Freedom Caucus

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has won re-election, defeating Rep. Andy Biggs, the Associated Press projects. Hobbs, who narrowly won in 2022 over Kari Lake, had been viewed as one of the nation's most vulnerable incumbents but entered this race favored despite Arizona's battleground status and Trump's backing of Biggs, whom Trump had campaigned for in person. Biggs also drew heavy support from Turning Point USA, the conservative organization founded by Charlie Kirk. Hobbs, a moderate who courted independents and tapped former Republican Mesa Mayor John Giles as her running mate, becomes the first Arizona Democratic governor to win re-election in two decades, cementing Democratic control of the swing state heading into 2028.

Voters across the country cast ballots Tuesday in midterm elections determining control of Congress and several governorships. Closely watched Senate races include Ohio (Sherrod Brown vs. Jon Husted), Texas (Ken Paxton vs. James Talarico), Iowa (Ashley Hinson vs. Josh Turek), South Carolina (Darline Graham vs. Annie Andrews), North Carolina (Roy Cooper vs. Michael Whatley), Virginia (Mark Warner vs. Mizusawa), Florida (Ashley Moody vs. Angie Nixon), Kentucky (Andy Barr vs. Charles Booker), Maine (Susan Collins vs. Troy Jackson), Alaska (Dan Sullivan vs. Mary Peltola), Delaware (Chris Coons vs. Katz) and Rhode Island (Jack Reed vs. McKay). Democrats need to flip four Senate seats for a majority. The Associated Press has already called several races: Josh Shapiro won re-election as Pennsylvania governor, J.B. Pritzker won a third term as Illinois governor, and Juliana Stratton won Illinois's Senate race, becoming one of three Black women serving simultaneously in the Senate for the first time. Early returns showed Democrats with an advantage in House and Senate tallies, with South Carolina's race unexpectedly close. In Arizona, Gov. Katie Hobbs faces Rep. Andy Biggs, and Florida's governor's race pits David Jolly against Byron Donalds.

Spending was historic, with Ohio's Senate race topping $500 million in ads and crypto group Fairshake spending heavily against Brown. Election officials in Florida, Texas and North Carolina addressed flooding, polling-place changes and technical delays as turnout ran strong nationwide, with full results expected to take hours given state-by-state counting.

Maryland voters head to the polls to decide a rematch between Gov. Wes Moore (D), a potential 2028 presidential contender, and Republican Dan Cox, whom Moore defeated four years ago. Democrats hold supermajorities in the legislature and a wide voter-registration edge, with most major races already settled in the June primary. Also on the ballot is Question 3, a measure that would clarify the state constitution to let lawmakers redraw congressional districts for 2028 and beyond, potentially allowing Democrats to target the state's lone GOP-held seat. In that Eastern Shore district, Rep. Andy Harris (R) faces a primary-style generational challenge from Republican newcomer Dan Schwartz.

Arizona's 2026 governor's race pits Democratic incumbent Katie Hobbs against Republican Rep. Andy Biggs, with Green Party candidate Risa Lombardo and No Labels candidate Teri Ann Hourihan also on the ballot. Hobbs, who defeated Kari Lake in 2022, is emphasizing tax cuts, medical debt relief, and a tougher stance on immigration, while distancing herself from some national Democratic positions. Biggs, a longtime Trump ally and former House Freedom Caucus chair who backed efforts to block certification of the 2020 election results, has Trump's endorsement and support from Turning Point Action. Both campaigns are trading attack ads over child-sex-abuse legislation records.

Republicans hold a voter registration edge, but low turnout and Trump's sagging approval ratings could favor Democrats, echoing 2018's "Blue Wave." For the first time, each candidate has a running mate for a newly created lieutenant governor post: Biggs chose state Sen. Sine Kerr, while Hobbs picked former Republican Mesa Mayor John Giles, now an independent, to court centrist voters.

South Carolina Rep. Jordan Pace, chair of the state's Freedom Caucus, is calling on House and Senate leadership to convene a special legislative session to address rising gas prices. His proposal would provide a rebate of $300 to households that claimed dependents on their most recent state income tax return and $200 to other filers, at a projected cost of nearly $500 million.

Pace's office says the plan would be funded without raising taxes, by removing earmarks from the recently passed House appropriations bill and reclaiming 90% of unencumbered agency carry-forward balances. It remains unclear whether a special session will actually be called.

The push comes as AAA data showed South Carolina's average regular gas price at $3.92 per gallon and diesel at $6.04 per gallon, both up more than a dollar from the same time last year. The proposal highlights growing political pressure over fuel costs and state fiscal policy ahead of any legislative action.