Happy New Year 2025

Tag: gubernatorial

‘I will not rest’: Border state gubernatorial hopeful launches campaign weeks after Trump backed her

FIRST ON FOX: Arizona Republican Karrin Taylor Robson launched her comeback gubernatorial bid on Wednesday, setting up a likely showdown between her and another pro-Trump Republican running to take on the incumbent Democrat governor next year.

Robson, a small business owner and lawyer, launched her campaign with a new ad centered on President Donald Trump’s return to the White House and her desire to help take back her state from incumbent Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs.

Robson lost her primary bid in 2022 to Trump-backed Republican nominee Kari Lake, who would go on to narrowly lose the gubernatorial race to Hobbs. However, Robson garnered early support from Trump less than two months ago during his visit to Arizona as president-elect.

TRUMP’S HOUSE ALLIES UNVIEL BILL ‘HAND IN HAND’ WITH DOGE CRACKDOWN

President Donald Trump said less than two months ago that Karrin Taylor Robson would have his “support” if she ran for governor. (Fox News)

“I thank President Trump for his strong endorsement and look forward to working with him to secure our border and make Arizona safe again,” Robson said in a statement first obtained by Fox News Digital. “Katie Hobbs has made it harder to live, work, and raise a family safely in this state. Like President Trump, I know how to create jobs. And like President Trump, I will not rest until our border is secure and Arizona families are safe,” she continued.

“Katie Hobbs and Joe Biden’s insane agenda has made life more expensive and dangerous,” Robson stated. “I will fight every day alongside President Trump for stronger borders, a stronger economy, and a stronger Arizona.

President Trump said Robson would have his support if she ran for governor while he was delivering remarks at Turning Point Action’s AmericaFest in December.

“Are you running for governor? I think so, Karrin, ’cause if you do you’re gonna have my support, OK?” Trump said at the time.

TRUMP BUDGET CHIEF VOUGHT TELLS GOP SENATORS $175B NEEDED ‘IMMEDIATELY’ FOR BORDER SECURITY

This undated photo provided by the Karrin for Arizona Campaign, shows Karrin Taylor Robson. (Karrin For Arizona Campaign via AP)

Cook Political Report ranks the general election race as a “toss-up,” likely making it one of the most competitive races in the upcoming midterms. Border security and the economy are expected to be among the top issues in the state, as the Grand Canyon State is on the frontlines of the major policy changes of the new White House.

Despite a bitter primary battle in 2022, Robson ultimately endorsed Lake and Trump in their general election campaigns in 2024.

However, supporters of Rep. Andy Biggs hope that the president will shift gears and back his campaign instead, given his strong political agreements with him.

The congressman, who helped lead the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, has so far gained the endorsements of Reps. Lauren Boebert, Paul Gosar and Eli Crane.

“Andy Biggs is the greatest thing since sliced bread,” Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said on X last week. “Arizonans, do yourselves a big favor and elect this man as your next governor!”

Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., speaks at a press conference on the debt limit and the Freedom Caucus’s plan for spending reduction at the U.S. Capitol on March 28, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Meanwhile, the “Building A Better Arizona PAC” launched last month backing Robson, who formerly served on the Arizona Board of Regents. Former Arizona Republican Party Chairman Robert Graham and former Arizona Senate President Karen Fann created the group.

The primary is Aug. 4, 2026. It’s unclear if Hobbs will face a major challenger in the Democratic primary.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment, but they did not respond in time for publication.

February 12, 2025
Michigan sheriff who marched with protesters in 2020 launches gubernatorial bid

A high-profile sheriff in Michigan announced his bid to run for governor, replacing Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

First elected sheriff of Michigan’s Genesee County in 2020, Chris Swanson’s announcement on Thursday marks his full leap into politics after speaking at the Democratic National Convention last August. The race is shaping up to be one of the most fiercely contested political battles of 2026.

Swanson first gained national attention in May 2020, just days after the police custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked nationwide protests against racial injustice. He famously took off his riot gear and marched alongside demonstrators after telling them: “I want to make this a parade, not a protest.”

His bid comes as the Democratic Party seeks a new kind of candidate who can address top voter concerns such as immigration and public safety, issues Swanson plans to make central to his campaign.

NEWSOM CHANGES TONE ON TRUMP FROM CAMPAIGN RHETORIC WITH FEDERAL WILDFIRE RECOVERY FUNDS AT STAKE

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson announces his campaign to run for governor of Michigan in the 2026 election on Feb. 6, 2025, at Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan. (Jake May/The Flint Journal via AP)

Swanson formally announced his bid at Mott Community College, his alma mater, in Flint on Thursday night. He was joined by a packed house of more than 400 supporters from across the state.

“When there’s a challenge, we will solve it. When there’s a crisis, we will bring calm. When there’s an opportunity, we will seize it,” Swanson said. “I believe everyone has value. Michigan has value. It’s why I’ve always tried to find ways to help and bring people together. I believe that together, we are tough enough to win for Michigan.”

OUT OF POWER: DEMOCRATS DISORIENTED IN FIGHT AGAINST TRUMP AGENDA

In entering the race, Swanson joins Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in the Democratic primary, with Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II mulling a potential bid. On the Republican side, Aric Nesbitt, the top GOP state Senate leader, has announced his candidacy. U.S. Rep. John James ais lso considered to be a potential contender. Detroit’s once-Democratic Mayor Mike Duggan further shook up the race by entering as an independent.

Swanson has never won a race outside of Genesee County and he will be competing in the primary against Benson, who has won multiple statewide races and raised millions of dollars. Swanson remains largely unknown outside his county, which is about 70 miles northwest of Detroit.

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson talks during a news conference, Jan. 28, 2025 in Flint, Michigan. (Jake May/The Flint Journal via AP)

The sheriff’s appeal as a non-traditional candidate could resonate in a battleground state like Michigan, where winning requires broad, cross-party support. In the 2024 election, Swanson was reelected with 65% of the vote in Genesee County — running nearly 14 percentage points ahead of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

Swanson’s decision to remove his riot gear and march alongside protesters at a demonstration in Flint following Floyd’s May 2020 death sparked national attention and praise from prominent Democrats, including Whitmer and former President Barack Obama.

He said this month that police had planned for a different response, but “as I was walking up, I thought, there’s got to be a better way.”

TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDER TO DEPORT HAMAS SYMPATHIZERS ON CAMPUSES PROMPTS STUDENT NEWSPAPER TO DELETE NAMES

It also helped propel him to an appearance at the Democratic National Convention in August, where he wore his sheriff’s uniform and endorsed Harris in a brief speech.

The appearance was a rare show of law enforcement support for the then-vice president. Sheriffs in Michigan and across the country frequently aligned themselves with President Donald Trump during his tough-on-crime, anti-illegal immigration presidential campaign.

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson is embraced as he announces his campaign to run for governor of Michigan in the 2026 election Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, at Mott Community College in Flint, Mich. (Jake May/The Flint Journal via AP)

Swanson’s background could boost his appeal in a general election, especially as immigration remains a top voter concern. However, he may face challenges in the Democratic primary, where some in the party have made calls to “defund the police” and reform law enforcement.

“It’s time that we have a different type of candidate coming through the system, not just the next one up,” said Swanson. “People, I think, are hungry for something new and fresh. Certainly the party is. And I’m that person.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Swanson’s gubernatorial bid was first announced in The Associated Press.

Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Bradford Betz is a Fox News Digital breaking reporter covering crime, political issues, and much more.

February 7, 2025
Senators back Vivek Ramaswamy for Ohio governor ahead of expected gubernatorial bid

Entrepreneur and author Vivek Ramaswamy, who is expected to launch a gubernatorial bid in the Buckeye State, is racking up support from U.S. senators.

GOP Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee both expressed their support for Ramaswamy in posts on Monday.

“If @VivekGRamaswamy runs for governor of Ohio (and I hope he does) he will not only win—he will transform Ohio for the better,” Lee declared in a tweet. “The results will benefit Ohioans—and Americans—for generations I’m honored to have worked with @VivekGRamaswamy, and I support him wholeheartedly.”

TOP JD VANCE POLITICAL ADVISORS TO STEER RAMASWAMY RUN FOR OHIO GOVERNOR

Vivek Ramaswamy arrives to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“It’s been such a pleasure getting to know @VivekGRamaswamy and work with him. He has a servant’s heart and a brilliant entrepreneurial mind. The people of Ohio would be well served by his leadership, and if he chooses to run, he’ll have my full support,” Blackburn noted in a post.

Ramaswamy retweeted each of the lawmakers’ posts, thanking them.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., a former Florida governor, endorsed Ramaswamy for Ohio governor last week.

“I’ve had the privilege of working closely with @VivekGRamaswamy and he is totally focused on trying to save our country. He is a business guy who understands what’s needed to grow jobs, make government efficient and help families prosper. He would be a fantastic Governor and I hope he runs for Governor of Ohio. If he runs, he has my full support and endorsement.” Scott noted in a tweet.

Ramaswamy retweeted Scott and thanked him.

MIKE LEE FLOATS ALLOWING PRIVATE PARTIES TO TARGET DRUG CARTELS FOR PROFIT

Ramaswamy has not yet made an announcement, but has been hinting about his plans.

During an appearance on “Jesse Watters Primetime,” Ramaswamy stated that he would seek elected office.

“Ohio was the epicenter of the Industrial Revolution. Toledo was the glass capital, Akron was the rubber capital, Youngstown & Cleveland led in steel, Dayton in computing, Cincinnati in consumer products. In 1950, 6 of the 15 wealthiest U.S. cities were in Ohio. There’s no reason we can’t be a frontier state again,” he declared in a tweet.

The Ohio gubernatorial race will take place in 2026.

VIVEK RAMASWAMY EXPOSES ‘NATIONAL SECURITY RISK’ AS STUDENTS FALL BEHIND IN SCHOOL

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Current Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican who has held the role since early 2019, is not eligible to run again next year.

Last year, Trump announced Elon Musk and Ramaswamy as his picks to spearhead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) effort, but on inauguration day, Ramaswamy noted in a post on X, “It was my honor to help support the creation of DOGE. I’m confident that Elon & team will succeed in streamlining government. I’ll have more to say very soon about my future plans in Ohio.”

Ramaswamy launched a White House bid in 2023, but dropped out and endorsed Trump in 2024.

Alex Nitzberg is a writer for Fox News Digital.

February 4, 2025
NJ Dem gubernatorial candidates vow to impede ICE pursuit of illegal aliens

Join Fox News for access to this content

You have reached your maximum number of articles. Log in or create an account FREE of charge to continue reading.

By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News’ Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive.

Please enter a valid email address.

Having trouble? Click here.

New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidates vowed to help illegal immigrants avoid President Donald Trump’s ICE raids during the Garden State’s first primary debate of the year.

Five out of six candidates raised their hands when Joey Fox, New Jersey Globe political reporter and debate moderator, asked the Democrats on stage if they “believe that one of the goals of the next governor should be protecting immigrants in New Jersey, even those who are here illegally.”

Rep. Mikie Sherrill did not raise her hand, instead responding, “We should protect people in New Jersey, especially with the Constitution.”

NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR HOUSES MIGRANT AT HIS HOUSE, TELLS FEDS ‘GOOD LUCK’ TRYING TO GET HER

ICE agents arrested seven illegal immigrants during a workforce operation raid. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)

The question sparked less of a debate and more of a united front as candidates vowed to stand up to Trump, committed to comprehensive immigration reform, and vowed to prioritize humanity in the deportation process.

TRUMP SIGNS LAKEN RILEY ACT INTO LAW AS FIRST LEGISLATIVE VICTORY IN NEW ADMINISTRATION

President Donald Trump signs the Laken Riley Act at the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

However, candidates found shakier ground when discussing the Laken Riley Act, the first bill Trump signed into law during his second term that detains illegal immigrants who are accused of committing dangerous crimes.

“If you are a murderer, a criminal, a rapist, if you’re breaking into people’s homes in the middle of the night with a gun while the kids are sleeping, and you’re undocumented, you shouldn’t be here. You shouldn’t be in the state, you shouldn’t be in this country.” said Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who voted in support of the Laken Riley Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Despite Gottheimer’s support for the act, he was careful to distinguish “innocent undocumented people” from those who commit violent crimes. “When I’m governor, I’m going to use the full force of the state to stop” Trump from rounding up “innocent undocumented people” at restaurants, churches and schools, the congressman clarified.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer speaks after the Democratic gubernatorial debate at Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, on Feb. 2, 2025. (AP/Mike Catalini)

The Trump administration doesn’t recognize such a distinction. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters last Tuesday that anyone in the United States illegally is considered a criminal.

“They illegally broke our nation’s laws, and, therefore, they are criminals, as far as this administration goes,” Leavitt said in a now viral moment. “I know the last administration didn’t see it that way, so it’s a big culture shift in our nation to view someone who breaks our immigration laws as a criminal. But that’s exactly what they are.”

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop didn’t share Gottheimer’s support for the Laken Riley Act, calling it “dangerous.”

“The Laken Riley Act served to undermine the authority of the attorney general here in New Jersey,” Fulop said. “It is a very dangerous piece of legislation as it relates to autonomy of the governor and the attorney general here, and it should not have been supported.”

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka speaks after the Democratic debate in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, on Feb. 2, 2025. (AP photo/Mike Catalini)

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a vocal opponent of the ICE raids authorized in his city during Trump’s first week in office, took opposition to the bill a step further.

“You can’t say you support immigrants in New Jersey but vote for the Laken Riley Act,” Baraka said. “We need to stop having this conversation about people being murderers and killers and rapists and criminals. We know that’s a lie. There is no crime wave of immigrants in New Jersey.”

Baraka went as far as to say Trump’s political agenda is rooted in “White supremacy and racism.”

“It’s interesting that we keep saying that people are here illegally when we keep moving the goalpost,” Baraka said. “If we take away all of the pathways that people become documented citizens of the United States and then say they’re illegal, it’s a problem. We cannot risk the Fourth and 14th Amendment to push this political agenda that Donald Trump has really based in White supremacy and racism.”

“It is wrong to sit up here and have a debate about crime that immigrants create which we know is not true. The crime is making sure people don’t have access to the American dream because of what they look like, the country they came from, the language that they speak, and the zip code that they live in. We know that’s what’s happening, and we have to stop it now,” Baraka continued.

Officers from Border Patrol and the FBI conduct immigration enforcement in El Paso, Texas on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (FBI)

Former New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney said New Jersey should stand up to Trump’s deportations, emphasizing the lack of legal search warrants in these ICE raids. However, Sweeney agreed that someone with a criminal record who enters the United States or “someone that breaks the law in this country shouldn’t be in this country,” calling it a “privilege.”

“With Donald Trump, we all should stand and oppose what Donald Trump’s doing. He’s breaking the law. He’s doing it illegally. He’s doing it without legal search warrants. It’s horrible what he’s doing.” Sweeney said.

“I support what President Barack Obama and Sen. Joe Biden did. Both of those presidents happen to be Democrats who deported more people than Donald Trump ever did, but they did it with humanity and compassion and they did it the right way. We don’t want to round up people that haven’t done anything wrong, but people that broke the law in this country, I’m sorry they need to leave it… They’re breaking the laws, and we should hold them accountable,” Sweeney added.

Former state Senate President Steve Sweeney speaks after the Democratic debate on Feb. 2, 2025. (AP photo/Mike Catalini)

New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller echoed Sweeney’s distaste for Trump’s inhumane deportations, telling New Jerseyans they should be scared.

“They’re coming for all of us, and that should scare every single one of us. That’s unacceptable. That’s what we stand up and fight back against,” Spiller said.

Despite taking a hard line against President Trump, the Democratic candidates recognized immigration reform as a necessity.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“I think that what’s missing in the conversation so many times is basic humanity,” Sherrill said. “We desperately need comprehensive immigration reform. We need to make sure people have a pathway to citizenship who are here, who are working hard, who are paying taxes, DACA recipients, TPS recipients. We also need better border security. We need to know what’s coming across our border.”

February 3, 2025
Former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms mulling Georgia gubernatorial run

Former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat, said she is considering a run to be Georgia’s next governor.

Bottoms, who most recently served in the Biden administration, told Fox 5 Atlanta that she is seriously contemplating running in the Georgia gubernatorial election in 2026 but wants to finish some things she is working on first, including a new book.

She also knocked President Donald Trump, who she believes is already failing to deliver on his campaign promises, as she eyes a return to public office.

BIDEN’S FORMER SENIOR ADVISER KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS REJOINING WHITE HOUSE IN NEW ROLE

Keisha Lance Bottoms speaks a press briefing at the White House on January 13, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Getty Images)

The former mayor further criticized the president for mass deporting illegal migrants who have not committed violent crimes.

“I don’t think there are many people who are against people who have violent criminal records being deported if they are in the country illegally,” she said. “When I see the raids, I immediately think of the families that are left behind, and it’s reminiscent of family separation policies that I had to deal with when I was mayor of Atlanta.”

Bottoms resigned earlier this month from the White House, where she served on President Joe Biden’s Export Council. Trump claimed on Truth Social that he fired her after he took office, but she provided a letter from Biden thanking her for her service, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.

Keisha Lance Bottoms attends the Cancer Moonshot event on October 24, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Getty Images)

“I had already resigned. I sent in my resignation letter the first week of January saying it was effective Jan. 20, and it also was an unpaid position,” Bottoms said.

She also previously served in the Biden administration as senior advisor to the president and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement from July 2022 until April 2023.

KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE FROM WHITE HOUSE ROLE

Keisha Lance Bottoms during the Bloomberg Equality Summit in New York, on Tuesday, March 22, 2022. (Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Bottoms also wanted to address critics who say she quit her job as Atlanta’s mayor when she decided not to run for re-election in 2021.

“I think people forget that mayors are elected to a four-year term,” she said. “I finished my term. If we want people to serve as mayor for eight years, we should make sure that they are elected to an eight-year term.”

January 28, 2025
House GOP firebrand invokes Trump while mulling gubernatorial run in South Carolina: ‘I’m a fighter’

Rep. Nancy Mace says if she moves ahead and launches a 2026 Republican run for South Carolina governor, she’ll aim “to lock down support” from President Trump.

“I had Pres. Trump’s endorsement in the House and I am working hard to lock down support in this race. He said I am a strong conservative voice, he knows I’m a fighter,” Mace said Thursday in a statement to Fox News Digital.

A day earlier, Mace took to social media to reiterate what she first told the AP, that’s she’s seriously considering a gubernatorial run in the race to succeed GOP Gov. Henry McMaster, who is term-limited.

WHY NANCY MACE CHALLENGED DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSWOMAN TO ‘TAKE IT OUTSIDE’

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina) arrives for a House Republican caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol on November 19, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

“President Trump needs bold leaders to implement his agenda in every state across the nation. It will take grit. It will take strength. It will take hard work. I can confirm, affirmative, yes, we are considering a run in 2026. South Carolina First,” Mace said in her social media post.

Mace, who was first elected to the House in the 2020 election, didn’t vote to impeach Trump for inciting the Jan. 6, 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol by right-wing extremists and other Trump supporters who aimed to disrupt congressional certification of former President Biden’s 2020 election victory.

HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST NANCY MACE OPINION PIECES ON FOX NEWS

But she later blamed Trump for the attack on the U.S. Capital, and in 2022 faced – but survived – a Republican primary challenge from a rival backed by Trump.

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina speaks to supporters at a campaign event in Summerville, S.C., on June 12, 2022 (Fox News )

Mace endorsed the former president as he ran for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination and campaigned for him in South Carolina’s crucial early voting presidential primary.

Trump returned the favor, backing Mace as she ran for re-election last year.

Mace told Fox News Digital that “I’ve proven my leadership, from the state legislature to Washington, my bold conservative policies are rooted in the Constitution, liberty, small government, and common sense.”

“I believe in a government small enough to fit into the Constitution,” she added.

2026 GOVERNORS RACES: RAMASWAMY DONE AT DOGE, EXPECTED TO LAUNCH OHIO GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN IN DAYS

And Mace emphasized that “I kick ass and take names from South Carolina to DC and back, that’s the leadership the Palmetto State is looking for.”

Mace recently made headlines by introducing a resolution to ban transgender women from using women’s bathrooms at the U.S. Capitol or the adjoining House office buildings. It’s an issue of high interest to many voters on the right.

Rep. Nancy Mace speaks on Day 3 of the Republican National Convention, at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 17, 2024. (REUTERS/Mike Segar)

Trump is very popular in Republican-dominated South Carolina, and his endorsement in a GOP gubernatorial primary would be immensely influential among the state’s conservative electorate.

Attorney General Alan Wilson, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, and state Sens. Josh Kimbrell and Sean Bennett are among those also considering gubernatorial bids.

It’s going to be a crowded field, veteran South Carolina-based Republican consultant Dave Wilson told Fox News. “There’s going to be a lot of people who are going to throw their hat in the ring.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“It’s going to be a battle of the conservatives – how conservative you can be in South Carolina,” Wilson emphasized.

McMaster, another top Trump ally, is on track to become South Carolina’s longest serving governor. The then-lieutenant governor succeeded Gov. Nikki Haley in 2017 when she stepped down to become ambassador to the United Nations in Trump’s first term. McMaster went on to win election in 2018 to a full four-year term, and re-election in 2022.

Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in New Hampshire.

January 23, 2025