobby of Sen. Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s offices in New York City. The NYPD confirmed to ӣ��Ƶ Digital that officers made arrests at "an unscheduled demonstration" at 780 Third Avenue, where both senators’ NYC offices are located.

The protesters, clad in black and yellow, put out signs with various slogans, including two that addressed Schumer and Gillibrand directly, demanding they "stop starving Gaza." They also chanted "Free, free Palestine, stop the genocide." Among the activists was actor Sara Ramirez, who starred in "Grey's Anatomy" and "And Just Like That," according to Reuters.

TRUMP: HAMAS SURRENDER, HOSTAGE RELEASE IS ‘FASTEST WAY’ TO END GAZA WAR

It is unclear exactly how many people were arrested, as the NYPD was not disclosing that information at the time of this writing.

Earlier this week, Schumer released a statement decrying the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

"The reporting and images out of Gaza – depicting the devastating levels of hunger, starvation, suffering, and death – are wholly unacceptable and underscore the dire human cost of this ongoing conflict that cannot be ignored," the statement read.

PRO-ISRAEL DEM SAYS THOSE WHO WON'T DECRY HAMAS OVER OCT. 7 ATTACK 'HAVE NO BUSINESS' POSING AS HUMANITARIANS

"Regardless of the status of negotiations, the Trump administration and the Israeli government must urgently work with experienced and long-standing humanitarian and development partners of the United States to surge the delivery of food, services, and humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza. The action taken by the Israeli government to lift some restrictions on aid is a step forward – but much more must be done," Schumer added.

On Friday, President Donald Trump told Axios that he is working on a plan to "get people fed" in Gaza. The outlet noted that the president was concerned about starvation in Gaza, but placed the blame on Hamas. Additionally, Trump told Axios that Witkoff was "doing great work," but that he had not gotten a briefing from his special envoy yet.

DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKER 'NO LONGER ON SPEAKING TERMS' WITH SOME FAMILY OVER ISRAEL SUPPORT

Also on Friday, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff visited aid distribution sites run by the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

"Went into Gaza today [and] observed humanitarian food program by U.S.-launched GHF. Hamas hates GHF [because] it gets food to [people without] it being looted by Hamas. Over 100 MILLION meals served in 2 months," Huckabee wrote on X. In a separate post, Huckabee hailed GHF’s work as "an incredible feat."

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Huckabee also told ӣ��Ƶ’ Brian Kilmeade that the situation in Gaza is "a mess" because of Hamas. He added that he had seen evidence of the terror group stealing aid and selling it on the black market. According to Huckabee, a 4-kilogram (8.8-pound) bag of sugar is being sold on the black market for as much as $200.

Witkoff said that he and Huckabee spent five hours in Gaza "level setting the facts on the ground, assessing conditions and meeting with [GHF] and other agencies." He added that the aim of the visit was to give President Donald Trump "a clear understanding of the humanitarian situation and help craft a plan to deliver food and medical aid to the people of Gaza."

ӣ��Ƶ Digital reached out to the NYPD as well as the offices of Schumer and Gillibrand.

Democrats' new Senate campaign committee chair reveals keys to winning back majority

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 08:42:44 -0500

Incoming DSCC Chair Sen Kirsten Gillibrand says Democrats need to be 'talking to voters about what they're worried about' in order to win back Senate majority

DSCC hopeful Gillibrand says Dems should have put immigration fix on table '2 years ago'

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 04:00:23 -0500

Sen Kirsten Gillibrand says Dems should have presented bipartisan solutions 'a while ago'

Gillibrand, Hawley lead bipartisan bill to create mental health hotline for police, first responders

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 04:00:46 -0400

'I'm proud to partner with Senator Gillibrand on another piece of vital legislation': Hawley

Democrats who called for ICE to be abolished under Trump largely silent as border crisis rages

Sat, 20 Apr 2024 15:39:53 -0400

A handful of high-profile Democrats in the Senate and House previously supported the notion of abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — the agency tasked with enforcing immigration law in communities and at the border.

Despite their previous calls for ICE to be scrapped, there has been little resistance or pushback from Democrats about ICE enforcement under President Biden as the border crisis continues to wreak havoc on U.S. citizens, cities and communities.

Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts — two Democrats who sought their party's nomination for president in 2020 — are prominent leaders who previously led calls for ICE to be abolished outright, or broken up during former President Donald Trump's tenure in the White House.

VULNERABLE HOUSE DEMS DO A U-TURN ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AFTER CALLING CRISIS 'NON-EXISTENT THREAT'

In 2018, during an appearance on CNN, Gillibrand said: "I don’t think ICE today is working as intended. . . . I believe that it has become a deportation force, and I think you should separate the criminal justice from the immigration issues."

"I think you should reimagine ICE under a new agency with a very different mission and take those two missions out," she added at the time. "We believe that we should protect families who need our help and that is not what ICE is doing today, and that’s why I believe you should get rid of it, start over, reimagine it and build something that actually works."

Warren also took issue with the agency in 2018, writing in a Facebook post in June 2018: "[Trump's] deeply immoral actions have made it obvious that we need to rebuild our immigration system from top to bottom, starting by replacing ICE with something that reflects our values."

Though he didn't directly call for ICE to be abolished, a 2019 plan released by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats and sought the party's nomination for president in 2016 and 2020, included breaking up ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Deportation and enforcement would return to the Department of Justice, customs matters to the Treasury, and naturalization and citizenship to the State Department under Sanders’ proposal.

Several House Democrats also called to "terminate" ICE under Trump and expressed their support for the agency to be "abolished."

House Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wisc., introduced legislation in 2018 that would have led to ICE being "terminated" and called for the establishment of a commission "tasked with establishing a humane immigration enforcement system." It never received a vote in the House.

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: FENCE-CUTTING MIGRANTS BUSTED BY FEDS

Pocan's bill was co-sponsored by seven other Democrats who remain in Congress, including Reps. Pramila Jayapal of Washington, Adriano Espaillat of New York, Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, Adam Smith of Washington, Nydia Velázquez of New York and Yvette Clarke of New York.

"From conducting raids at garden centers and meatpacking plants, to breaking up families at churches and schools, ICE is tearing apart families and ripping at the moral fabric of our nation. . . . The agency can no longer accomplish its goals effectively," Pocan said at the time.

"I'm introducing legislation that would abolish ICE and crack down on the agency's blanket directive to target and round up individuals and families," he added.

Speaking about the effort in July 2018, Jayapal said in a statement: "There was enforcement of our immigration laws before ICE was created, and there will be after ICE, as an agency, is gone. As it stands, ICE is out of control."

The effort was also favored heavily by Espaillat, who said then that the lawmakers were "pushing to bring an end to ICE as the agency has strayed too far from its original mission, intent and purpose."

"We are witnessing a human rights crisis, and our bill would bring forward a new model and dismantle ICE once and for all," he added.

Joining her colleagues, Velázquez also said then that "the time has come to abolish ICE."

Blumenauer also called for an end to the agency in 2018, insisting the Trump administration had "made the agency so toxic that it's time to abolish ICE, and start over."

The Oregon lawmaker's office noted in a press release at the time that he had been "one of the first members of Congress to call for ICE to be abolished" and voted against the formation of ICE.

Like Blumenauer, McGovern also voted against the formation of ICE. In a 2018 comment, the Massachusetts congressman said, "It's time to abolish ICE."

"We need to start a fresh conversation," he added at the time.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS COVERAGE ON IMMIGRATION

Though she wasn't sworn in as a member of Congress until January 2019, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has also made calls to abolish ICE and even suggested that she would like to eliminate the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the agency.

The congresswoman's remarks came in a July 2019 discussion with The New Yorker Radio Hour’s David Remnick about the possibility of reforming or abolishing ICE.

"Would you get rid of Homeland Security, too?" Remnick asked.

"I think so, I think so. I think we need to undo a lot of the egregious, a lot of the egregious mistakes that the Bush administration did. I feel like we are at a very, it’s a very qualified and supported position, at least in terms of evidence, and in terms of being able to make the argument, that we never should’ve created DHS in the early 2000s," Ocasio-Cortez responded at the time.

Ocasio-Cortez renewed her call for ICE to be abolished in January 2021, writing in a post on social media, "Abolish ICE."

In 2022, the New York lawmaker sold "Abolish ICE" t-shirts, posters, and magnets on her official team shop that featured an ice cooler with the word "abolish" spray-painted in red above the word "ice." Today, however, it appears the only available item in her online store with the words "abolish ICE" written on it is a hat.

In an effort to understand where they stand on the issue now, ӣ��Ƶ Digital reached out to every Democrat mentioned in this article who called for ICE to be abolished, broken up, or terminated. None of them responded.

ICE was established in 2003 as a component agency of DHS, following the 9/11 terror attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

ICE was formed with the passage of the 2002 Homeland Security Act to absorb the responsibilities of the former Immigration and Naturalization Service, as well as the U.S. Customs Service, which was formerly under the control of the Treasury Department.

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The agency is currently led by Acting Director Patrick J. Lechleitner, an American law enforcement officer who has served in the role since July 2023.

CBP records show that the first six months of fiscal year 2024 had 1,340,801 total encounters, exceeding the first six months of fiscal year 2023, which set a record of 1,226,254 total encounters.

New York Republican Lee Zeldin 'keeping an eye' on run against Democrat Sen Kirsten Gillibrand

Wed, 03 May 2023 14:16:25 -0400

Former Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., is considering a potential run against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., in 2024.

"We’ll keep an eye on the race," Zeldin said while at the state Capitol on Monday in Albany, ӣ��Ƶ can confirm. "If we did run, it would be an extremely competitive race."

Despite failing to oust former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's successor, Kathy Hochul, from office in November, Zeldin ran a competitive challenge to the Democrat governor in the blue stronghold state, garnering more than 47% of the vote.

He focused his campaign on combating crime post-2020's defund the police movement, arguing that bail reform measures ushered in by the Democrat-controlled legislature contributed to the rising recidivism of violent offenders repeatedly arrested and then released onto the streets.

SEN STEVE DAINES, LEE ZELDIN ENDORSE TRUMP TO BE PRESIDENT: ‘BEST FOUR YEARS’

Following what is considered the best run of a Republican New York gubernatorial candidate in two decades, Zeldin launched a federal PAC, drawing speculation as to what his future political aspirations might hold. Gillibrand announced in January that she is seeking a third term for her Senate seat in 2024. After Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., previously refused to rule out a challenge in the Democrat primary, AOC spokesperson Lauren Hitt told Politico this week that the democratic socialist would not run against Gillibrand next year.

In an interview before joining Kellyanne Conway at a dinner for the New York State Federation of Republican Women near Albany, Zeldin told Politico that for now he remains focused on helping local Republican candidates across the state who supported his gubernatorial campaign last year.

AOC WILL NOT RUN FOR SENATE IN 2024, SPOKESPERSON SAYS

He was in Albany on Monday to meet with state legislators.

Zeldin said he is still considering a run against Gillibrand but recognizes that "there’s even more of a Democratic-favored turnout" during presidential election years compared to the midterms, when he ran for governor. "It was something that I was giving no thought to, but she was trying to fundraise. And the best way to fundraise in the first quarter of 2023 was to speak about a viable opponent," Zeldin told Politico. "We’ll see how the race shapes up."

Despite Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis campaigning in New York for Zeldin last year, Zeldin issued a statement on Twitter last week in which he threw his support behind Trump's 2024 presidential bid.

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"The GOP is filled with amazing talent to save our country from the failed policies of the Biden Admin," Zeldin tweeted on April 24. "Our nominee in 2024 will be the 45th & 47th POTUS, Donald Trump. Our economy will be stronger, our streets will be safer, & our lives will be freer. He has my full support!"

ӣ��Ƶ' Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report

New York Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand kicks off reelection campaign

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 11:07:27 -0500

Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York is kicking off her reelection campaign.

The 56-year-old sent out an email to supporters on Thursday announcing her 2024 bid. "I wanted you to hear it first," the email said. "Kirsten is running for reelection to the United States Senate in 2024."

Gillibrand has served as New York’s junior senator since 2009, taking over the seat vacated by Hillary Clinton.

GILLIBRAND SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO MEN IN ABORTION SPEECH: 'I DON'T THINK A MAN IN AMERICA COULD ACTUALLY IMAGINE'

Her campaign announcement comes as Democrats are scrutinizing their performance in New York, usually considered a stronghold for the party. Republicans in the 2022 midterm elections flipped four congressional seats, including one held by the head of the House Democrats’ campaign arm, while Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul defeated Republican Lee Zeldin in the narrowest win in a governor's race in nearly three decades.

Gillibrand has made a point of carving out relationships with Republican colleagues on bipartisan legislation. She is best known as one of the leading voices in Washington against sexual harassment and military sexual assault, and is a proponent of equal pay and family leave proposals.

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In 2022, she was instrumental in sending two sexual harassment measures to President Joe Biden. In milestones for the #MeToo movement, the bills that Biden signed into law curtailed the use of confidentiality agreements and gave workplace victims of sexual misconduct the right to seek recourse in the courts.

The senator has also been involved in a bipartisan push with Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., to regulate cryptocurrencies and other digital assets.

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Gillibrand was first elected to Congress in 2007, winning a House seat in a conservative part of upstate New York and toppling an incumbent Republican. She won a 2010 special election for Senate and full terms in 2012 and 2018 reelection campaigns.

She was among a crowded field of Democratic presidential candidates seeking the party's nomination in 2020 but dropped out of the race in 2019.

Lawmakers react to Buffalo shooting that left 10 dead, 3 injured

Sun, 15 May 2022 01:12:44 -0400

President Joe Biden, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, and local lawmakers were among those who reacted to a mass shooting in Buffalo Saturday afternoon, where a self-described white supremacist killed 10 people and injured three others.

Payton Gendron, 18, was arrested for carrying out the shooting, which he reportedly live-streamed on the video game streaming platform Twitch, authorities said.

In a statement, Gov. Kathy Hochul said she hopes Gendron will be held accountable for his action, including imprisonment for "the rest of his days."

"It is my sincere hope that this individual, this white supremacist who just perpetrated a hate crime on an innocent community, will spend the rest of his days behind bars. And heaven help him in the next world as well," Hochul said.

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White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre released a statement saying Biden and First Lady Jill Biden were aware of the shooting incident and were praying for those affected.

"The President has been briefed by his Homeland Security Advisor on the horrific shooting in Buffalo, NY this afternoon. He will continue to receive updates throughout the evening and tomorrow as further information develops," Jean-Pierre said. "The President and the First Lady are praying for those who have been lost and for their loved ones."

President Biden later released a statement later honoring the law enforcement members who "took immediate action" to end the shooting spree.

"Tonight, we grieve for the families of ten people whose lives were senselessly taken and everyone who is suffering the physical and emotional wounds of this horrific shooting. We are grateful for the bravery of members of law enforcement and other first responders who took immediate action to try to protect and save lives," Biden said. "The First Lady and I are praying for the victims and their families, and hearts all across this country are with the people of Buffalo."

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Biden also said racism and domestic terrorism "is antithetical" to what America stands for, as Saturday’s attack is believed to be racially motivated.

"We still need to learn more about the motivation for today’s shooting as law enforcement does its work, but we don’t need anything else to state a clear moral truth: A racially motivated hate crime is abhorrent to the very fabric of this nation," he added. "Any act of domestic terrorism, including an act perpetrated in the name of a repugnant white nationalist ideology, is antithetical to everything we stand for in America. Hate must have no safe harbor. We must do everything in our power to end hate-fueled domestic terrorism."

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand also tweeted about the incident, condemning "the scourge of racism and anti-Semitism."

"I am heartbroken for the victims of today’s shooting in Buffalo, and am praying for their loved ones and first responders," Gillibrand tweeted. "We must do more to address the scourge of racism and anti-Semitism, and to pass commonsense gun safety measures to keep our communities safe."

Senator Chuck Schumer similarly said race-based hate "has no place" in New York or the U.S.

"I ache for the victims and their families. I ache for Buffalo. I ache for the tight-knit East Side community. Racism has no place in our state or our country. I’ve spoken with the Mayor of Buffalo and offered any help we can provide. We stand with the people of Buffalo."

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik tweeted she was "very saddened" and was praying for "the entire community and law enforcement."

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The reaction poured beyond politicians as Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen said he was "absolutely heartbroken" over the shooting.

Gillibrand speaks directly to men in abortion speech: 'I don't think a man in America could actually imagine'

Fri, 06 May 2022 02:46:32 -0400

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand spoke directly to American men Thursday while making a fervent speech about why she believes the right to an abortion is important for women’s "freedom."

"I would like to speak to America's men for one minute," the New York Democrat said in a press conference. "Imagine you do not have authority over your own body for 10 months."

She asked men to imagine not being able to have that autonomy even if it meant they could die.

She said she didn’t think an American man could "imagine not having control of his body, his bodily functions, what happens to him, and what life would be like for 10 months."

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She also claimed that the five U.S. Supreme Court justices who appeared to favor overturning Roe v. Wade in a leaked draft opinion had lied in their confirmation hearings when they said Roe was settled law, calling it an "outrage."

"Five justices said they respect precedent. Five justices said that Roe v. Wade was established precedent. Five said they would never undermine established precedent. It is unconscionable what this decision will do to the American people," she said.

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She called the potential overturning of Roe "barbaric, unacceptable and inhumane" and said if the government takes away a woman’s right to make decisions about her "health and wellbeing she is no longer a full citizen. She no longer has freedom."

Democrats double down on eliminating filibuster, court packing on Roe v. Wade anniversary

Sat, 22 Jan 2022 17:13:06 -0500

Democrats marked the anniversary of Roe v. Wade by warning the landmark Supreme Court decision could be overturned and urging the Senate to immediately cement the right to an abortion into federal law.

The House in September passed the Women’s Health Protection Act to ensure abortion access nationwide, but the legislation is stalled in the Senate because it doesn't have the 60 votes necessary to overcome a filibuster.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash, both said Senate Democrats must try again to eliminate the filibuster in order to pass the pro-choice law – though the chances are slim with Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Krysten Sinema doubling down on their support for the 60-vote threshold this week during a contentious voting rights push.

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"Mitch McConnell eliminated the filibuster to ram through Trump's extreme, right-wing Supreme Court justices who might overturn [Roe v. Wade]," Gillibrand tweeted Saturday. "We can't let the filibuster stop us from passing the Women's Health Protection Act and defending our reproductive freedom."

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., also laid into the Supreme Court that has a 6-3 conservative majority after McConnell, R-Ky., did away with the filibuster to advance former President Trump's three conservative justices with just a simple majority. Warren said it's time to pack the court with more justices to balance it out.

"Today could be the last anniversary of #RoeVWade as law of the land," Warren tweeted. "But this isn’t the end of the fight. Not even close. The American people are on our side. We must fight back for abortion rights and reproductive justice — and we must #ExpandTheCourt to rebalance it."

The comments come as thousands of anti-abortion activists flocked to Washington, D.C., this weekend for the March for Life and National Pro-life Summit to mark the 49th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. Buoyed by the addition of three new conservatives on the court – justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett – and a major abortion case before the justices, anti-abortion activists are hopeful the Roe court decision will not live to see its 50th anniversary.

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President Biden and Vice President Harris issued a statement Saturday of strong support for the Women’s Health Protection Act, but did not specifically mention undoing the filibuster in order to pass it.

"The constitutional right established in Roe v. Wade nearly 50 years ago today is under assault as never before," Biden and Harris said. "It is a right we believe should be codified into law, and we pledge to defend it with every tool we possess."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., slammed "radical Republican lawmakers" in Texas and Missouri for passing "Draconian abortion restrictions that threaten to inflict catastrophic damage." She said the Women's Health Protection Act is needed immediately to push back.

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The Women’s Health Protection Act bans a wide range of abortion restrictions used regularly by red states. These include waiting periods, bans based on whether a child would be able to live outside the womb, bans based on the reason a woman is getting an abortion and requirements that abortion clinics have certain resources or facilities that aren't comparable with what similar facilities must have.

"Roe v. Wade stands as a pillar of health freedom for every person, but today, this historic victory now faces its most alarming threat in decades from right-wing forces, including in state legislatures and on the Supreme Court," Pelosi said in a statement Saturday.

Other Democratic lawmakers marked the 49th anniversary of Roe by sharing personal stories.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran who lost both her legs in combat, credited Roe for advances in women's health to help her become a mother.

"Without Roe v. Wade, I may not have been able to have my two beautiful girls through the miracle of IVF," Duckworth, D-Ill., tweeted. "Roe v. Wade is about so much more than the right to a safe, legal abortion. It's about basic respect for a woman's right to choose what happens to her own body — her own life."

Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., along with Jayapal and Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., testified in a House hearing last year about their experiences getting an abortion. A 2017 study estimated that nearly one in four women in the United States will get an abortion by the age of 45.

Democrats expressed frustration that their children or grandchildren may not have access to abortion rights that were secured nearly 50 years ago.

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"It shouldn’t have to take us sharing our abortion stories," Bush said on Twitter. "It shouldn’t have to take us marching and organizing. It shouldn’t have to take us putting our bodies on the line. Roe v. Wade was decided 49 years ago. It shouldn’t be this hard to make sure it continues to stand."

ӣ��Ƶ' Tyler Olson contributed to this report.

Gillibrand vows to 'do better' after restaurant says she ignored mask mandate

Sat, 15 Jan 2022 13:03:27 -0500

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand told ӣ��Ƶ Digital that she would "do better" in the future after a restaurant owner in Latham, New York, posted a video of her "blowing past [the] manager" and ignoring signs requiring masks.

"We all need to do our part to help stop the spread of Omicron and that means following state and local guidance," Gillibrand told ӣ��Ƶ Digital. "That includes me and I will do better going forward."

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The complaint came from Innovo Kitchen, whose owner vented frustration via the restaurant's Instagram.

"The problem with NY politics in a nut shell. My Senator blowing past my manager before she can even ask her to put a mask on. Walking right past a really big sign that says 'masks required to enter,'" the owner wrote.

"The masks are a mandate from the Governor. As good citizens, agree or not, we must follow our leaders. Her guest is graciously wearing one. I guess Senator Gillibrand thinks that the Governor is wrong or she is special and above the rules," the post continued.

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Gillibrand is a vocal proponent of getting vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 as the omicron variant rages.

"Protect yourself and help ease the strain on hospitals and health care workers. Get vaccinated and boosted," the senator said in a Twitter post this week.

Meghan Markle cold-calls senators to lobby for paid parental leave using royal title

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 17:17:11 -0400

Senators from both parties received a surprising phone call from the Duchess of Sussex.

Meghan Markle has been personally reaching out to members of Congress to campaign for paid family leave, Politico reported on Wednesday. The news came weeks after the 40-year-old wrote an open letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., published by Paid Leave for All.

"I’m in my car. I’m driving. It says caller ID blocked," Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., told the outlet. "Honestly … I thought it was Sen. Manchin. His calls come in blocked. And she goes, ‘Sen. Capito?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ She said, ‘This is Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.'"

"I couldn’t figure out how she got my number," the 67-year-old added.

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Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, supported Capito’s claim.

"I was happy to talk with her," said the 68-year-old. "But I’m more interested in what the people of Maine are telling me about it. Much to my surprise, she called me on my private line, and she introduced herself as the Duchess of Sussex, which is kind of ironic."

According to the outlet, it was Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., who gave the phone numbers to the former American actress. The 54-year-old has pushed her party to include paid leave in its social spending bill.

"I talked to each of the women senators and let them know that she’s going to reach out because she only completed two of the calls," said Gillibrand. "She’s going to call some others, so I let them know in advance."

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"She wants to be part of a working group to work on paid leave long-term, and she’s going to be," Gillibrand continued. "Whether this comes to fruition now or later, she’ll be part of a group of women that hopefully will work on paid leave together."

A spokesperson for Markle didn’t immediately respond to ӣ��Ƶ’ request for comment.

In her initial open letter, Markle argued for national paid leave. The duchess is a mother to 2-year-old Archie and 5-month-old Lili.

"I’m not an elected official, and I’m not a politician," she wrote. "I am, like many, an engaged citizen and a parent. And because you and your congressional colleagues have a role in shaping family outcomes for generations to come, that’s why I’m writing to you at this deeply important time — as a mom — to advocate for paid leave."

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"Over the past 20 months, the pandemic has exposed long-existing fault lines in our communities," Markle shared. "At an alarming rate, millions of women dropped out of the workforce, staying home with their kids as schools and daycares were closed, and looking after loved ones full-time. The working mom or parent is facing the conflict of being present or being paid. The sacrifice of either comes at a great cost."

"For many, this sacrifice goes back further than the past 20 months; it’s 20 or 30 years, even longer — decades of giving time, body, and endless energy not just in the pursuit of the American dream, but simply the dream of stability."

Markle and her husband, Britain’s Prince Harry, reportedly took 20 weeks of parental leave, which is in line with the policies of their Archewell Foundation.

"No family should have to choose between earning a living and having the freedom to take care of their child (or a loved one, or themselves, as we would see with a comprehensive paid leave plan)," the former "Suits" star wrote. "In taking care of your child, you take care of your community, and you take care of your country — because when paid leave is a right, we’re creating a foundation that helps address mental health outcomes, health care costs, and economic strength at the starting line."

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"Instead, as it stands now, we spend a fortune as a country paying into symptoms rather than causes," she continued. "I understand that with everything going on these days, people might find it easy to be apathetic about what’s happening in Washington, D.C. And then equally, when it feels like your voice doesn’t matter, you tend to use it less often, but with stakes this high none of us can afford to let apathy win."

Markle became the Duchess of Sussex when she married Harry, 37, in May 2018 at Windsor Castle. The couple's departures from royal duties began in 2020 over what they described as the British media’s intrusions and racist attitudes towards the duchess. The family now resides in the coastal city of Montecito, California.

Senate Democrats cut paid family and medical leave from spending package: report

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 17:58:36 -0400

Senate Democrats have dropped the paid family and medical leave proposals from the social spending package after negotiations with moderate Democrats failed to reach a compromise on a pared-down version of the proposals, according to a report.

Democrats decided to drop the proposals on Wednesday despite that they were a key campaign promise of President Biden, according to reporting from Politico. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., one of the senate's leading advocates for the benefits, had tried to reach a last-minute deal with Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who has resisted the overall cost of the package.

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But Gillibrand told ӣ��Ƶ Wednesday that reports about the benefits being dropped are "premature," signaling hope that some sort of pared-down version could still be in play.

Manchin has argued that the cost of the proposals is too high when some social programs are already in jeopardy of running low on funds.

"I'm talking to everybody, but I've been very clear: to expand social programs, when you have trust funds that aren't solvent — they're going insolvent — I can't explain that ... It doesn't make sense to me … I just can’t do it," Manchin said Wednesday.

But Gillibrand has said she will not give up on getting the benefits added.

"Until the bill is printed, I will continue working to include paid leave in the Build Back Better plan," the New York lawmaker said.

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"These bills are about competitiveness versus complacency," Biden said of the benefits during a trip to New Jersey Monday. "They're about expanding opportunity, not opportunity denied. They're about leading the world or continuing to let the world pass us by."

ӣ��Ƶ' Jacqui Heinrich contributed to this report.

Al Franken to launch comedy tour as he attempts career comeback following Senate resignation

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 01:26:12 -0400

Former Democratic Sen. Al Franken announced this week he will launch a 15-date comedy tour this September.

While the description of his "The Only Former U.S. Senator Currently on Tour Tour" remained vague on his website, Franken tweeted Tuesday that audience members would "laugh and leave hopeful—unless I’m in a bad mood."

Franken was a "Saturday Night Live" cast member and writer before he was elected as a U.S. senator from Minnesota in 2008.

He remains popular among many Democrats despite being forced to resign in 2018 amid sexual misconduct allegations.

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Franken was pressured to resign by fellow Democrats – led by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. – at the height of the #MeToo movement after he was accused by radio host Leeann Tweeden of kissing her against her will during a USO tour in 2006. A photo also emerged of Franken smiling as he appeared to pretend to touch Tweeden’s breasts while she was sleeping.

Tweeden eventually accepted Franken’s public apology. He was also accused by several other women of inappropriate touching.

Gillibrand, who has tried to project an image as a champion for women, was the first Democratic senator to call on Franken to resign.

A year later, Franken told late-night host Conan O’Brien he wished he could have gotten "due process" in the Senate as he resigned before an investigation could take place.

"It really needed to have a process, but I just couldn't stay either," Franken told O’Brien. "It was awful. There were no good choices."

Several of his former colleagues in the Senate have said they regret swiftly calling for his resignation. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., called it "one of the biggest mistakes" he’s ever made in his nearly 50 years in the Senate, according to The New Yorker magazine.

Franken has also said he regrets his decision to resign without an investigation.

He has seemed poised for a comeback of late. He slowly started doing TV interviews again after his ouster, he has a popular podcast and a sympathetic New Yorker magazine piece from 2019 questioning the fervency of his removal caught fire among many in the party.

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Recent Franken sightings in New York City – he's a native who moved to Minnesota as a child – have also sparked speculation he might launch a Senate campaign there, some have hoped against Gillibrand.

Preacher slams 'White rage' Republicans at rally attended by progressive Democrats

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 21:16:02 -0400

A preacher with a history of controversial statements slammed "White rage" and Republicans at a rally attended by several progressive Democrats on Wednesday.

The Rev. George C. Gilbert, Jr., founder of the Center for Racial Equity and Justice, made the remarks at a rally in favor of the For the People Act, a Democratic-backed bill in the House that scholars say raises First Amendment concerns.

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Gilbert invoked the history of American slavery in warning that "every time we come to a place of progress, to a place where we can stand on our own feet, we run into a downpour — lightning and thunder — of the power of White rage, whose job is to push progress back."

Left-wingers have leaned on racial appeals to gin up support for the bill.

During his speech, Gilbert said the crowd was assembled to "demand" that America clean "her filthy garments," which he said have been "stained by the hatred of racism, the love of money and the lack of concern for the least, the lost, and the left out."

"We are here today in this historical moment in time deeply disturbed by the overwhelming, troubling dynamics that have converged on God's people in a devastating storm of spiritual, political and cultural chaos," Gilbert said. "To some, this storm appeared suddenly with the emergence of former President Donald Trump’s administration."

Gilbert asserted that whenever "Black men, Black women and God’s abolitionists stand up to be accounted for, it is White rage that strategizes against our community" and claimed "it is the right wing Republican politicians whose calls for a country of morals and values while all the time involved in a child sex prostitution ring."

"The truth about the truth is White rage reacts to every civil rights advancement that takes place in America," the reverend said, pointing to the 1921 Tulsa riots and the crack epidemic, both of which he said were caused by "White rage."

The reverend has a history of inflammatory remarks.

He wrote an anti-Israel blog post in October 2016 with the title "Who Are the Real Jews?" and the subheader "Why Slaves From the TransAtlantic Slave Trade Are God's Chosen" where he called Jewish people "imposters."

"The world has spent much energy and time to paint the picture that white skinned humans from the Caucus Mountains was God’s chosen people. In so much so that America and others stole and created a land from the Palestinian people and named it ‘The State of Israel,’" Gilbert wrote.

"This was the movement of the Zionist/Jew-ish people. However, they know who they really are," the preacher continued. "No other race, culture or religion puts ‘ish’ at the end of who they are except these people."

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Gilbert wrote in the post that people "don't say we are Black-ish, Christian-sih, Muslim-ish" and that if he "said something was blue-ish," he meant it bore a resemblance to something.

"The same principle stands for Jew-ish people that we have been tricked to believe that they can do and say what they want to because they are God’s special people," Gilbert wrote. "In fact, these are persons from the Caucus Mountains who chose Judaism over Muslim, or Christianity for safety. They are imposters."

Multiple progressives from both chambers of Congress spoke at the Wednesday rally outside the Supreme Court.

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Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.; Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; Bob Casey, D-Penn.; Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.; and Raphael Warnock, D-Ga. Additionally, Reps. Mondaire Jones, D-N.Y.; Sharice Davids, D-Ks., and John Sarbanes, D-Md.

In lieu of comment, Gilbert sent ӣ��Ƶ a transcript of his remarks from Wednesday.

The lawmakers did not respond to ӣ��Ƶ' requests for comment by press time.

CNN's Jake Tapper attempts to shame Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand for introducing bipartisan bill with Josh Hawley

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 19:39:11 -0400

CNN anchor Jake Tapper attempted to shame Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., for drafting a bipartisan bill to combat sexual assault in the military with Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo.

Last week, Gillibrand and Hawley introduced the Professionalizing the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator Act, a bill that seeks to improve training and resources for the military’s sexual assault response coordinators after a Fort Hood Independent Review found that many members of the coordination team lack the training to help victims of assault. It tasks the Department of Defense with evaluating options to establish Sexual Assault Response Coordinator military operational specialty (MOS) and reporting its findings to Congress.

"This legislation would aid the Department of Defense in identifying next steps to professionalize the role of Sexual Assault Response Coordinator throughout all branches of the military," Hawley said in a statement on the bill.

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"To combat the epidemic of sexual assault in our military we must professionalize every part of the military justice system, including Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs)," Gillibrand added. "SARCs are an essential part of the front lines of combating military sexual assault and Congress has a duty to ensure SARCs have the training, resources, and independence to support our men and women in uniform."

Sens. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D.; Ben Cardin, D-Md., and Joni Ernst, R-Iowa are also involved in the bill.

However, on Sunday's installment of "State of the Union," Tapper seemed irked by Gillibrand's effort to work across the aisle with the Missouri Republican.

"Senator Hawley, as I'm sure I don't need to tell you, he was one of the main instigators of what happened on January 6th," Tapper told Gillibrand. "If he hadn't said that he was going to join the House Republicans in objecting, it's possible that riot might not have happened. That's certainly what a lot of Republican Senators think."

The CNN anchor then played a clip from a radio interview Gillibrand did back in January where she suggested Congress should "look at" censuring GOP lawmakers like Hawley who supported challenging the certification of President Biden's election victory.

"I understand your job is to work across the aisle and accomplish things for the American people, but do you have any misgivings about working with Josh Hawley?" Tapper asked.

"No," Gillibrand firmly responded, "But I do believe that the purpose of this January 6th commission was to give us the facts about whether we should have proceeded towards-"

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"He voted against it," Tapper interrupted.

"I know," Gillibrand replied, "But again, back to the first question, I don't think that the Republican Party is acting in good faith to govern to bring forward what the American people want done… I believe my responsibility is to serve the American people and to help the people of New York… But I will work with Josh Hawley, I will work with any Republican if we are moving forward towards something that helps New Yorkers and helps the American people. And it's my responsibility to work with everybody and I have done that my entire 11 years in the Senate."

ӣ��Ƶ' Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.

Granholm argues 'infrastructure' meaning is out of date, despite mockery from Republicans

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 12:57:14 -0400

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on Sunday urged lawmakers to rethink the meaning of infrastructure as Democrats face ridicule for their attempts to redefine the term.

President Biden has proposed a mammoth $2 trillion infrastructure bill that seeks to invest in a number of sectors and industries across the country.

The bill is so sweeping, though, some have criticized Democrats for pushing the boundaries of what infrastructure should mean.

Granholm echoed a stance taken by other Democrats, who argue that the term needs to be redefined.

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"Historically, it's been 'what makes the economy move?'" Granholm said on ABC's "This Week." "What is it that we all need to ensure we as citizens are productive?"

"In 1990 we wouldn't have thought that broadband was infrastructure because it wasn't on the scene yet, but of course we have broadband in every pocket of the nation."

Republicans have signaled strong opposition to the American Jobs Plan, saying that very little of the bill is spent on what is traditionally defined as infrastructure.

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Democrats have urged a redefinition of infrastructure during appearances on talk shows over the past week to drum up support for Biden's bill.

Last week, National Economic Council Director Brian Deese told ӣ��Ƶ host Chris Wallace that "we need to update what we mean by infrastructure for the 21st century."

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg defended a broader approach by stating, "There was a time when railroads weren't considered 'infrastructure.' Then we built them."

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Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, tweeted her expanded definition: "Paid leave is infrastructure. Child care is infrastructure. Caregiving is infrastructure."

Her message was met with a barrage of criticism.

The Washington Examiner's Jerry Dunleavy accused Gillibrand of intentionally stretching the meaning of infrastructure, saying that "by this definition anything you want on a spending wishlist can be deemed infrastructure."

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Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., countered by pointing to the wall along the southern border started by former President Donald Trump and halted by Biden as a very real example of infrastructure.

ӣ��Ƶ’ Ronn Blitzer and Tyler Olson contributed to this report.

Hannity: Biden, Democrats say 'everything counts as infrastructure' except actual infrastructure

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 23:29:02 -0400

In his "Opening Monologue" on Wednesday, "Hannity" host Sean Hannity ripped President Biden and top Democrats like Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, for essentially categorizing any "far-left fantasy" as germane to "infrastructure."

Hannity noted that if Biden truly cared about improving or expanding America's infrastructure, he wouldn't have made his first order upon taking office to be cancelling the Keystone XL Pipeline; costing an estimate 10,000 jobs in the United States and Canada.

"Voter integrity and voter ID aren't the only things Biden is lying about -- he's continuing to try and sell his massive spending package by pretending it's about infrastructure," Hannity said.

"In reality it's about a socialist takeover of our economy and turning far-left fantasies into reality... Democrats are trying to redefine the words, claiming that pretty much anything and everything counts as infrastructure."

Hannity quoted Gillibrand's recent tweet claiming "paid leave [from a job] is infrastructure; child care is infrastructure; caregiving is infrastructure."

"Uh, no, Senator," Hannity replied. "That's not infrastructure."

"Joe you know what is infrastructure? The Keystone XL Pipeline project that you killed on your first day in office," the host continued.

"When will you apologize for destroying six-figure careers for hard-working American energy workers?"

Hannity said that Biden and his circle has to "lie to the American people" because the truth wholly undermines his credibility.

"And they're getting more desperate by the day, because Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg were caught this week falsely claiming that the package would create 19 million jobs -- but it turns out that number included 16.3 million jobs that Moody’s projected would be added even if biden's infrastructure proposal never became law."

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Instead, Hannity added, when confronted with inconvenient facts, Democrats like the president turn to "the race card."

"Now the Biden team is claiming that highways and other infrastructure is racist --and that it needs to be totally overhauled to pursue so-called racial equity."

"I guess now, according to Democrats, roads are racist -- and you need to apologize for that."

Gillibrand mocked for calling child care, paid leave 'infrastructure'

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 12:47:31 -0400

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., is getting flak after she tweeted examples of infrastructure that seemed to stretch the meaning of the word.

Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines infrastructure as "the system of public works of a country, state, or region," "the resources (such as personnel, buildings, or equipment) required for an activity," "the underlying foundation or basic framework (as of a system or organization)," or "the permanent installations required for military purposes."

Politically, it is often considered to refer to transportation, roads, bridges and items of that nature.

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"Paid leave is infrastructure. Child care is infrastructure. Caregiving is infrastructure," Gillbrand tweeted Wednesday morning.

This quickly led to a barrage of mockery and criticism. Some took an absurdist approach, implying that Gillibrand's tweet is removed from reality.

"Unicorns are infrastructure. Love is infrastructure. Herpes is infrastructure. Everything is infrastructure," Daily Wire founder Ben Shapiro tweeted.

"Brunch is infrastructure. Kendall Jenner is infrastructure. The Snyder Cut is infrastructure," The Federalist publisher Ben Domenech said.

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Others, such as Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., and Donald Trump Jr., countered with their own real example of infrastructure: the wall along the southern border that was started by former President Donald Trump and halted by President Biden.

The Washington Examiner's Jerry Dunleavy alleged that Gillibrand was intentionally stretching the meaning of "infrastructure" to give an excuse for Democrats to incorporate various agenda items in their infrastructure bill.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, had a similar response.

"Abortion is infrastructure. Gun control is infrastructure. Forced unionization is infrastructure. Whatever the Left wants is infrastructure. You know what’s not? Roads & bridges," he tweeted, noting that just 5% of President Biden's infrastructure package dealt with roads and bridges.

It was not just conservatives who criticized Gillibrand. The liberal former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann called out the senator for her use of the word.

"No, Senator. These are all vital needs. I would argue they are as important as nuts and bolts and grids and networks," Olbermann tweeted. "But when you drain a word of it’s meaning, you damage its impact, your cause, and the value of language."

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Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg defended a broader approach. Without referring to Gillibrand's tweet, Buttigieg stated that railroads were not considered infrastructure until they were built, and that Americans needed to now look to the future.

"There was a time when railroads weren't considered 'infrastructure.' Then we built them," he said. "Now's the time to build the 21st century economy Americans need."

Gaetz: Cuomo allegations have New York Democrats 'going after each other more than the royal family'

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 22:51:29 -0500

New York Democrats appear "to be going after each other more than the royal family at this point," Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., told "Hannity" Friday after Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., called for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign over sexual misconduct allegations.

""It's not good," Gaetz told host Sean Hannity. "As a New York Democrat, when you lose Schumer, when you lose AOC [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez], when you even lose [Rep.] Jerry Nadler, for goodness sake ..."

The congressman then wondered aloud, "Why is this happening now? I think it is because the media no longer needs to protect Governor Cuomo, because they no longer need Governor Cuomo ...

Gaetz explained that when the mainstream media was trying to "smear" then-President Trump, they needed a strong opposition figure to tout. Joe Biden, he said, was "at naptime in his basement," so the alternative was the high-profile Cuomo.

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"They built Cuomo up like this Great Oracle of Response to the coronavirus, when the reality is... killing 15,000 people in the state of New York should be impeachable."

Cuomo, a three-term governor in a state without gubernatorial term limits, has enjoyed a veto-proof Democratic legislative majority in Albany since the 2018 elections.

"Republicans have no power in this state," Hannity said while discussing the calls for Cuomo's ouster. "It's fascinating that this is all Democratic Party-driven."

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Gaetz then took the opportunity to say that fellow "Hannity" panelist Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., would make a fitting replacement for Cuomo.

Zeldin, of Suffolk County, announced last week he is actively exploring a run for governor in 2022.

Trey Gowdy: Media's longtime silence on Andrew Cuomo is why they 'aren't taken seriously anymore'

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 21:23:45 -0500

The response of Democrats and the mainstream media to sexual misconduct allegations against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo demonstrates why neither should be taken seriously, "ӣ��Ƶ Primetime" host Trey Gowdy said Friday.

Discussing a joint statement by Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., that called for Cuomo's resignation, Gowdy remarked: "Yes, I know what you're thinking.

"Is that the same Kirsten Gillibrand who believed a single witness, before the witness even said a word, when it came to Brett Kavanaugh and now it takes seven allegations for her to speak out against Cuomo?" he asked rhetorically.

Turning to the coverage of the governor, Gowdy told viewers it was "eye-opening to go back and read what the media and other Democrats were saying about Andrew Cuomo eight to ten months ago. They were giving him awards, they wanted him to be president, they wanted him to be vice president, they wanted him to be the attorney general for the United States.

"What's also highly relevant, when you think about it, is this: Most of these allegations -- now seven allegations of sexual impropriety, misconduct, battery, oppression -- they existed then," he added.

However, Gowdy noted, the mainstream media did not pick up on the allegations until recently, and added that if pressed, mainstream reporters are likely to claim they weren't aware of them.

"To which we will respond, 'Why not? Why didn't you know? I thought your job was to tell us what we don't already know. I thought you were investigative journalists,'" the former House Oversight Committee chairman went on. "I thought democracy died in darkness and you were the light."

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"I thought you were all the news that's fit to print," Gowdy continued. "Well, that was fit to print then, too. And that is why the media aren't taken seriously anymore.

"Their investigative journalism is only in high gear when it comes to Republicans or people they don't like. Their dogged pursuit of the truth took a vacation so they could swoon over their preferred political candidates. But praise the Lord, I've been wondering for months, 'What it would take for The New York Times and The Washington Post and Kamala Harris and [Reps.] Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jerrold Nadler and others to finally call for Andrew Cuomo's resignation.'"

New York Sens. Schumer, Gillibrand call for Gov. Cuomo's resignation

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 17:48:58 -0500

New York Democratic Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer have joined a long list of lawmakers in calling for their state's governor, Andrew Cuomo, to resign amid mounting allegations of inappropriate conduct.

"Confronting and overcoming the Covid crisis requires sure and steady leadership," a joint statement read.

"We commend the brave actions of the individuals who have come forward with serious allegations of abuse and misconduct. Due to the multiple, credible sexual harassment and misconduct allegations, it is clear that Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of his governing partners and the people of New York. Governor Cuomo should resign."

Schumer, the Senate majority leader, is the highest-ranking Democratic official to call for Cuomo's resignation. More than half of the 19 members of New York's House delegation have called for Cuomo's resignation, and a majority of the state assembly has as well.

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In a statement Friday evening, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., stopped short of calling for Cuomo's resignation.

Noting the state Assembly's and attorney general's investigation, he said: "Under these extraordinary circumstances, the Governor must seriously consider whether he can continue to effectively lead the state. No one is above the law."

The senators' statement came amid mounting pressure on leading Democrats to speak out about the accusations, which include sexual harassment. ӣ��Ƶ has reached out to Sen. Gillibrand’s office multiple times and got little to no response. As recently as Thursday, ӣ��Ƶ reached out to Schumer's and Gillibrand's office and didn't receive comment.

Earlier in the day, Cuomo held a press conference in which he continued to maintain his innocence and refused to resign. If he continues to stay in office, he will likely face heightened pressure both within and outside of his administration.

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Besides the state Assembly pursuing an impeachment investigation, New York Attorney General Letitia James is conducting an independent investigation of the allegations.

At least seven women have leveled accusations that surfaced in recent weeks, including one who claimed the governor groped her at his executive mansion last year. Reporting on that incident appeared to prompt the state to file a police report. Albany Police Department said Thursday the alleged incident that was reported occurred at the governor's mansion and could have included criminal conduct.

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6 months to midterms: The Senate seats that could tip the balance of power

Maine

North Carolina

Ohio

Georgia

Michigan

Alaska

Texas

New Hampshire

Iowa

Florida

Honorable mention: Minnesota

10 Senate races that could decide control of the chamber in the 2026 midterms

MAINE

NORTH CAROLINA

OHIO

ALASKA

IOWA

TEXAS

MICHIGAN

GEORGIA

NEW HAMPSHIRE

MINNESOTA

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