Game-Changing SCOTUS Ruling: Republicans Poised To Dominate 2026 House Map
'a potential post-redistricting cussion of 10 additional GOP House seats'
Democrat congressman dies amid age concerns
A longtime Democrat congressman from Georgia has passed away.
Rep. David Scott died on Wednesday at the age of 80, his office confirmed, according to the New York Post. The South Carolina native was first elected to the Georgia Assembly in 1974, to the state Senate in 1982, and then to Congress in 2002.
Scott is the fifth member of the 119th Congress to die since they took office in January 2025.
During his re-election campaign in 2024, some Democrats called on Scott to step aside and make way for younger candidates.
"David Scott is Exhibit A for term limits," said an unnamed Democrat lawmaker who spoke with Politico at the time. "He was a respected, talented member who has become diminished. And it’s painful for people to watch."
Despite the naysayers, Scott won re-election that year and was running for re-election this year as well. A cause of death has not been released.
"Congressman Scott’s passing is deeply sad," said Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), NBC News reported.
"David Scott was a trailblazer who served the district that he represented admirably, rose up from humble beginnings to become the first African American ever to chair the House [Agriculture] Committee. He cared about the people that he represented. He was fiercely committed to getting things done for the people of the great state of Georgia, and he’ll be deeply missed."
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) also honored Scott in a statement: "We are all deeply saddened by the news of Rep. David Scott’s passing. For more than two decades, David faithfully served the people of Georgia’s [13th] Congressional District and spent the majority of his life in service to others. We are lifting up David’s wife Alfredia, his two daughters, and his grandchildren in prayer as they mourn."
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Of note, Scott is the fifth member of the 119th Congress to die since they took office in January 2025. Reps. Sylvester Turner (D-Texas) and Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) died in March 2025, Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) died in May, and Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) died suddenly in January.
Then, just in the last few weeks, Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) resigned from the House in disgrace.
For now, Republicans maintain a 217-212 majority, plus independent Rep. Kevin Kiley of California, who caucuses with them.
Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp now has 10 days to declare a special election, though six other Democrats were already challenging Scott in the primary race scheduled for May 19. Politico characterized the district as "deep blue."
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Early red flag for GOP? Democrats rack up massive Q1 fundraising hauls
The first-quarter campaign fundraising total for the 2026 midterms reveals that House and Senate Democratic candidates have picked up significant early momentum, potentially spelling trouble for Republicans as more primary elections approach.
At least one Democratic candidate raised more than a Republican in Georgia, North Carolina, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, New Hampshire, and Alaska, Punchbowl News reported.
'There's no way for Republicans to spin this: Their candidates are getting crushed.'
Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D) raised $27.1 million, breaking a record for the largest amount for a Senate candidate in any state. Talarico's fundraising significantly outpaced his potential opponents. Sen. John Cornyn (R) raised $9 million, and Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) raised $2.2 million.
Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) raised $14 million during the first quarter. The incumbent's fundraising far outpaced that of Republicans hoping to unseat him. Rep. Mike Collins (R) raised just over $1 million, and Rep. Buddy Carter (R) raised just $470,000.
In Ohio, former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) is hoping to defeat Republican incumbent Sen. Jon Husted. Brown raised $10.1 million in the first quarter, while Husted brought in $2.9 million.
Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) is running against Michael Whatley (R) and three other candidates to secure retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis’ seat. Cooper raised $13.8 million in the first quarter, while Whatley raised $5 million.
RELATED: 'Record' cash advantage gives GOP upper hand in state AG races
House Democratic challengers also raised significant funds in the first few months of the year.
In Arizona, JoAnna Mendoza (D) raised over $2.3 million, among the highest reported by a Democratic House candidate. Mendoza's opponent, incumbent Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R), raised $1.1 million.
In Wisconsin, Democratic candidate Rebecca Cooke is looking to oust incumbent Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R). Cooke raised $2.4 million, while Van Orden raised $1.3 million.
"Of course, this is only part of the picture. Candidates are now using joint fundraising committees to air TV ads. Super PACs will play a big role," Punchbowl News reported. "GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson did raise the most in Iowa's open Senate race. And Democratic primaries will drain some resources."
"But there's no way for Republicans to spin this: Their candidates are getting crushed," the outlet stated.
RELATED: 'We have a glaring disadvantage': Democrats panic as GOP dominates in fundraising, NYT reports
While Punchbowl News insisted it was all doom and gloom for Republican candidates, the National Republican Congressional Committee saw the Q1 funding results as a win for the GOP.
"Republicans are LAPPING Democrats in fundraising & building a war chest they can't match," the NRCC wrote in a post on X, adding that the GOP "outraised, outworked, [and] outmatched" their Democratic counterparts.
Mike Marinella, the national press secretary for the NRCC, stated, "Once again, and for every single quarter this campaign cycle, @NRCC Patriots have outraised [the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee] Frontliners."
"House Republicans have the momentum on our side, and the money proves it," he wrote.
Federal Election Commission reporting showed that Democratic Senate candidates have raised $368 million for their 2026 races, compared to $324 million raised by Republicans. Democratic House candidates collected $691 million, while Republicans raised $578 million.
Some of the most prominent names in Republican political consulting did not respond to a request for comment on this story.
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California Bar Strips John Eastman Of Livelihood For Representing A Client With Views It Dislikes
Stripping Eastman of his livelihood sends a chilling message that representing a client with the 'wrong' views is career suicide in Democrat-led states.‘No amount of fraud is too big or too small’: Vance’s anti-fraud task force targets every crook stealing from taxpayers
Vice President JD Vance, who chairs the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, declared that “no amount of fraud is too big or too small” and stated that the task force plans to target bad actors regardless of the amount of money they have stolen from taxpayers.
During a Turning Point USA event at the University of Georgia on Tuesday, Vance highlighted the task force’s early victories.
'If you’re defrauding the taxpayer, you ought to go to prison, and anybody who’s helping you ought to go to prison too.'
President Donald Trump established the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud by executive order in mid-March. Since then, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has worked with the task force to close hundreds of allegedly fraudulent health care providers.
On Tuesday, Vance discussed the issue of widespread fraud in the Minneapolis area, stating that the task force had turned off a government assistance program for autistic children that was being widely exploited.
“We’ve completely stopped the funding to that program. And we basically told the state of Minnesota, ‘You don’t get any more of our money unless you’ve verified that you’re taking fraud seriously,’” he stated, and the crowd responded with applause.
The federal government announced in February that it was withholding $259.5 million in Medicaid funding from Minnesota.
RELATED: Vance's task force shutters 221 hospices in 'fraud king' Gavin Newsom's California
During Tuesday’s event, Vance commended CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz for his work on eliminating fraud.
“We had our weekly fraud check-in call two weeks ago, and Dr. Oz called in, but he’s like, ‘Hey, I got to go because I’m about to hop on the bus, and we’re going to go arrest a bunch of fraudsters in Los Angeles.’ And I was like, ‘That’s exactly what I want you to do. By all means, get off the phone.’ So we’re doing a lot of that stuff.”
Vance explained that under the Biden administration, the federal government overlooked fraudsters who stole smaller amounts of money from taxpayers. He stated that this approach has changed under the Trump administration.
“No amount of fraud is too big or too small. If you’re defrauding the taxpayer, you ought to go to prison, and anybody who’s helping you ought to go to prison too,” Vance remarked.
RELATED: How a California crook committed $178 million worth of health care fraud — in just one year
As of Wednesday, the task force has suspended 447 hospices and 23 home health agencies in Los Angeles, with an estimated fraud total exceeding $600 million.
“With @VP’s leadership, we’re crushing fraud faster than ever,” Oz stated.
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Republicans receive another grim midterm forecast
Democrats and Republicans alike are eyeing the home stretch before the 2026 primaries, but the latest forecast suggests the GOP is facing a major disadvantage.
Republicans have enjoyed a supermajority following the 2024 election after Americans elected President Donald Trump back to the White House and the GOP took back the Senate and maintained its narrow House majority. The electoral forecast is now indicating that the pendulum will swing back in favor of Democrats, with four key races shifting away from Republicans.
None of the Democrat-held seats seem to be leaning Republican.
The Cook Political Report was initially tracking Senate races for Georgia, which is held by incumbent Democrat Jon Ossoff, and North Carolina, which is held by retiring Republican Thom Tillis, as toss-ups that could go either way. The same report also had the Ohio Senate race leaning Republican and the Nebraska Senate race as a solid Republican rating.
As of Monday, all of these races have shifted in favor of Democrats.
RELATED: Democrats’ latest victory in deep-red Mar-a-Lago district offers bleak midterm forecast
The toss-up races in North Carolina and Georgia have both shifted to leaning Democrat, and Ohio, which is held by Republican incumbent Sen. Jon Husted, has changed to a toss-up race. The seat of Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts of Nebraska is still rated likely GOP, but nonetheless there is an evident electoral shift away from Republicans.
None of the Democrat-held seats seem to be leaning Republican. Michigan's Senate seat, which is held by retiring Democrat Gary Peters, is rated as a toss-up. Maine's Senate seat, held by Republican Susan Collins, is also notably rated a toss-up.
Republicans currently hold 53 seats and can afford to lose a maximum of just two Senate seats in order to maintain their majority, though Vice President JD Vance could always break any tie votes.
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Will the Iran war tip the scales in the race to replace MTG?
The special election to replace former Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia could have a lot more to do with foreign policy than candidates initially anticipated.
Greene's falling out with President Donald Trump marked a major fracture within the GOP, prompting a special election to fill her seat on Tuesday. Apart from the typical party distinctions, foreign policy could be the deciding factor between the Democrat and Republican nominees vying to represent Georgia's 14th congressional district.
'He has gone insane, and all of you are complicit.'
Democratic nominee Shawn Harris has taken a harsh stance against the ongoing war in Iran, which has become increasingly unpopular with voters, while Republican nominee Clay Fuller has remained a supporter of the conflict.
The horseshoe theory about the political spectrum seems to be in full swing as Greene's increasingly critical remarks about the war and the Trump administration more broadly seem to echo Harris' positions far more than Fuller's.
RELATED: This scandal-ridden Democrat just got one step closer to being expelled from Congress
Days before the special election, Greene doubled down on her criticism of the war, condemning Trump's Easter ultimatum to Iran.
"Everyone in his administration that claims to be a Christian needs to fall on their knees and beg forgiveness from God and stop worshipping the President and intervene in Trump’s madness," Greene said in a response to Trump's post threatening to attack civilian infrastructure like power plants and bridges. "I know all of you and him and he has gone insane, and all of you are complicit."
"Trump threatening to bomb power plants and bridges hurts the Iranian people, the very people Trump claimed he was freeing," Greene added. "On Easter, of all days, we as Christians should be reminded that the son of God died and rose from the grave so that we can be forgiven once and for all of our sins. Jesus commanded us to love one another and forgive one another. Even our enemies."
RELATED: Veterans slam Democrat candidate for allegedly fudging military record
Greene has refrained from endorsing either candidate, although Fuller has secured support from Trump. While an endorsement from Trump would typically all but guarantee the candidate's success, especially in a rural, red district in Georgia, Harris narrowly outperformed his Republican challenger in March.
In a crowded 17-candidate race, Harris brought in 37% while Fuller finished with 35%. The candidates' respective numbers were likely affected by the many candidates who no longer qualify for Tuesday's election. It should also be noted that a Trump-endorsed Greene beat Harris by nearly 30% back in 2024.
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