INSIDE D.C. WITH JOHN GIZZI NEWSMAX WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT
Republicans Vie for N.Y. Ticket • Although Republicans from the White House to the statehouse in New York clearly want Rep. Elise Stefanik as their nominee for governor, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is nevertheless sounding out GOP county chairs about a gubernatorial bid of his own. While leaders of both
the Republican and Conservative parties (the latter of which is Row C on the Empire State ballot, and historically boosts Republican candidates with its endorsement) prefer Stefanik to face Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul, they don’t rule out Blakeman for another spot on their statewide tickets — very possibly as Stefanik’s lieutenant governor running mate. “Bruce should definitely
entertain an offer to be on the ticket with Elise,” Gerard Kassar, chair of the New York State Conservative Party, told Newsmax.
Reps Head for Exits • With the surprise resignation of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., in November, there is growing speculation that the number of House members heading for the exit sign in 2026 — now at 41, counting retirements, resignations, or pursuit of other offices — and may come close to the modern
48 NEWSMAX | JANUARY 2026
high of 65 who left the House in 1992. Two likely to bow out
before the election are Rep. Sheila Cherfilus- McCormick, D-Fla., who is under indictment for using a family company to overbill the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) $5 million and then siphon the money to her campaign, and Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., currently the subject of a House Ethics Committee investigation regarding charges of assault, threats to an ex-girlfriend, and stolen valor. In addition, there are rumblings that more than a few Republican lawmakers, frustrated by tensions with the White House and because they feel Speaker Mike Johnson has done enough to heal, will soon announce they are headed for the exit sign.
Trump Stays Out of S.C. Race • While Donald Trump is certainly not shy about involving himself in contested Republican primaries anywhere, watch the president take a pass on the heated primary for South Carolina governor. The reason is that no
fewer than three major contenders have close ties to the president: State Attorney General Alan Wilson, son of early Trump-booster and Rep. Joe Wilson; Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, reportedly the favorite of outgoing Gov. Henry McMaster (the first
statewide official anywhere to endorse Trump in 2016); and Rep. Ralph Norman, one of the president’s strongest boosters in Congress. A fourth contender, Rep.
Nancy Mace, has previously been endorsed by Trump, but that is now almost out of the question following an early call for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Va. Republicans Regroup • Devastated by defeat in races for three statewide offices in November, Virginia Republicans are
nonetheless holding early discussions on races they may possibly win in ’26 and beyond. One of Old Dominion’s
brightest stars, State Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura, a multimillionaire healthcare entrepreneur, is eyeing a bid against Democrat Rep. Jennifer McClellan in the 4th District. Rumors are mounting that outgoing State Attorney General Jason Miyares will soon be named U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District and thus be in line for a bid for governor.
Van Hollen Eyes Schumer’s Job
• Whether Democrats in the U.S. Senate end up in the majority or minority in November, it is a foregone conclusion that Chuck Schumer of New York will relinquish his job as Democrat leader after eight years. Schumer, 75, never truly recovered from permitting the government shutdown to end (although he voted against the continuing resolution) without securing the continuation of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). The increasingly vocal left of Schumer’s party in the Senate was furious, and maneuvering has already begun for a new Democrat leader. The most mentioned name is that of Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who is already sounding out colleagues about how best to fight Donald Trump and his agenda.
AP PHOTO/JOSE LUIS MAGANA
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