5 stories credited to News 3 WTKR Norfolk
1 story on wtkr.com credited to other publishers
Latest story Apr 22, 2026 · on ChamberLight since Apr 2026
A story can appear as several articles (copies of the same piece), so counts of stories and of articles differ.
Scores for News 3 WTKR Norfolk
Writing quality not enough rated stories yet: 5 of 10. How it is measured
Scores last checked Sep 25, 2026.
Articles this site reproduces
How provenance is decidedOriginal publishers of articles on wtkr.com
Counted from articles on wtkr.com whose original publisher is verified from the page itself or confirmed by an independent signal.
Stories ChamberLight collected, by month
Stories credited to News 3 WTKR Norfolk, by publication date. ChamberLight collects articles that mention the officials it tracks, so this shows its own coverage of this source, not how much the source publishes.
- Stories from News 3 WTKR Norfolk
- Shaded: ChamberLight collected no stories, or almost none, from any outlet (a gap in its collection, not in the outlet’s publishing)
Show as a table
| Month | Stories | All outlets |
|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | 5 | 2,576 |
| May 2026 | 0 | none collected |
| June 2026 | 0 | none collected |
| July 2026 | 0 | none collected |
| August 2026 | 0 | 1 (collection gap) |
| September 2026 | 0 | 598 |
Top topics
Share of this source’s stories tagged with each topic. A story can carry several topics, so the shares do not add up to 100%.
- Ethics/Corruption4
80% of 5 stories · 57% across all outlets
- Foreign Policy3
60% of 5 stories · 28% across all outlets
- Budget/Spending2
40% of 5 stories · 31% across all outlets
- Defense/Military2
40% of 5 stories · 24% across all outlets
- Voting Rights2
40% of 5 stories · 18% across all outlets
- Economy1
20% of 5 stories · 24% across all outlets
- Immigration1
20% of 5 stories · 12% across all outlets
The thin mark on each bar is the topic’s share across all outlets.
Who they cover
Party of the officials these stories are mainly about, across all 4 officials named. A story counts once for each official it is mainly about, so the split is over 7 story–official pairs, from 5 stories.
- Democrat43% · 3 pairs
- Republican29% · 2 pairs
- Party not recorded29% · 2 pairs
Most covered
Stories mainly about each official, and their share of the source’s 5 stories.
Article tone
ChamberLight’s article analysis assigns each story a tone toward the official it covers. It describes the coverage of that official, not News 3 WTKR Norfolk’s stance, and reader votes do not change it. 5 stories.
- Good Look
- 0 (0%)
- Mixed
- 4 (80%)
- Informational
- 0 (0%)
- Bad Look
- 1 (20%)
Challenges to these scores
No one has challenged a score on this page yet. Anyone can; editors publish every outcome here.
Articles served from wtkr.com
12
How Hampton Roads' seven cities voted in the April 21 redistricting referendum
Six of the seven Hampton Roads cities saw the "yes" vote prevail at the ballot box as the Democrat-backed measure to allow for mid-decade redistricting was approved during the special referendum held on Tuesday, according to unofficial results published on the Virginia Department of Elections' website. In total, the measure to amend the Virginia Constitution passed by a margin of 51.56% to 48.44%. Watch: Political analysts break down the Virginia redistricting referendum results Breaking down the Virginia redistricting results and what they mean On Wednesday, News 3 went to Mt. Trashmore in Virginia Beach to talk with neighbors about what the election result means for them and what they hope to see moving forward. While there were plenty of people at the park, almost none wanted to talk. Chesapeake neighbor Kevin McNeil was one of the exceptions. I try not to get into politics too much. I know its very divisive these days," McNeil said. Watch: Despite Virginians voting 'yes,' redistricting measure still faces legal hurdle Virginia votes to give Democrats potential four-seat pick-up in Congress as redistricting measure passes For him, the result of the special election doesnt change anything. Hes going to continue to focus on the things he can control. What Ill tell people is, get outside. Enjoy places like Mt. Trashmore. Pick up some hobbies. Go play golf. Go play a sport. Go to the gym. Focus on your family, the things that you love," said McNeil. According to the unofficial Virginia Department of Election Results as of Wednesday afternoon, Suffolk saw the highest voter turnout, 48 percent. Virginia Beach was third with 44 percent after Chesapeake where 46 percent of voters cast a ballot. Watch: Hampton Roads schools adjust schedules for redistricting election VB schools to close April 21 for redistricting vote; school day extended 10 mins Im not a fan of gerrymandering. I understand why it happened this time around," said Virginia Beach neighbor Paul Cochrane. Cochrane was another one of the exceptions at Mt. Trashmore. He hoped for more civility and stability moving forward. "We talk past each other all the time, even within our families or neighbors. I think if we could have a proper dialogue and just create some stability and less chaos," Cochrane said. Watch: 'Deceptive' fliers, billboards featuring Spanberger & Trump target Virginia redistricting vote 'Deceptive' fliers, billboards target Virginia redistricting vote Wishful thinking, perhaps, as the redistricting fight was, as of Wednesday, headed to the Virginia Supreme Court. The following results for the April 21 referendum were taken from the unofficial results published on the Virginia Department of Elections' website: Norfolk Yes 71.34% No 28.66%Virginia Beach Yes 49.43% No 50.57%Portsmouth Yes 70.56% No 29.44%Newport News Yes 64.66% No 35.34%Hampton Yes 70.45% No 29.55%Chesapeake Yes 50.7% No 49.3%Suffolk Yes 57.48% No 42.52% In Hampton Roads, Virginia's Second Congressional District which encompasses all of Virginia Beach, Suffolk, and Franklin, part of Chesapeake, and Accomack, Northampton and Isle of Wight counties will be notably altered under Democrats' proposed map. Watch previous coverage: State Supreme Court suspends lower court's pause on redistricting referendum State Supreme Court suspends lower court's pause on redistricting referendum Some precincts from this purple district, currently represented by Rep. Jen Kiggans (R), could be shifted to Virginia's Third Congressional District, currently held by Rep. Bobby Scott (D), to dilute the voting power of Republican-leaning areas. Kiggans is set for a rematch in the 2026 midterm elections against former Rep. Elaine Luria, the Democrat she ousted in 2022.
Virginia leaders weigh in on results of redistricting referendum
Virginia leaders and legislators are sharing their support or opposition after voters approved a Democrat-backed measure to allow for mid-decade redistricting. The move by Virginia state Democrats to redraw the congressional maps follows similar efforts in Republican-led states like Texas and North Carolina, where redrawn districts favored the GOP. Many Democratic leaders supported the redistricting efforts, with Gov. Abigail Spanberger, Attorney General Jay Jones and Rep. Bobby Scott among the masses. Watch previous coverage: Virginia Supreme Court rules redistricting referendum can proceed to April vote Virginia Supreme Court rules redistricting referendum can proceed to April vote Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger said the results of this referendum is a counterbalance to President Donald Trump's request to state lawmakers to add GOP seats to the House of Representatives: Virginia voters have spoken, and tonight they approved a temporary measure to push back against a President who claims he is entitled to more Republican seats in Congress. Virginians watched other states go along with those demands without voter input and we refused to let that stand. We responded the right way: at the ballot box.I understand the urgency of winning congressional seats as a check on this President, and I look forward to campaigning with candidates across the Commonwealth working to earn Virginians trust and their votes. Looking forward, I remain committed to ensuring Virginia's bipartisan redistricting commission gets back to work after the 2030 census, and to protecting the process Virginians voted to create." Rep. Bobby Scott called the referendum a "necessary response." Since then, Republicans have continued their mid-decade redistricting in Texas, Missouri, Ohio, and again in North Carolina, and have a special legislative session already scheduled in Florida.""They may also try in Louisiana and Alabama. There is no way anyone should have expected Democrats to sit idly by as Trump and MAGA Republicans participate in an unprecedented power grab. Virginians have spoken clearly in favor of preserving fair elections this fall. Attorney General Jay Jones wrote, "The people of the Commonwealth showed up at the polls and voted in support of the constitutional amendment. I want to thank the dedicated election officials and volunteers for their tireless commitment and service to administering fair and secure elections in our Commonwealth. My office stands ready to defend the will of the voters and enforce our laws. In a post on X, former President Barack Obama congratulated Virginians for fighting back against Republican efforts to gain more seats ahead of the midterm elections. "Congratulations, Virginia! Republicans are trying to tilt the midterm elections in their favor, but they havent done it yet. Thanks for showing us what it looks like to stand up for our democracy and fight back." Watch previous coverage: Virginia votes to give Democrats potential four-seat pick-up in Congress as redistricting measure passes Virginia votes to give Democrats potential four-seat pick-up in Congress as redistricting measure passes Republican leadership has spoken out against the redistricting referendum since the Democratic state legislators passed the proposed map that gave Democratics a 10-1 advantage. President Donald Trump claimed the election was "rigged" in a post on Truth Social, in a similar fashion to his rejection of previous elections where Democrats beat out Republicans. "A RIGGED ELECTION TOOK PLACE LAST NIGHT IN THE GREAT COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA! All day long Republicans were winning, the Spirit was unbelievable, until the very end when, of course, there was a massive Mail In Ballot Drop! Where have I heard that before And the Democrats eked out another Crooked Victory! Six to five goes to ten to one, and yet the Presidential Election in November was very close to a 50-50 split. In addition to everything else, the language on the Referendum was purposefully unintelligible and deceptive. As everyone knows, I am an extraordinarily brilliant person, and even I had no idea what the hell they were talking about in the Referendum, and neither do they! Lets see if the Courts will fix this travesty of 'Justice.'" Virginia House GOP Leader Terry Kilgore conceded the results in a statement sent to News 3. Like Trump, he pointed to the ongoing legal proceedings against the referendum. While these werent the results we were hoping for, they were not unexpected. From the start, this process was tilted: misleading ballot language and a massive spending advantage made this an uphill climb for voters trying to make sense of a deeply complicated issue.""But the ballot box was never the final word here. Serious legal questions remain about both the wording of this referendum and the process used to put it before voters. Those questions have not been resolved, and they now move where they belong: to the courts." In a statement sent to News 3, Rep. Jen Kiggans said that the new map has "eliminated" the voices and values of conservative voters. "Today is a sad day for our Commonwealth. Political gerrymandering is wrong, period. Every Virginian, regardless of political affiliation, deserves a fair voice in our federal government."Under these newly drawn districts and the partisan leadership of Abigail Spanberger, conservative voices and values have been eliminated. Thats not leadership, its a disservice to the principles of fair representation that define our country."But the fight is far from over. My mission remains to hold leaders accountable, to serve the people who elected me, and to once again win the vote in Virginias Second Congressional District this November, delivering the commonsense, balanced representation our Commonwealth deserves." Like other Republican leadership, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin called for the state Supreme Court to rule against the election results in order to protect Virginia voters that have had their districts shifted. "Thank you to all the voters who turned out to vote against this egregious power grab. The race was much closer than the left expected because Virginians know a 10-1 map is not Virginia. I urge the Virginia Supreme Court to rule against this unconstitutional process that will disenfranchise millions of Virginians." National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson echoed the notion that Virginia is a purple state that benefits from bipartisan representation. "Virginia Democrats can't redraw reality. This close margin reinforces that Virginia is a purple state that shouldnt be represented by a severe partisan gerrymander. Thats exactly why the courts, who have already ruled twice to block this egregious power grab, should uphold Virginia law. Even under this map, Republicans will hold our majority based on our record cleaning up Democrats mess and a historic war chest to litigate the Democrats failures." In February, a judge in Tazewell County ruled that the redistricting push was illegal for multiple reasons. However, the Supreme Court of Virginia agreed to let the vote happen before making a final ruling. If the state Supreme Court agrees with the lower court, the results from Tuesday's vote could be rendered moot.
Virginia leaders weigh in on results of redistricting referendum
Virginia leaders and legislators are sharing their support or opposition after voters approved a Democrat-backed measure to allow for mid-decade redistricting. The move by Virginia state Democrats to redraw the congressional maps follows similar efforts in Republican-led states like Texas and North Carolina, where redrawn districts favored the GOP. Many Democratic leaders supported the redistricting efforts, with Gov. Abigail Spanberger, Attorney General Jay Jones and Rep. Bobby Scott among the masses. Watch previous coverage: Virginia Supreme Court rules redistricting referendum can proceed to April vote Virginia Supreme Court rules redistricting referendum can proceed to April vote Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger said the results of this referendum is a counterbalance to President Donald Trump's request to state lawmakers to add GOP seats to the House of Representatives: Virginia voters have spoken, and tonight they approved a temporary measure to push back against a President who claims he is entitled to more Republican seats in Congress. Virginians watched other states go along with those demands without voter input and we refused to let that stand. We responded the right way: at the ballot box.I understand the urgency of winning congressional seats as a check on this President, and I look forward to campaigning with candidates across the Commonwealth working to earn Virginians trust and their votes. Looking forward, I remain committed to ensuring Virginia's bipartisan redistricting commission gets back to work after the 2030 census, and to protecting the process Virginians voted to create." Rep. Bobby Scott called the referendum a "necessary response." Since then, Republicans have continued their mid-decade redistricting in Texas, Missouri, Ohio, and again in North Carolina, and have a special legislative session already scheduled in Florida.""They may also try in Louisiana and Alabama. There is no way anyone should have expected Democrats to sit idly by as Trump and MAGA Republicans participate in an unprecedented power grab. Virginians have spoken clearly in favor of preserving fair elections this fall. Attorney General Jay Jones wrote, "The people of the Commonwealth showed up at the polls and voted in support of the constitutional amendment. I want to thank the dedicated election officials and volunteers for their tireless commitment and service to administering fair and secure elections in our Commonwealth. My office stands ready to defend the will of the voters and enforce our laws. In a post on X, former President Barack Obama congratulated Virginians for fighting back against Republican efforts to gain more seats ahead of the midterm elections. "Congratulations, Virginia! Republicans are trying to tilt the midterm elections in their favor, but they havent done it yet. Thanks for showing us what it looks like to stand up for our democracy and fight back." Watch previous coverage: Virginia votes to give Democrats potential four-seat pick-up in Congress as redistricting measure passes Virginia votes to give Democrats potential four-seat pick-up in Congress as redistricting measure passes Republican leadership has spoken out against the redistricting referendum since the Democratic state legislators passed the proposed map that gave Democratics a 10-1 advantage. President Donald Trump claimed the election was "rigged" in a post on Truth Social, in a similar fashion to his rejection of previous elections where Democrats beat out Republicans. "A RIGGED ELECTION TOOK PLACE LAST NIGHT IN THE GREAT COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA! All day long Republicans were winning, the Spirit was unbelievable, until the very end when, of course, there was a massive Mail In Ballot Drop! Where have I heard that before And the Democrats eked out another Crooked Victory! Six to five goes to ten to one, and yet the Presidential Election in November was very close to a 50-50 split. In addition to everything else, the language on the Referendum was purposefully unintelligible and deceptive. As everyone knows, I am an extraordinarily brilliant person, and even I had no idea what the hell they were talking about in the Referendum, and neither do they! Lets see if the Courts will fix this travesty of 'Justice.'" Virginia House GOP Leader Terry Kilgore conceded the results in a statement sent to News 3. Like Trump, he pointed to the ongoing legal proceedings against the referendum. While these werent the results we were hoping for, they were not unexpected. From the start, this process was tilted: misleading ballot language and a massive spending advantage made this an uphill climb for voters trying to make sense of a deeply complicated issue.""But the ballot box was never the final word here. Serious legal questions remain about both the wording of this referendum and the process used to put it before voters. Those questions have not been resolved, and they now move where they belong: to the courts." In a statement sent to News 3, Rep. Jen Kiggans said that the new map has "eliminated" the voices and values of conservative voters. "Today is a sad day for our Commonwealth. Political gerrymandering is wrong, period. Every Virginian, regardless of political affiliation, deserves a fair voice in our federal government."Under these newly drawn districts and the partisan leadership of Abigail Spanberger, conservative voices and values have been eliminated. Thats not leadership, its a disservice to the principles of fair representation that define our country."But the fight is far from over. My mission remains to hold leaders accountable, to serve the people who elected me, and to once again win the vote in Virginias Second Congressional District this November, delivering the commonsense, balanced representation our Commonwealth deserves." Like other Republican leadership, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin called for the state Supreme Court to rule against the election results in order to protect Virginia voters that have had their districts shifted. "Thank you to all the voters who turned out to vote against this egregious power grab. The race was much closer than the left expected because Virginians know a 10-1 map is not Virginia. I urge the Virginia Supreme Court to rule against this unconstitutional process that will disenfranchise millions of Virginians." National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson echoed the notion that Virginia is a purple state that benefits from bipartisan representation. "Virginia Democrats can't redraw reality. This close margin reinforces that Virginia is a purple state that shouldnt be represented by a severe partisan gerrymander. Thats exactly why the courts, who have already ruled twice to block this egregious power grab, should uphold Virginia law. Even under this map, Republicans will hold our majority based on our record cleaning up Democrats mess and a historic war chest to litigate the Democrats failures." In February, a judge in Tazewell County ruled that the redistricting push was illegal for multiple reasons. However, the Supreme Court of Virginia agreed to let the vote happen before making a final ruling. If the state Supreme Court agrees with the lower court, the results from Tuesday's vote could be rendered moot.
Virginia leaders weigh in on results of redistricting referendum
Virginia leaders and legislators are sharing their support or opposition after voters approved a Democrat-backed measure to allow for mid-decade redistricting. The move by Virginia state Democrats to redraw the congressional maps follows similar efforts in Republican-led states like Texas and North Carolina, where redrawn districts favored the GOP. Many Democratic leaders supported the redistricting efforts, with Gov. Abigail Spanberger, Attorney General Jay Jones and Rep. Bobby Scott among the masses. Watch previous coverage: Virginia Supreme Court rules redistricting referendum can proceed to April vote Virginia Supreme Court rules redistricting referendum can proceed to April vote Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger said the results of this referendum is a counterbalance to President Donald Trump's request to state lawmakers to add GOP seats to the House of Representatives: Virginia voters have spoken, and tonight they approved a temporary measure to push back against a President who claims he is entitled to more Republican seats in Congress. Virginians watched other states go along with those demands without voter input and we refused to let that stand. We responded the right way: at the ballot box.I understand the urgency of winning congressional seats as a check on this President, and I look forward to campaigning with candidates across the Commonwealth working to earn Virginians trust and their votes. Looking forward, I remain committed to ensuring Virginia's bipartisan redistricting commission gets back to work after the 2030 census, and to protecting the process Virginians voted to create." Rep. Bobby Scott called the referendum a "necessary response." Since then, Republicans have continued their mid-decade redistricting in Texas, Missouri, Ohio, and again in North Carolina, and have a special legislative session already scheduled in Florida.""They may also try in Louisiana and Alabama. There is no way anyone should have expected Democrats to sit idly by as Trump and MAGA Republicans participate in an unprecedented power grab. Virginians have spoken clearly in favor of preserving fair elections this fall. Attorney General Jay Jones wrote, "The people of the Commonwealth showed up at the polls and voted in support of the constitutional amendment. I want to thank the dedicated election officials and volunteers for their tireless commitment and service to administering fair and secure elections in our Commonwealth. My office stands ready to defend the will of the voters and enforce our laws. In a post on X, former President Barack Obama congratulated Virginians for fighting back against Republican efforts to gain more seats ahead of the midterm elections. "Congratulations, Virginia! Republicans are trying to tilt the midterm elections in their favor, but they havent done it yet. Thanks for showing us what it looks like to stand up for our democracy and fight back." Watch previous coverage: Virginia votes to give Democrats potential four-seat pick-up in Congress as redistricting measure passes Virginia votes to give Democrats potential four-seat pick-up in Congress as redistricting measure passes Republican leadership has spoken out against the redistricting referendum since the Democratic state legislators passed the proposed map that gave Democratics a 10-1 advantage. President Donald Trump claimed the election was "rigged" in a post on Truth Social, in a similar fashion to his rejection of previous elections where Democrats beat out Republicans. "A RIGGED ELECTION TOOK PLACE LAST NIGHT IN THE GREAT COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA! All day long Republicans were winning, the Spirit was unbelievable, until the very end when, of course, there was a massive Mail In Ballot Drop! Where have I heard that before And the Democrats eked out another Crooked Victory! Six to five goes to ten to one, and yet the Presidential Election in November was very close to a 50-50 split. In addition to everything else, the language on the Referendum was purposefully unintelligible and deceptive. As everyone knows, I am an extraordinarily brilliant person, and even I had no idea what the hell they were talking about in the Referendum, and neither do they! Lets see if the Courts will fix this travesty of 'Justice.'" Virginia House GOP Leader Terry Kilgore conceded the results in a statement sent to News 3. Like Trump, he pointed to the ongoing legal proceedings against the referendum. While these werent the results we were hoping for, they were not unexpected. From the start, this process was tilted: misleading ballot language and a massive spending advantage made this an uphill climb for voters trying to make sense of a deeply complicated issue.""But the ballot box was never the final word here. Serious legal questions remain about both the wording of this referendum and the process used to put it before voters. Those questions have not been resolved, and they now move where they belong: to the courts." In a statement sent to News 3, Rep. Jen Kiggans said that the new map has "eliminated" the voices and values of conservative voters. "Today is a sad day for our Commonwealth. Political gerrymandering is wrong, period. Every Virginian, regardless of political affiliation, deserves a fair voice in our federal government."Under these newly drawn districts and the partisan leadership of Abigail Spanberger, conservative voices and values have been eliminated. Thats not leadership, its a disservice to the principles of fair representation that define our country."But the fight is far from over. My mission remains to hold leaders accountable, to serve the people who elected me, and to once again win the vote in Virginias Second Congressional District this November, delivering the commonsense, balanced representation our Commonwealth deserves." Like other Republican leadership, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin called for the state Supreme Court to rule against the election results in order to protect Virginia voters that have had their districts shifted. "Thank you to all the voters who turned out to vote against this egregious power grab. The race was much closer than the left expected because Virginians know a 10-1 map is not Virginia. I urge the Virginia Supreme Court to rule against this unconstitutional process that will disenfranchise millions of Virginians." National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson echoed the notion that Virginia is a purple state that benefits from bipartisan representation. "Virginia Democrats can't redraw reality. This close margin reinforces that Virginia is a purple state that shouldnt be represented by a severe partisan gerrymander. Thats exactly why the courts, who have already ruled twice to block this egregious power grab, should uphold Virginia law. Even under this map, Republicans will hold our majority based on our record cleaning up Democrats mess and a historic war chest to litigate the Democrats failures." In February, a judge in Tazewell County ruled that the redistricting push was illegal for multiple reasons. However, the Supreme Court of Virginia agreed to let the vote happen before making a final ruling. If the state Supreme Court agrees with the lower court, the results from Tuesday's vote could be rendered moot.
Democrats build fundraising edge in some key Senate races
Democrats are out-raising Republicans in some crucial races as they try to win control in the U.S. Senate in November. In Texas, Democrat James Talarico raised $27 million in the first quarter, while Republicans have yet to settle on a general election candidate. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Sen. John Cornyn are set to face off in a May runoff. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Trump says midterm elections will require voter ID under new executive order In Georgia, Sen. Jon Ossoff is seeking reelection and has raised $14 million. Republicans will hold a primary in May, with a potential runoff in June. In North Carolina, Democrat Roy Cooper has brought in $13.8 million, outpacing Republican Michael Whatley, who has raised about $5 million. In Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown reported $12.5 million in fundraising, compared with $2.9 million for his opponent, Sen. Jon Husted. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Congressional Democrats sue to block Trumps new mail voting restrictions The early fundraising advantage suggests momentum for Democrats, but National Republican groups will likely step in to bolster candidates who may lag behind in fundraising. Republicans currently hold a 5347 majority in the Senate. Democrats would need to flip at least four seats in November to win control of the chamber.
Democrats build fundraising edge in some key Senate races
Democrats are out-raising Republicans in some crucial races as they try to win control in the U.S. Senate in November. In Texas, Democrat James Talarico raised $27 million in the first quarter, while Republicans have yet to settle on a general election candidate. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Sen. John Cornyn are set to face off in a May runoff. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Trump says midterm elections will require voter ID under new executive order In Georgia, Sen. Jon Ossoff is seeking reelection and has raised $14 million. Republicans will hold a primary in May, with a potential runoff in June. In North Carolina, Democrat Roy Cooper has brought in $13.8 million, outpacing Republican Michael Whatley, who has raised about $5 million. In Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown reported $12.5 million in fundraising, compared with $2.9 million for his opponent, Sen. Jon Husted. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Congressional Democrats sue to block Trumps new mail voting restrictions The early fundraising advantage suggests momentum for Democrats, but National Republican groups will likely step in to bolster candidates who may lag behind in fundraising. Republicans currently hold a 5347 majority in the Senate. Democrats would need to flip at least four seats in November to win control of the chamber.
Democrats build fundraising edge in some key Senate races
Democrats are out-raising Republicans in some crucial races as they try to win control in the U.S. Senate in November. In Texas, Democrat James Talarico raised $27 million in the first quarter, while Republicans have yet to settle on a general election candidate. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Sen. John Cornyn are set to face off in a May runoff. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Trump says midterm elections will require voter ID under new executive order In Georgia, Sen. Jon Ossoff is seeking reelection and has raised $14 million. Republicans will hold a primary in May, with a potential runoff in June. In North Carolina, Democrat Roy Cooper has brought in $13.8 million, outpacing Republican Michael Whatley, who has raised about $5 million. In Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown reported $12.5 million in fundraising, compared with $2.9 million for his opponent, Sen. Jon Husted. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Congressional Democrats sue to block Trumps new mail voting restrictions The early fundraising advantage suggests momentum for Democrats, but National Republican groups will likely step in to bolster candidates who may lag behind in fundraising. Republicans currently hold a 5347 majority in the Senate. Democrats would need to flip at least four seats in November to win control of the chamber.
US aircraft carrier breaks record for longest deployment since the Vietnam War: AP
The worlds largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, broke the U.S. record Wednesday for the longest post-Vietnam War deployment, a nearly 10-month span that saw it take part in both the military raid in Venezuela and the Iran war. The ships 295th day at sea surpassed the previous longest deployment by an aircraft carrier in the past 50 years, when the USS Abraham Lincoln was sent out for 294 days in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data compiled by U.S. Naval Institute News, a news outlet run by the U.S. Naval Institute, a nonprofit organization. It raises questions about the impact on service members away from home for long periods as well as increasing strain on the ship and its equipment, with the carrier already enduring a fire that forced it to undergo lengthy repairs. The Ford began its deployment in June 2025, heading to the Mediterranean Sea from its home port in Norfolk, Virginia. The military rerouted it to the Caribbean Sea in October as part of the largest naval buildup in the region in generations. The carrier took part in the military operation to capture then-Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro. Then it would see more battle, heading toward the Middle East as tensions with Iran escalated. The carrier took part in the opening days of the Iran war from the Mediterranean Sea before going through the Suez Canal and heading into the Red Sea in early March. Watch related: USS Gerald R. Ford to deploy near Middle East amid Israel-Iran conflict USS Gerald R. Ford CSG expected to deploy near Middle East next week amid Israel-Iran conflict However, a fire in one of its laundry spaces forced the carrier to turn around and return to the Mediterranean Sea for repairs. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia said the record-breaking deployment has taken a serious toll on the mental health and well-being of the crew. He noted that the fire temporarily left 600 sailors without places to sleep. They should be home with their loved ones, not sent around the world by a President who acts like the U.S. military is his palace guard, the Democratic senator said in a statement. Pentagon officials have not said how long the Ford will stay deployed, but the Navys two highest-ranking officers both said publicly that they expect the ship to be deployed for around 11 months. That would put the ship returning home in late May. Youre going to see a record-breaking deployment by Ford, Adm. Daryl Caudle, the Navys top officer, said during a discussion at the Center for Strategic and International Studies at the end of March. Watch related: USS Gerald R. Ford deployment could stretch to 11 months as local lawmakers weigh in USS Gerald R. Ford deployment could stretch to 11 months as local lawmakers weigh-in Caudle told reporters in January that he would push back on extending the Ford and told The Associated Press in February that he wants to convince commanders to use smaller, newer ships in combat zones instead of consistently asking the Navy to send aircraft carriers. While Navy officials have not formally said the Fords deployment is record-breaking, they did not dispute the data compiled by U.S. Naval Institute News. Another carrier, the USS George H. W. Bush, is slated to head to the Middle East and is located now in the waters off Africa after deploying two weeks ago. The Fords 295-day deployment falls short of the longest deployment during the Cold War, a record held by the now-decommissioned USS Midway. It was deployed for 332 days in 1972 and 1973. More recently, the crew of the USS Nimitz was on duty and away from home for a total of 341 days in 2020 and 2021. However, that included extended isolation periods ashore in the U.S. meant to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Plans for ICE at World Cup games draws scrutiny as Trump Administration prepares to host
Representatives from the Trump administration are briefing lawmakers about plans to secure the World Cup, now under two months away. During a hearing on Capitol Hill, we heard senators being told that these high profile games will be secure and that they want to make it easy for international fans to get visas to come to the U.S. for the games. Commerce Department officials told senators that the more people who visit, the better. Eleven cities stand to benefit from a huge economic windfall, with as many as 10 million fans coming to see World Cup games. But there have been questions about whether ICE will be at the games conducting immigration enforcement. "I am very concerned that because of statements made by the president and actions taken by the Trump administration, that we're going to be discouraging soccer fans from coming to games here," said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). "There are many efforts being in place to ensure ease of travel and that people who want to come to the World Cup can come here, get the visa," said Robert O'Leary, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism at the Department of Commerce. RELATED NEWS | ICE agents to support investigations during World Cup in Canada In February, the acting ICE director said that ICE would be on hand at these World Cup games in a security capacity but did not give more details. Scripps News has reached out again to the White House to ask for that today, and they still aren't commenting on exactly what ICE is going to be doing at World Cup matches. The New York Times is reporting that top FIFA leadership is considering asking President Trump to have a total moratorium on ICE raids during the World Cup. President Trump enjoys a friendly relationship with FIFA's president, who presented him months ago with the first ever FIFA Peace Prize.
Plans for ICE at World Cup games draws scrutiny as Trump Administration prepares to host
Representatives from the Trump administration are briefing lawmakers about plans to secure the World Cup, now under two months away. During a hearing on Capitol Hill, we heard senators being told that these high profile games will be secure and that they want to make it easy for international fans to get visas to come to the U.S. for the games. Commerce Department officials told senators that the more people who visit, the better. Eleven cities stand to benefit from a huge economic windfall, with as many as 10 million fans coming to see World Cup games. But there have been questions about whether ICE will be at the games conducting immigration enforcement. "I am very concerned that because of statements made by the president and actions taken by the Trump administration, that we're going to be discouraging soccer fans from coming to games here," said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). "There are many efforts being in place to ensure ease of travel and that people who want to come to the World Cup can come here, get the visa," said Robert O'Leary, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism at the Department of Commerce. RELATED NEWS | ICE agents to support investigations during World Cup in Canada In February, the acting ICE director said that ICE would be on hand at these World Cup games in a security capacity but did not give more details. Scripps News has reached out again to the White House to ask for that today, and they still aren't commenting on exactly what ICE is going to be doing at World Cup matches. The New York Times is reporting that top FIFA leadership is considering asking President Trump to have a total moratorium on ICE raids during the World Cup. President Trump enjoys a friendly relationship with FIFA's president, who presented him months ago with the first ever FIFA Peace Prize.
Amid war powers push, Sen. Kaine worries about burden of U.S. blockade
Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine advanced another resolution to limit military actions in Iran as the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports flexes the U.S. Navys assets in the region. The measure to curb the Trump administration's military action in Iran failed in a 47-52 vote on Wednesday. All Republicans except Sen. Rand Paul voted against it, while all Democrats except Sen. John Fetterman supported it. During a call with reporters on Wednesday, Kaine said he intends to push through War Powers Resolutions on a weekly basis. "We're either going to stop this war or we're going to make plain to everyone who was behind it, who was responsible for it, who refused to stand up to the president," Kaine said. Kaine, a Democrat who sits on the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, has been vocal regarding his opposition to war with Iran. He's called President Donald Trump's order to take military action in Iran illegal, noting that this move should've had Congressional approval. Watch related coverage: Blockade has successfully stopped Iranian traffic so far, U.S. says US blockade of Iranian ports continues This comes amid the U.S. blockade of Iran's ports, a development that followed failed negotiations between the U.S. and Iran over the weekend. Scripps News has learned discussions are underway about a possible second round of talks between the U.S. and Iran. A fragile two-week ceasefire remains in place and is set to expire on April 22. "The Iranians desperation for a deal will only increase with President Trumps highly effective Naval blockade now in effect, which is sending oil tankers towards the big, beautiful Gulf of America," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday. Watch related coverage: A new push for U.S.-Iran peace talks underway as oil prices continue to be impacted A new push for U.S.-Iran peace talks underway as oil prices continue to be impacted The blockade applies to the entire Iranian coastline and all Iranian ports. There are at least 12 U.S. warships and more than 100 U.S. aircraft enforcing the action. Vessels elsewhere in the Gulf and bound to or from non-Iranian ports in the region are not affected by the blockade. Kaine said there is a "disproportionate effect" on Hampton Roads whenever military action is taken, and a blockade involving U.S. Navy assets could further highlight this point. "More U.S. troops in this region for more military action just exposes U.S. troops to more danger," Kaine said. Back in March, Kaine sponsored a War Powers Resolution aimed at curbing military action in Iran that was rejected by the Senate in a 47-53 vote.
Amid war powers push, Sen. Kaine worries about burden of U.S. blockade
Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine advanced another resolution to limit military actions in Iran as the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports flexes the U.S. Navys assets in the region. The measure to curb the Trump administration's military action in Iran failed in a 47-52 vote on Wednesday. All Republicans except Sen. Rand Paul voted against it, while all Democrats except Sen. John Fetterman supported it. During a call with reporters on Wednesday, Kaine said he intends to push through War Powers Resolutions on a weekly basis. "We're either going to stop this war or we're going to make plain to everyone who was behind it, who was responsible for it, who refused to stand up to the president," Kaine said. Kaine, a Democrat who sits on the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, has been vocal regarding his opposition to war with Iran. He's called President Donald Trump's order to take military action in Iran illegal, noting that this move should've had Congressional approval. Watch related coverage: Blockade has successfully stopped Iranian traffic so far, U.S. says US blockade of Iranian ports continues This comes amid the U.S. blockade of Iran's ports, a development that followed failed negotiations between the U.S. and Iran over the weekend. Scripps News has learned discussions are underway about a possible second round of talks between the U.S. and Iran. A fragile two-week ceasefire remains in place and is set to expire on April 22. "The Iranians desperation for a deal will only increase with President Trumps highly effective Naval blockade now in effect, which is sending oil tankers towards the big, beautiful Gulf of America," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday. Watch related coverage: A new push for U.S.-Iran peace talks underway as oil prices continue to be impacted A new push for U.S.-Iran peace talks underway as oil prices continue to be impacted The blockade applies to the entire Iranian coastline and all Iranian ports. There are at least 12 U.S. warships and more than 100 U.S. aircraft enforcing the action. Vessels elsewhere in the Gulf and bound to or from non-Iranian ports in the region are not affected by the blockade. Kaine said there is a "disproportionate effect" on Hampton Roads whenever military action is taken, and a blockade involving U.S. Navy assets could further highlight this point. "More U.S. troops in this region for more military action just exposes U.S. troops to more danger," Kaine said. Back in March, Kaine sponsored a War Powers Resolution aimed at curbing military action in Iran that was rejected by the Senate in a 47-53 vote.