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4 House Primaries You Need to Watch
Are they actually going to vote on something real?

2026 will be a decisive year for the balance of power in the House of Representatives, as voters go to the polls and decide whether Republicans hold on to their slim majority.

But before November, voters will have an opportunity in primaries to decide who their party’s nominee will be. In some cases, the primary will all but determine the general election winner.

Here are four House primaries you should be watching.

Texas’ 32nd Congressional District

Republicans are likely to make a pickup in Texas’ redrawn 32nd Congressional District, thanks to redistricting in 2025.

In the Republican primary, Jace Yarbrough, a conservative constitutional lawyer, has received President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Yarbrough is promising to be a new conservative firebrand in the House.

It’s time for Republicans to go on offense and give President Trump reinforcements.

This is why I’m running for Congress in #TX32 ??
— Jace Yarbrough (@JaceYarbrough) January 17, 2026

“We are in a cold civil war. It’s time to start acting like it, to go on offense, to take ground, to hold the high ground, and to advance the conservative principles we know are good for our communities,” Yarbrough said in a recent campaign video. 

Yarbrough faces off against a number of other Republicans, such as the pastor and 2024 presidential candidate Ryan Binkley, former Oklahoma congressional candidate Paul Bondar, and Darrell Day, who ran as the Republican nominee in 2024 for the 32nd District.

The primary will take place March 3.

New York’s 12th Congressional District

The decision of 78-year-old Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., not to seek reelection has created a packed free-for-all in the state’s 12th Congressional District, which covers much of Manhattan.

Some of the candidates are already well-known liberal figures.

Jack Schlossberg, the 33-year-old grandson of the late President John F. Kennedy, is running for Congress in NY-12, after years as an online left-wing influencer and provocateur.

There is also George Conway, the ex-husband of President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign manager Kellyanne Conway, who has joined the Democratic Party and is running for the Democrat nomination in the district. Conway co-founded The Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump political action committee.

Cameron Kasky, a 25-year-old graduate of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the site of the 2018 Parkland, Florida, shooting, is also running.

Kasky first gained prominence as part of the pro-gun control “Never Again MSD” group alongside David Hogg and others. Kasky supported Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral campaign and has accused Israel of “genocide.”

The primary will be held on June 23.

Washington’s 4th

Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., one of 10 House Republicans to vote to impeach Trump in the final week of his first term, is not seeking reelection in 2026.

In the Washington state primary system, every candidate, Democrat and Republican, competes in an initial blanket primary. Then, the top two candidates proceed to the general election.

This system has produced interesting results in the past.

In 2024, Newhouse’s firebrand, Trump-endorsed opponent Jerrod Sessler, beat the …

Even CNN Is Questioning Hakeem Jeffries Shutdown Strategy
Are they actually going to vote on something real?

DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—CNN’s Dana Bash pointed out to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday that a partial government shutdown over Democrats’ demands for restrictions on enforcement by federal agents would primarily affect agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Federal Aviation Administration.

Despite Democrats’ new list of demands for Republicans to avoid a shutdown, President Donald Trump’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act already provided substantial funding to the Department of Homeland Security.

During their “State of the Union” interview, Bash asked Jeffries how a shutdown would advance Democrats’ goal to “rein” in immigration agencies under DHS if it would disrupt others whose missions were not focused on immigration enforcement operations.

“Well, our plan is to get there on behalf of the American people. That’s why we need to press forward aggressively and ensure that there are legislative changes enacted as part of any DHS spending bill, because that’s the way that you change behavior,” Jeffries said. “And these are commonsense changes, things like mandatory body cameras. Judicial warrants should absolutely be required before ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] agents can storm private property and rip everyday Americans out of their homes in such a violent fashion.”

“Of course, we need to make sure that there are no masks, so that ICE is conducting itself like every other law enforcement agency in the country. That shouldn’t be controversial,” Jeffries added. “It shouldn’t be controversial that we are demanding that the Fourth Amendment constitutional protections are adhered to as it relates to the way in which ICE is conducting itself.”

In July 2025, Congress passed the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act, thoroughly funding federal law enforcement agencies. The approved bill set aside an estimated $170 billion for immigration enforcement and border security, and roughly $75 billion in supplemental funding for ICE.

With recent protests against ICE agents in major blue cities like Minneapolis after the shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, however, Democrats have doubled down on their pushback against DHS and ICE.

Jeffries went on to add that state and local officials should be able to conduct independent investigations against ICE or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents who “violate the law.”

“We also need to make sure that state and local officials have the ability to conduct independent investigations, so that, when ICE or CBP or other officers violate the law, they can be investigated and prosecuted and held accountable for those violations of state and local law, not being able to govern themselves with impunity, which is the case right now,” Jeffries stated.

While Jeffries has been vocal on Democrats remaining firm in their stance, nearly two dozen party members broke with the House minority leader Tuesday to pass a sprawling funding package, ending a four-day government shutdown. While the package reopened most of the government for the year, however, DHS received only a short-term continuing resolution thorough Feb. 13. …

Schiff says photo ID will ‘suppress the vote’ despite most Democratic voters supporting it
Confidence requires clarity.

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) was adamant Sunday that requiring photo identification will “disenfranchise” voters from future elections.

Democratic lawmakers are opposing the Republican-led Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, which passed the House of Representatives last year and requires proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. Schiff said he opposes a compromise of requiring photo ID to vote in United States elections, describing the SAVE Act as a “voter suppression law.”

ABC News anchor Jon Karl spotlighted a poll from last year showing 83% of U.S. adults support a photo ID to vote, with 71% of Democrats supporting it. Schiff dismissed this, however.

ANHEUSER-BUSCH PRAISED FOR PATRIOTIC BUDWEISER SUPER BOWL AD AFTER BUD LIGHT CONTROVERSY

“It’s still going to be something that disenfranchises people that don’t have the proper Real ID, driver’s license ID, that don’t have the ID necessary to vote, even though they are citizens,” Schiff said on ABC News’s This Week. “This is another way to simply try to suppress the vote, and the last thing I think we want to do is discourage more people, more citizens from voting while they’re attacking those same elections, while they’re trying to do away with absentee ballot voting, while they’re trying to do away with being able to register to vote through the DMV or by the mail.”

“So it’s part of the broader disenfranchisement effort, and no, I don’t think that’s the right direction,” Schiff said.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has denied promising that Senate Republicans will weaken the filibuster to pass the SAVE Act, telling the Washington Examiner this week that he only agreed to speak with the rest of his conference about it. Thune has been adamant about protecting the filibuster, which currently requires at least 60 senators to support bringing legislation to the Senate floor.

OPINION: MAKE DEMOCRATS DEFEND NONCITIZEN VOTING

Thune also downplayed President Donald Trump’s bid to “nationalize” voting, saying he is “a big believer in decentralized and distributed power.”

Billionaire and X owner Elon Musk, an ex-ally to Trump, reposted a statement on X saying he wants to abolish mail-in voting, making an exception for troops overseas or those with a serious medical condition. Musk wrote on X it is “critical to avoid fraud.”

Massie calls for Lutnick’s resignation after files show dealings with Epstein post-conviction
Same show, different day.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is calling on Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to resign after the latest tranche of Epstein files show him in business dealings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Asked by CNN Inside Politics Sunday host Manu Raju whether Lutnick should testify in front of Congress about his past ties to Epstein, Massie responded, “No, he should just resign.”

“There are three people in Great Britain that have resigned in politics … for less than what we’ve seen Howard Lutnick lie about,” he said.

DOJ SAYS NO EPSTEIN FILES WERE REDACTED FOR NATIONAL SECURITY REASONS

British politician Peter Mandelson resigned from the House of Lords and quit his membership to the governing Labour Party last week. He was previously removed from his post as British ambassador to the United States last year as a result of his known ties to Epstein. On Sunday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s aide Morgan McSweeney resigned for recommending Mandelson serve as ambassador.

Additionally, Prince Andrew was formally stripped of his royal titles by King Charles III last fall for being an alleged accomplice to Epstein’s sexual degeneracy.

While the political fallout from the Epstein files has been more widespread in Europe, Lutnick is one U.S. official whose relationship with the sex trafficker is now under scrutiny.

Documents released by the Department of Justice show Lutnick planned to visit Epstein’s private island in December 2012. The two signed an agreement that month on behalf of limited liability companies to acquire stakes in advertising technology company Adfin, which would later shutter.

EPSTEIN FILES SHOW MUSK PLANNED TO VISIT INFAMOUS ISLAND FOR ‘WILDEST PARTY’ DESPITE DENIAL OF TIES

Lutnick once claimed he and his wife cut ties with Epstein in 2005, but the uncovered emails show he kept in touch with the disgraced financier several years after his 2008 conviction in Florida. Based on the email records, Lutnick apparently planned to get drinks with Epstein in 2011 and have lunch on Epstein’s island in December 2012. The latter invitation was for Lutnick and his family.

In response to the alleged meetings, the Commerce Department downplayed Lutnick’s business relationship with Epstein.

“This is nothing more than a failing attempt by the legacy media to distract from the administration’s accomplishments including securing trillions of dollars in investment, delivering historic trade deals, and fighting for the American worker,” the …

Im-Politic: How Mamdani’s Rent Control Plans Will Shaft New York’s Immigrants
This isn't complicated—it's willpower.

Remember “It’s Ironic” – that 1995 song by Canadian vocalist Alanis Morissette?  Well, here’s something really ironic (as Morissette eventually acknowledged many of her examples were not):  Among the main victims of the rent control proposals of New York City’s new, avowed immigrant champion Mayor Zohran Mamdani will be…the city’s immigrants and their descendants.

How could such an Open Borders-loving leader become such a bane of these families?  It’s explained in a new Washington Post article about some of the almost certain damage that will be done if Mamdani’s plans succeed.

As noted by Post reporters Tim Craig and Gaya Gupta (who on the basis of this piece, at least, I hope haven’t been sacked in the paper’s huge staff cuts this past week), the City’s real estate sector doesn’t consist only of large property magnates.  According to the Small Property Owners of New York organization, 22,000 of its apartment buildings only have six to ten units per building. 

And as also noted, in the 1980s, “Mayor Ed Koch was urging immigrants to invest in distressed properties to combat blight.”  Many did, “hoping to bring home a little extra cash as property values grew….”  

These landlords have already been tightly squeezed by New York’s already “stringent rules restricting rental increases for apartment buildings constructed before 1974” and by the blazing inflation stoked by the also Open Borders-friendly Biden administration.  

If Mamdani adds new controls – and especially a rent freeze – their incomes’ growth will trail their cost increases at an even faster rate.  And for many, their American dream will go kerblooey.

Even worse, these immigrants and their families who will be shafted have undoubtedly been legal arrivals – as opposed to the illegals on whom Mamdani evidently wants to shower generous public services funded by taxpayers (including of course the landlords – see, e.g., here and here). 

On top of this collateral damage, as virtually everyone with a lick of common sense knows, price control efforts like Mamdani have historically backfired and led to market distortions – especially shortages. And abandoned units already multiplying and entire buildings poised to follow are the last things needed by housing-poor New York and its hard-pressed tenants – native-born and immigrant alike.    

Combine these developments with the distinct possibility that the rising immigrant tide sought by Mamdani and others has put major upward pressure on housing costs (by increasing demand), and it looks like this supposed champion of migrant-related causes and affordability is setting up his new constituents for the mother of all immigration-related housing crises.  

The world’s top nuclear powers have no arsenal limits, here are the countries with nukes
We're watching the same failure loop.

For the first time in decades, the world’s two largest nuclear superpowers are no longer bound by any treaty limiting their arsenals.
The last remaining nuclear arms control agreement between the U.S. and Russia, known as New START, expired Thursday.
WORLD ENTERS UNCHARTED ERA AS US-RUSSIA NUCLEAR TREATY EXPIRES, OPENING DOOR TO FASTEST ARMS RACE IN DECADES
The lapse removed limits on how many nuclear weapons Washington and Moscow could deploy on missiles, bombers and submarines, and ended the requirement that both sides notify one another whenever nuclear weapons were moved.
The scale of what’s now unconstrained is vast. 
Globally, there are more than 12,200 nuclear weapons spread across nine nuclear-armed nations, according to a recent analysis. The United States and Russia alone account for roughly 10,636 of those weapons.
NO LIMITS, NO INSPECTIONS: US AND RUSSIA FACE POST–NEW START ERA AS TRUMP PUSHES NEW NUCLEAR DEAL
While the exact size of each country’s arsenal is closely guarded, below is a breakdown of estimated nuclear stockpiles, based on data from the Federation of American Scientists. 
Ahead of the New START agreement’s expiration, President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social, "Rather than extend ‘NEW START’ (a badly negotiated deal by the United States that, aside from everything else, is being grossly violated), we should have our Nuclear Experts work on a new, improved and modernized Treaty that can last long into the future."
He has previously argued that China should be included in any new agreement with Russia, pointing to Beijing’s growing nuclear arsenal, the world’s third largest after the U.S. and Russia.

Democrats continue upset streak in Trump districts with Louisiana special election blowout
Same show, different day.

The Democratic Party is maintaining its winning streak in some state-level legislative districts won by President Donald Trump in 2024, with the latest overwhelming Democratic victory coming in a local Louisiana special election.

Democratic candidate Chasity Verret Martinez handily defeated Republican opponent Brad Daigle by 24 points on Saturday after Trump last won the Louisiana House District 60 by 13 points. Martinez’s win represents a 37-point shift to the left.

Despite Trump’s past three victories in the district, the local seat was held by a Democrat before Martinez. Former state Rep. Chad Brown vacated the seat to fulfill an appointment made by Gov. Jeff Landry (R-LA) at the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control.

HUGO GURDON: AMERICAN DECLINE, OR A REBOUND?

While the special election has no effect at the national level, its results are good news for Democrats as they aim to wrest control of the House from Republicans in this year’s midterm elections.

Other state-level races have seen similarly big swings in favor of Democrats.

Rehmet in Texas

In Texas last weekend, Democrat Taylor Rehmet won the special election for Texas Senate District 9 in the Fort Worth area by outperforming Trump-endorsed Republican candidate Leigh Wambsganss. Rehmet won by 14 points compared to Trump’s 17 points — a 31-point swing in just 15 months.

The results were also notable not only because of Trump’s sweeping win there but because the district was previously held by a Republican. Texas Senate District 9 has historically been a red stronghold, but that doesn’t appear to be the case anymore after Rehmet’s upset victory.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin personally boasted about the outcome of that particular election.

“It’s clear as day that this disastrous Republican agenda is hurting working families in Texas and across the country, which is why voters in red, blue, and purple districts are putting their faith in candidates like Taylor Rehmet,” Martin said. “This victory is a warning sign to Republicans across the country. In a Trump +17 district, Republicans had to go all out and still lost this race.”

KID ROCK HEADLINING TURNING POINT USA’S ALTERNATIVE SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW

Meanwhile, Trump said he was not involved in the race despite his endorsement of Wambsganss. Although hopeful, other Republicans did not follow the president’s lead in downplaying their loss.

“Low turnout special elections are always unpredictable. The …

Japan election: PM Sanae Takaichi on course for landslide win
Be honest—this is ridiculous.

Starter Comment
Some excerpts from the article:
The country's first female prime minister is seeking a clear public mandate just four months after becoming Liberal Democrat Party (LDP) leader.
Her predicted success is in marked contrast to her two predecessors, under whom the party lost its parliamentary majority because of corruption scandals and rising costs.
But Takaichi's personal popularity appears to have helped the party, with approval ratings for her government mostly hovering above 70%.
The LDP and its current coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, could secure as many as 366 of the 465 seats [~79%] in the House of Representatives, according to a poll by broadcaster NHK.
Takaichi's enthusiasm, populist spending promises and nationalist rhetoric appear to have energised voters.
Takaichi has pushed to toughen the immigration system, review rules around foreign ownership of Japanese land, and tackle any non-payments of tax and health insurance by foreign nationals. But in a country where only 3% of the population are foreign nationals, critics have accused her of creating anxiety and division.
Relations with China - Japan's largest trading partner - have been strained as well, after Takaichi suggested last November that Japan could intervene militarily if China invaded Taiwan.
Takaichi has courted Donald Trump, who has publicly endorsed her - an unusual move by a US president - and they both seem to agree that Japan should spend more on defence.

My take:
While the U.S. remains Japan's most important military partner, President Trump's mercurial character and explicit America First policy makes him an unreliable ally. To provide security against a rising China, Japan must align themselves with other regional powers, e.g., South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, etc.
Takaichi's embrace of nationalism, including revisionism of Japan's imperial and WW2 history, poses a major diplomatic obstacle. I doubt that joint dumm sessions will are sufficient to mend historical wrongs.
If China truly poses an existential threat to Japan, a candid and complete recognition of historical atrocities doesn't seem such a big ask.
Questions:
-Do you believe that Takaichi can successfully reinvigorate Japan's ailing economy?
-What are the geopolitical implications of Takaichi's nationalist rhetoric and more bellicose stance towards China?
-In the context of President Trump's wavering defense commitments to historical allies, do you believe that Takaichi will be able to secure and strengthen military ties with the US.

SCOOP: Trump ally Kid Rock jumps into key governor's race with high-profile endorsement
Are they actually going to vote on something real?

EXCLUSIVE — Detroit native and cultural icon Kid Rock is taking sides in the race for Michigan governor.
The famed musician and entertainer with a working-class persona who is known for his conservative political views is endorsing Republican Rep. John James in the 2026 race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
The Michigan governor's office and a Democrat-controlled open U.S. Senate seat are top targets for the GOP to flip in November's midterm elections.
"As our next Governor of Michigan, I know you will bring many victories to our GREAT STATE!" Kid Rock, whose real name is Robert James Ritchie, said in a statement shared first with Fox News Digital on Sunday.
BATTLE FOR THE SENATE: WHERE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AIM TO FLIP SEATS
James, who's in his second term representing a swing congressional district in suburban Detroit, said in a statement, "Kid Rock is a good friend. We share our love for Detroit, the state of Michigan and the United States of America!"
"I’m honored to have the endorsement of this unapologetic freedom-loving patriot and I look forward to working with him and every other Michigander to make Michigan great again!" added James, a West Point graduate and veteran of the Iraq War, and a businessman who was the 2018 and 2020 Republican Senate nominee in the Great Lakes battleground state.
Kid Rock's backing of James comes a couple of hours before the singer and songwriter headlines Turning Point USA’s "All-American Halftime Show" during the Super Bowl.
HOW TO WATCH THE TURNING POINT USA ALTERNATE HALFTIME SHOW
Turning Point USA, which was co-founded by the late Charlie Kirk, is hosting its own alternative to the Super Bowl halftime show this Sunday. The event comes as conservatives criticize the NFL’s choice to feature Latin music star Bad Bunny as the halftime performer.
Kid Rock is an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump, backing him in all three of his presidential campaigns. He performed his song "American Bad Ass" at the 2024 Republican National Convention with altered lyrics to showcase his support for Trump.
Trump, whose sway over the GOP remains immense and whose endorsements in Republican primaries are highly coveted and extremely influential, to date has not weighed in on Michigan's gubernatorial race.
HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING AND ANALYSIS FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
A release from James's campaign highlighted that "John James has stood with President Trump consistently since 2018, and every subsequent election, maintaining a clear and steady alignment when others backed his …

Japan’s Takaichi wins big in snap election after Trump endorsement
Same show, different day.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi‘s ruling party dominated a snap election on Sunday, securing a supermajority in the country’s House of Representatives and giving Takaichi an even larger mandate to pursue her right-wing agenda.

Takaichi, who is the first female prime minister of Japan, took a risk in calling for the election just months after entering office. While very popular herself, her Liberal Democratic Party has been hampered by a very slim majority, which she sought to expand, even threatening to resign if the LDP lost it.

Poll results from Japanese outlet NHK showed that the risk paid off, with the LDP winning 316 seats out of the 465 up for grabs in the House, well above the 233 needed for a simply majority.

Speaking after the results came in, Takaichi emphasized that she will continue to pursue “responsible and proactive fiscal policy” and “ensure necessary investments.”

She also thanked President Donald Trump, who endorsed her ahead of the elections, and vowed to “further strengthen the Japan–U.S. Alliance.”

“I am sincerely grateful to President Donald J. Trump for his warm words,” she posted on X. “Our Alliance and friendship with the United States of America are built on deep trust and close, strong cooperation. The potential of our Alliance is LIMITLESS. Let us work together to ensure that our Alliance continues to bring peace and prosperity to our two nations — and beyond.”

The two leaders have already developed a warm relationship, with Takaichi joining Trump on a U.S. aircraft carrier in Japan last fall. The win on Sunday means that will largely continue.

Her policies have been met favorably by Trump, including a goal of ramping up defense spending and investment commitments worth hundreds of billions of dollars in the United States.

TRUMP SAYS HE’S ‘VERY PROUD’ OF ECONOMY DESPITE MAJORITY OF US DISAPPROVING

Takaichi was also close to the late Shinzo Abe, who was prime minister during Trump’s first term but was assassinated in 2022.

She has leaned on Trump and Abe’s friendship in getting in the U.S. president’s good graces, gifting him Abe’s golf putter last October.