{"id":949749,"date":"2026-10-28T19:48:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T19:48:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/949749\/"},"modified":"2026-10-28T19:48:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T19:48:12","slug":"trump-rages-at-alaska-democrat-who-reportedly-recruited-man-with-similar-name-as-republican-opponent-live-us-midterm-elections-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/949749\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump rages at Alaska Democrat who reportedly recruited man with similar name as Republican opponent \u2013 live | US midterm elections 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Trump rages at Alaska Democrat who reportedly recruited man with similar name as Republican opponent<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Donald Trump responded on Wednesday afternoon to a new investigation from The New York Times, which found that Mary Peltola\u2019s Alaska Senate campaign actively recruited a man with the exact same name as Peltola\u2019s Republican opponent in order to peel away votes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In a social media post, Trump insisted that Peltola\u2019s actions were illegal (it\u2019s not clear that they were) and that Peltola should be disqualified from the race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cIt has just been determined that the Democrats in Alaska illegally searched for, and recruited, a man named Dan Sullivan to run against our distinguished Republican Senator, Dan Sullivan, in order to defraud, confuse, and obfuscate the Election, thereby taking votes away from the REAL Senator, Dan Sullivan,\u201d Trump wrote on his personal social media account.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Mary Peltola seated on a debate stage\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2774.jpg\" width=\"465\" height=\"310.1117519826965\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"\/>Democratic Senate candidate\u00a0Mary\u00a0Peltola during the 2026 Alaska Fisheries Debate with Republican Senator Dan Sullivan in September. Photograph: Nathaniel Wilder\/Bloomberg via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The Peltola campaign had, up until now, denied any connection to the campaign launched by the second Dan Sullivan, who just so happened to share the name of Senator Dan Sullivan, the Republican incumbent whose seat Peltola is trying to win.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The Department of Justice has moved to try and block the certification of the Alaska Senate race, should the second, non-Republican Mr. Sullivan pull enough votes to shift the outcome.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Trump continued: \u201cThe Democrats\u2019 false statements were made under oath in Federal Court. Therefore, they perjured themselves, and should be liable for very serious consequences. Mary Peltola should suffer the Legal and Political consequences for what she has done, A FRAUD ON THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, and Dan Sullivan should be allowed to run without either Mary Peltola or FAKE Dan Sullivan on the Ballot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Trump rages at Alaska Democrat who reportedly recruited man with similar name as Republican opponent \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/live\/2026\/oct\/28\/trump-administration-bill-essayli-republicans-flavio-bolsonaro-us-news-latest?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6ae24bc58f086d92d1fa1aa5#block-6ae24bc58f086d92d1fa1aa5\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a015.42 EDT<\/p>\n<p>Key events<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"?page=with%3Ablock-6ae24bc58f086d92d1fa1aa5#block-6ae24bc58f086d92d1fa1aa5\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 0 of 19\" class=\"dcr-1f56bj9\"><\/p>\n<p>18m ago<\/p>\n<p>Trump rages at Alaska Democrat who reportedly recruited man with similar name as Republican opponent<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?page=with%3Ablock-6ae247e68f088388a1da0601#block-6ae247e68f088388a1da0601\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 1 of 19\" class=\"dcr-1f56bj9\"><\/p>\n<p>29m ago<\/p>\n<p>How an innocent chain restaurant became a talking point in the final days before the midterm election<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?page=with%3Ablock-6ae23ab88f086d92d1fa19c2#block-6ae23ab88f086d92d1fa19c2\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 2 of 19\" class=\"dcr-1f56bj9\"><\/p>\n<p>2h ago<\/p>\n<p>Federal Reserve keeps interest rates steady<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?page=with%3Ablock-6ae232328f088388a1da04e8#block-6ae232328f088388a1da04e8\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 3 of 19\" class=\"dcr-1f56bj9\"><\/p>\n<p>2h ago<\/p>\n<p>Dolores Huerta, titanic leader in labor and civil rights movement, dies at 96<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?page=with%3Ablock-6ae22cc38f088388a1da04a7#block-6ae22cc38f088388a1da04a7\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 4 of 19\" class=\"dcr-1f56bj9\"><\/p>\n<p>2h ago<\/p>\n<p>A Senate race in deep red South Carolina could go either way, poll finds<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?page=with%3Ablock-6ae224c88f088388a1da043e#block-6ae224c88f088388a1da043e\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 5 of 19\" class=\"dcr-1f56bj9\"><\/p>\n<p>3h ago<\/p>\n<p>\u2018A revolution in slow motion\u2019: is Arizona\u2019s wealthiest district finally done with Trump?<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?page=with%3Ablock-6ae221388f086d92d1fa1856#block-6ae221388f086d92d1fa1856\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 6 of 19\" class=\"dcr-1f56bj9\"><\/p>\n<p>3h ago<\/p>\n<p>Will \u2018prairie populism\u2019 defeat Republicans in the midterms? \u2013 podcast<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?page=with%3Ablock-6ae221f48f088388a1da03f8#block-6ae221f48f088388a1da03f8\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 7 of 19\" class=\"dcr-1f56bj9\"><\/p>\n<p>3h ago<\/p>\n<p>US costs of Iran war rise to over $47bn, Pentagon estimates<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?page=with%3Ablock-6ae21fe68f086d92d1fa1835#block-6ae21fe68f086d92d1fa1835\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 8 of 19\" class=\"dcr-1f56bj9\"><\/p>\n<p>4h ago<\/p>\n<p>How Trump is trying to disrupt the midterms \u2013 video explainer<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?page=with%3Ablock-6ae21a6a8f086d92d1fa17f2#block-6ae21a6a8f086d92d1fa17f2\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 9 of 19\" class=\"dcr-1f56bj9\"><\/p>\n<p>4h ago<\/p>\n<p>Mark Kelly on possible 2028 run: \u2018I\u2019m considering it\u2019<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?page=with%3Ablock-6ae214a68f088388a1da0363#block-6ae214a68f088388a1da0363\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 10 of 19\" class=\"dcr-1f56bj9\"><\/p>\n<p>4h ago<\/p>\n<p>Alaskan Democrats intentionally sought out candidate with same name as Senate component, NYT reports<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?page=with%3Ablock-6ae20d3f8f08895cb8ad8de8#block-6ae20d3f8f08895cb8ad8de8\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 11 of 19\" class=\"dcr-1f56bj9\"><\/p>\n<p>5h ago<\/p>\n<p>The Trump prosecutor trying to stop California ballots from being counted<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?page=with%3Ablock-6ae206d98f088388a1da02d3#block-6ae206d98f088388a1da02d3\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 12 of 19\" class=\"dcr-1f56bj9\"><\/p>\n<p>5h ago<\/p>\n<p>RFK Jr faces heavy criticism over anti-Arab remarks on campaign trail<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?page=with%3Ablock-6ae1fe408f086d92d1fa169b#block-6ae1fe408f086d92d1fa169b\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 13 of 19\" class=\"dcr-1f56bj9\"><\/p>\n<p>6h ago<\/p>\n<p>Flavio Bolsonaro lands in Miami, having fled to US following Brazilian election defeat<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?page=with%3Ablock-6ae1f9e18f086d92d1fa1664#block-6ae1f9e18f086d92d1fa1664\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 14 of 19\" class=\"dcr-1f56bj9\"><\/p>\n<p>6h ago<\/p>\n<p>Republican senator Lisa Murkowski backs Democrat in Alaska governor\u2019s race<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?page=with%3Ablock-6ae1f4268f088388a1da01ec#block-6ae1f4268f088388a1da01ec\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 15 of 19\" class=\"dcr-1f56bj9\"><\/p>\n<p>6h ago<\/p>\n<p>Trump bound for Ohio, and Vance for North Carolina, with less than a week until the midterms<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?page=with%3Ablock-6ae1eef28f08895cb8ad8c8a#block-6ae1eef28f08895cb8ad8c8a\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 16 of 19\" class=\"dcr-1f56bj9\"><\/p>\n<p>7h ago<\/p>\n<p>Obama to campaign in Georgia alongside Jon Ossoff and Keisha Lance Bottoms<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?page=with%3Ablock-6ae1e6c08f086d92d1fa1588#block-6ae1e6c08f086d92d1fa1588\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 17 of 19\" class=\"dcr-1f56bj9\"><\/p>\n<p>7h ago<\/p>\n<p>Fl\u00e1vio Bolsonaro, defeated rightwing Brazilian presidential candidate, expected to arrive in Miami<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"?page=with%3Ablock-6ae1ca5f8f086d92d1fa1437#block-6ae1ca5f8f086d92d1fa1437\" data-link-name=\"key event card | 18 of 19\" class=\"dcr-1f56bj9\"><\/p>\n<p>8h ago<\/p>\n<p>Federal judge rules Trump-appointed US prosecutor in Los Angeles isn&#8217;t legally serving<\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Trump shared another post to social media railing against Mary Peltola and calling for her disqualification over recruiting a second Dan Sullivan into the Senate race:<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cIn Alaska, I don\u2019t think Mary Peltola, after perpetrating such a terrible scheme, should be allowed to run, because this is ELECTION FRAUD,\u201d Trump wrote. \u201cThe Democrats cheated! They found a man named Dan Sullivan, put him on the Ballot, then lied to the Court, and said they didn\u2019t know anything about it. That\u2019s perjury. She shouldn\u2019t be allowed to run, and neither should the FAKE Dan Sullivan!\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Trump rages at Alaska Democrat who reportedly recruited man with similar name as Republican opponent \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/live\/2026\/oct\/28\/trump-administration-bill-essayli-republicans-flavio-bolsonaro-us-news-latest?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6ae24ee98f08895cb8ad916e#block-6ae24ee98f08895cb8ad916e\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a015.38 EDT<\/p>\n<p>Trump rages at Alaska Democrat who reportedly recruited man with similar name as Republican opponent<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Donald Trump responded on Wednesday afternoon to a new investigation from The New York Times, which found that Mary Peltola\u2019s Alaska Senate campaign actively recruited a man with the exact same name as Peltola\u2019s Republican opponent in order to peel away votes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In a social media post, Trump insisted that Peltola\u2019s actions were illegal (it\u2019s not clear that they were) and that Peltola should be disqualified from the race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cIt has just been determined that the Democrats in Alaska illegally searched for, and recruited, a man named Dan Sullivan to run against our distinguished Republican Senator, Dan Sullivan, in order to defraud, confuse, and obfuscate the Election, thereby taking votes away from the REAL Senator, Dan Sullivan,\u201d Trump wrote on his personal social media account.<\/p>\n<p>Democratic Senate candidate\u00a0Mary\u00a0Peltola during the 2026 Alaska Fisheries Debate with Republican Senator Dan Sullivan in September. Photograph: Nathaniel Wilder\/Bloomberg via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The Peltola campaign had, up until now, denied any connection to the campaign launched by the second Dan Sullivan, who just so happened to share the name of Senator Dan Sullivan, the Republican incumbent whose seat Peltola is trying to win.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The Department of Justice has moved to try and block the certification of the Alaska Senate race, should the second, non-Republican Mr. Sullivan pull enough votes to shift the outcome.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Trump continued: \u201cThe Democrats\u2019 false statements were made under oath in Federal Court. Therefore, they perjured themselves, and should be liable for very serious consequences. Mary Peltola should suffer the Legal and Political consequences for what she has done, A FRAUD ON THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, and Dan Sullivan should be allowed to run without either Mary Peltola or FAKE Dan Sullivan on the Ballot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Trump rages at Alaska Democrat who reportedly recruited man with similar name as Republican opponent \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/live\/2026\/oct\/28\/trump-administration-bill-essayli-republicans-flavio-bolsonaro-us-news-latest?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6ae24bc58f086d92d1fa1aa5#block-6ae24bc58f086d92d1fa1aa5\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a015.42 EDT<\/p>\n<p>How an innocent chain restaurant became a talking point in the final days before the midterm election<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">It was a fairly standard quip from former president Barack Obama, delivered to an Ohio crowd as he stumped for the state\u2019s Democratic midterm ticket.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cHe\u2019s got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory,\u201d Obama said, mocking Trump\u2019s redecorating of the White House. \u201cJust gold everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Little did the ex-president know, that remark would catapult the humble Cheesecake Factory, and its interior decorating choices, into the public consciousness, ahead of a decisive vote for control of Congress.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Republicans quickly hit back at the remark, accusing Obama of being elitist and out-of-touch (a well-worn talking point) for speaking ill of the interior decorating of a beloved restaurant enjoyed by vast swaths of everyday Americans.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">My colleague Matthew Cantor has the full story here:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Trump rages at Alaska Democrat who reportedly recruited man with similar name as Republican opponent \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/live\/2026\/oct\/28\/trump-administration-bill-essayli-republicans-flavio-bolsonaro-us-news-latest?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6ae247e68f088388a1da0601#block-6ae247e68f088388a1da0601\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a015.30 EDT<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Vice President JD Vance just took the stage at a campaign event in Kinston, North Carolina.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Vance\u2019s stop in the state comes as the Republican Senate nominee, Michael Whatley, is trailing in the polls to Democratic former governor Roy Cooper.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The vice president has been barnstorming across the country in recent weeks to stump for Republican candidates, serving as one of Trump\u2019s top surrogates on the campaign trail. In the last several days, he\u2019s made stops in Montana, Kansas, and Michigan, among other states.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Trump rages at Alaska Democrat who reportedly recruited man with similar name as Republican opponent \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/live\/2026\/oct\/28\/trump-administration-bill-essayli-republicans-flavio-bolsonaro-us-news-latest?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6ae241958f088388a1da05a4#block-6ae241958f088388a1da05a4\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a014.59 EDT<\/p>\n<p>Federal Reserve keeps interest rates steady<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The Federal Reserve has opted to maintain interest rates at their current level, though inflation remains higher than the central bank\u2019s target.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In a statement, the Fed characterized inflation as \u201celevated,\u201d remaining above the bank\u2019s target of two percent. Two members of the central bank\u2019s board of governors voted against the decision to keep rates steady, preferring a quarter-point increase. One of them was Lisa Cook, the member who President Trump has tried and so far failed to remove over unsubstantiated claims of mortgage fraud.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">President Trump has leaned on the Federal Reserve, as well as Kevin Warsh, his newly appointed chair of the body, to lower interest rates, hoping it would juice the economy. But lower rates can also worsen inflation, which the central bank has been dedicated to reining in.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">My colleague Gaya Gupta has more on the Fed\u2019s most recent decision here:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Trump rages at Alaska Democrat who reportedly recruited man with similar name as Republican opponent \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/live\/2026\/oct\/28\/trump-administration-bill-essayli-republicans-flavio-bolsonaro-us-news-latest?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6ae23ab88f086d92d1fa19c2#block-6ae23ab88f086d92d1fa19c2\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a014.34 EDT<\/p>\n<p>Dolores Huerta, titanic leader in labor and civil rights movement, dies at 96<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Dolores Huerta, an influential leader in both the organized labor and civil rights movements who won organized major labor protests and won better conditions for agricultural workers, has died at 96.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Her namesake foundation said in a statement that she died at her home in Bakersfield, California, surrounded by family members.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cWe are sad to announce that our beloved mother, Dolores Huerta, has passed away today at the age of 96,\u201d Huerta\u2019s family said in a statement. \u201cAs you can imagine, this is an incredibly difficult time for us, and we ask for privacy as we grieve this incredible loss to our family. We know that many of you around the world share in our mourning, and we will be following up on plans to recognize and celebrate her incredible life and legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Several prominent Democrats, including former president Bill Clinton and his wife, former first lady and secretary of state Hillary Clinton, as well as former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, publicly mourned Huerta\u2019s death.<\/p>\n<p>Labor activist Dolores Huerta shakes hands with people after addressing a rally at the Rosemont high school in Sacramento in March 2022. Photograph: Rich Pedroncelli\/AP<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cWith the passing of Dolores Huerta, Hillary and I have lost a dear friend, and we\u2019ve all lost a stalwart champion of working Americans,\u201d Bill Clinton said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cDolores was a dear friend, and we all responded to her rallying cry, \u2018S\u00ed se puede,\u2019 which inspired generations of Americans to believe in the power of collective action,\u201d Pelosi said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The legacy of the labor movement Huerta helped lead was shaken earlier this year when Huerta, along with several other women, accused Cesar Chavez, another UFW co-founder and towering figure in the labor movement, of sexual abuse in an investigation published by the New York Times.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Trump rages at Alaska Democrat who reportedly recruited man with similar name as Republican opponent \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/live\/2026\/oct\/28\/trump-administration-bill-essayli-republicans-flavio-bolsonaro-us-news-latest?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6ae232328f088388a1da04e8#block-6ae232328f088388a1da04e8\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a014.10 EDT<\/p>\n<p>A Senate race in deep red South Carolina could go either way, poll finds<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The race for a Senate seat in South Carolina, a state normally as deep red as they come, could break for either the Republicans or Democrats in the midterm election, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/10\/28\/us\/south-carolina-florida-minnesota-poll.html?partner=slack&amp;smid=sl-share\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">new poll<\/a> from the New York Times and Siena University has found.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Darline Graham, the sister of the deceased senator Lindsey Graham who was appointed to finish his term, leads her Democratic challenger, Annie Andrews, by a single percentage point, the poll found. If Andrews were to win, it would be the first time in nearly three decades South Carolina has voted a Democrat into the Senate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The poll comes amid growing Republican unease about the security of House and Senate seats that are normally reliable GOP strongholds. Polls show races in places such as Kansas, Ohio and Texas with margins much closer than anticipated, or even Democrats leading.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In recent weeks, top Republicans, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Donald Trump<\/a> and JD Vance, have campaigned in those deep red states in addition to more expected battlegrounds, like Michigan.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Trump rages at Alaska Democrat who reportedly recruited man with similar name as Republican opponent \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/live\/2026\/oct\/28\/trump-administration-bill-essayli-republicans-flavio-bolsonaro-us-news-latest?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6ae22cc38f088388a1da04a7#block-6ae22cc38f088388a1da04a7\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a013.28 EDT<\/p>\n<p>\u2018A revolution in slow motion\u2019: is Arizona\u2019s wealthiest district finally done with Trump?<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Mary Jo Pitzl<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">in Scottsdale, Arizona<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Donald Trump has repeatedly asked voters to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/sep\/16\/trump-north-carolina-campaign-rally-republicans\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">pretend that he is on the ballot<\/a> in November\u2019s crucial midterm elections. And in the comfortable confines of Arizona\u2019s most affluent and fiercely contested congressional district, Trump is definitely on voters\u2019 minds.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">But whether that helps or hurts the warring congressional candidates in this sun-drenched swath of suburbia, where Teslas and walled-in luxury homes dominate, depends on who you ask.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cAny politician on the face of the Earth who\u2019s a Republican is not getting my vote,\u201d Tom Wolfe, a lifelong Republican, said while sitting down to a lunch of a burger and fries. Trump\u2019s endorsement is a \u201cdeath knell\u201d, the 82-year-old said. He plans to vote for Democrats in next week\u2019s elections.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">For David McGahan, a retired accountant reveling in his retirement life in Rio Verde, a desert enclave outside Scottsdale, the economy and the country are working well under Trump.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cI like the course the country is on,\u201d McGahan said while pumping gas at a local Costco. \u201cMostly,\u201d he conceded, when a reporter noted the $101 charge for his fill-up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Cushioned between blue cities and red counties, America\u2019s suburbs have emerged nationally as political battlegrounds. That is especially true of Arizona\u2019s first congressional district, which includes north Scottsdale and Paradise Valley.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Here, among the high-end golf courses and desert estates with breathtaking mountain views, the competition between Democrat <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/23\/amish-shah-arizona-democratic-congressional-primary\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Amish Shah<\/a> \u2013 an emergency room doctor who narrowly lost the seat in 2024 \u2013 and Republican Jay Feely \u2013 a former NFL kicker backed by Trump \u2013 could help determine control of the House in November.<\/p>\n<p>Voters wait in line to cast their ballots on 5 November 2024 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Photograph: Mario Tama\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Since Trump\u2019s election a decade ago, Republicans\u2019 hold on the district has slipped, though the party still maintains a voter registration advantage. The seat is open, after Republican congressman David Schweikert opted to not seek a ninth term.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cThese are your McCain-type voters,\u201d said Matt Grodsky, a Democratic political strategist referring to the late Arizona senator and 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain. They\u2019re business owners, hold college degrees and relatively tuned in to politics.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Given the current dissatisfaction with the Trump agenda and no incumbent with built-in name ID, Grodsky said circumstances are ripe for a change in this one-time Republican stronghold.<\/p>\n<p>double quotation markIf there\u2019s going to be a swing, it should be this cycle.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">You can read Mary Jo Pitzl\u2019s dispatch here:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Trump rages at Alaska Democrat who reportedly recruited man with similar name as Republican opponent \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/live\/2026\/oct\/28\/trump-administration-bill-essayli-republicans-flavio-bolsonaro-us-news-latest?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6ae224c88f088388a1da043e#block-6ae224c88f088388a1da043e\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a012.55 EDT<\/p>\n<p>Will \u2018prairie populism\u2019 defeat Republicans in the midterms? \u2013 podcast<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Adam Hamilton in Kansas, Dan Osborn in Nebraska, Joshua Turek in Iowa. They\u2019re all hoping to flip ruby-red states in the midterm elections next Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In this episode of our Politics Weekly America podcast, Jonathan Freedland speaks to Rachel Leingang about her reporting across the midwest, where she has charted the renaissance of progressive populism.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1793216891_894_1920.jpg\" height=\"259\" width=\"460\" class=\"dcr-18dqxt1\"\/><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Trump rages at Alaska Democrat who reportedly recruited man with similar name as Republican opponent \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/live\/2026\/oct\/28\/trump-administration-bill-essayli-republicans-flavio-bolsonaro-us-news-latest?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6ae221388f086d92d1fa1856#block-6ae221388f086d92d1fa1856\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a012.39 EDT<\/p>\n<p>US costs of Iran war rise to over $47bn, Pentagon estimates<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The US military has spent over $47bn so far on Donald Trump\u2019s war against Iran, more than 25% higher than the defense department\u2019s estimate in July, according to Pentagon data first <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/us-costs-iran-war-rise-over-47-billion-according-pentagon-estimate-2026-10-28\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">obtained by Reuters<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The figure includes $29bn in munitions fired by US forces, while the destruction of other weapons platforms, such as fighter jets, has cost $6bn. The figures does not account for damage sustained by US military bases in the region during the last eight months.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The disclosure \u200bcomes as Republicans scramble to mitigate the \u2060political fallout of the deeply unpopular conflict, launched by the US and Israel in February, ahead of next week\u2019s midterm elections that will determine control of \u200bCongress for the next two years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The war\u2019s impact on global energy costs and the cost-of-living crisis in the US has weighed on support for Republican candidates, even in previously reliably red states, \u200band has tanked Trump\u2019s approval ratings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Trump is reportedly considering further strikes against Iran after the midterms.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Trump rages at Alaska Democrat who reportedly recruited man with similar name as Republican opponent \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/live\/2026\/oct\/28\/trump-administration-bill-essayli-republicans-flavio-bolsonaro-us-news-latest?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6ae221f48f088388a1da03f8#block-6ae221f48f088388a1da03f8\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a012.40 EDT<\/p>\n<p>How Trump is trying to disrupt the midterms \u2013 video explainer<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">From redrawing electoral maps to installing a sense of uncertainty around the electoral process ahead of the midterms on 3 November, Republicans have deployed several tactics to try to skew the vote in their favor.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">As Donald Trump\u2019s popularity continues to drop, it is crucial for him and his administration to retain a majority in Congress or they could face investigations and even impeachment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In this video explainer, Guardian political reporter Shrai Popat looks at the ways the Republicans have tried and are still trying to influence the election.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"How Trump is trying to disrupt the midterms \u2013 video explainer\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1793216891_538_1920.jpg\" height=\"259\" width=\"460\" class=\"dcr-18dqxt1\"\/>How Trump is trying to disrupt the midterms \u2013 video explainer<a href=\"mailto:?subject=Trump rages at Alaska Democrat who reportedly recruited man with similar name as Republican opponent \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/live\/2026\/oct\/28\/trump-administration-bill-essayli-republicans-flavio-bolsonaro-us-news-latest?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6ae21fe68f086d92d1fa1835#block-6ae21fe68f086d92d1fa1835\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a012.18 EDT<\/p>\n<p>Mark Kelly on possible 2028 run: \u2018I\u2019m considering it\u2019<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Shrai_Popat.png\" alt=\"Shrai Popat\" class=\"dcr-wso613\"\/>Shrai Popat<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">in Brunswick, Maine<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">While stumping on behalf of Troy Jackson, the Democratic nominee for US Senate in Maine, Senator Mark Kelly teased a possible run for president in 2028.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cI\u2019m considering it,\u201d the Democratic lawmaker for Arizona said at a campaign event for Maine veterans in Brunswick. \u201cI\u2019ll make a decision after this election sometime.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Kelly noted the weight of the decision. \u201cYou know, I\u2019ve always served this country \u2026 usually in the cockpit, strapped into the rocket ship,\u201d he said. \u201cBy far, the most important job I\u2019ve ever had is the one I have now,\u201d he said referring to his first full-term as US senator.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cIf I screw it up in the rocket ship, it just gets blown up. People get over it in a week. This is different. I mean, this is 350 million people, and people around the world. It\u2019s important that the United States maintains its position of leadership in the world,\u201d Kelly added.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Trump rages at Alaska Democrat who reportedly recruited man with similar name as Republican opponent \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/live\/2026\/oct\/28\/trump-administration-bill-essayli-republicans-flavio-bolsonaro-us-news-latest?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6ae21a6a8f086d92d1fa17f2#block-6ae21a6a8f086d92d1fa17f2\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a013.44 EDT<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Trump rages at Alaska Democrat who reportedly recruited man with similar name as Republican opponent Donald Trump responded&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":949750,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[43,44,41,39,42,40],"class_list":["post-949749","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-headlines","tag-headlines","tag-news","tag-top-news","tag-top-stories","tag-topnews","tag-topstories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/949749","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=949749"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/949749\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/949750"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=949749"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=949749"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=949749"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}