Election News
Election news and analysis from The Daily Signal, featuring reporting, commentary, and conservative insights on campaigns, candidates, and ballot issues.
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- Opinion
The End of the Road for the Little Diner That Could
LIGONIER, Pennsylvania—All that remained of Ruthie’s Diner on Jan. 21 was charred, ice-encased rubble—the aftermath of firefighters’ desperate efforts to extinguish the blaze that ultimately consumed the modest eatery, which for more than 70 years had served locals and the travelers, anglers, and hunters heading east along the Lincoln Highway. Several locals pulled into the…Salena Zito -
- Opinion
Capitalism Improves Human Lives, Socialism Does the Opposite
Capitalism versus socialism has become a topic of intense debate in senior political and business circles. The recent election of socialist-leaning candidates in major U.S. cities highlights the contemporary relevance of this topic. A recent Gallup poll finds that Americans view capitalism more positively than socialism; the 54% viewing capitalism favorably is down from 60%…Sanjai Bhagat -
- Opinion
Making Housing Great for America’s Younger Generations by Eliminating Nonsense Bureaucratic Hurdles
My father started building homes nearly 40 years ago, and I’ve spent my life watching families achieve the American dream through homeownership. As a 36-year-old, I belong to the generation less likely to buy a home than our parents were at the same age. For the security of America’s future, that must change. The National…Michael Burkentine -
- Opinion
Men Are Happiest When They Do 2 Things, Data Shows
I’ve been spending a lot more time with my young children this week, and while they make it harder for me to get my work done, they bring incalculable joy to my life. Social science data suggests that I’m far from alone—marriage and fatherhood make men happier and more fulfilled. Social scientists have long reported…Tyler O’Neil -
- News
Another Candidate Enters California’s Crowded Governor’s Race
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan entered the crowded race to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom, pitching himself as a results-driven Democrat focused on public safety, homelessness, and affordability. Mahan, 43, was elected mayor in 2022 after a career as a tech entrepreneur. He says California Democrats have been too consumed with opposing President Donald Trump…Katherine Matt -
- Opinion
The Loneliest Man in Zhongnanhai: Xi Jinping’s Purges and the Price of Absolute Power
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has unleashed yet another seismic purge in the People’s Liberation Army, removing two of its highest-ranking commanders: Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Gen. Zhang Youxia and CMC member Gen. Liu Zhenli. Announced in late January 2026, this move has reduced the once seven-member CMC—China’s supreme military authority—to just two:…Helen Raleigh -
- News
Congress Places Minnesota’s Rampant Fraud Center Stage
The widespread fraud from Minnesota’s Feeding Our Future children’s lunch assistance program, coupled with the fraudulent health care centers exposed by Nick Shirley in December, has captured the full attention of congressional Republicans in recent weeks. “I understand the outrage taxpayers r feeling about massive fraud in gov programs in Minnesota and other states, while…Pedro Rodriguez -
- Opinion
Minnesota’s Fraud Crisis Didn’t Go Away. It Just Got Harder to See.
Before Minneapolis became a national flashpoint, before the protests and the nightly footage of chaos, something far more consequential was already underway: a sweeping fraud scandal involving billions of taxpayer dollars. Federal investigators were digging into large-scale abuse of public programs, raising serious questions about who allowed it, how long it went on, and where the money went. These were not isolated mistakes…Cooper Smith -
- Opinion
The Elitist Media Still Impose a Dominant Partisan Narrative
Conservatives could look at today’s incredibly fractured media environment and wonder why anyone would need to worry about the elite media, considering their trust numbers are in the basement (except among liberals) and their audiences keep eroding. But just breathe the media air any day, and what we used to call the “dominant media” still…Tim Graham -
- News
40 Years After the Subway Vigilante Case, Its Cultural Impact Endures
In a wide?ranging interview with The Daily Signal, CNN legal analyst and author Elliot Williams revisits one of the most polarizing criminal cases in modern American history—the 1984 New York City subway shooting involving Bernhard Goetz. Williams documents the story in his new book, “Five Bullets: The Story of Bernie Goetz, New York’s Explosive ’80s,…Katherine Matt -
- News
‘Substantial Refunds’ Coming to Taxpayers Soon, Senior Treasury Official Says
Taxpayers can expect “substantial refunds” due to tax cuts in President Donald Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” Treasury Secretary Counselor Joseph Lavorgna said. The bill’s provisions included no taxes on overtime pay, no taxes on tips, and reduced Social Security taxes. “We think there could be substantial refunds coming,” Lavorgna, counselor to Treasury Secretary Scott…Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell -
- Opinion
Why the Next Generation Is Ditching Alcohol
“Dry January” is almost over—the annual reset when people swear off alcohol for a month, whether for health, discipline, curiosity, or recovery. While some are opting to detox from alcohol during the month of January, something bigger is happening beneath the surface: An entire generation is quietly walking away from alcohol altogether. A 2025 Gallup poll found that only 50% of young adults ages 18-34…Elise McCue -
- Opinion
‘We Were Anti-Nazi, but Not Anti-Communist’: Hollywood’s ‘Come to Jesus’ Moment That Never Was
In this wide-ranging edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” guest host Jack Fowler sits down with Elizabeth Spalding, chairman of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, to confront the forgotten truths of communism’s deadly legacy. From Hollywood’s willful blindness to the rise of socialism at home, Spalding explains why communism and socialism…Jack Fowler -
- Opinion
Indiana Set to Deliver Huge Transformation for Teaching Profession
Indiana lawmakers are on the verge of reshaping the teaching profession to the benefit of teachers and students and could set an example for the rest of the country. State policymakers are considering a proposal that would exempt some teaching candidates from the Praxis test (a standardized test commonly used by educators to evaluate potential…Jonathan Butcher -
- News
Thune Saves Funding Deal in Senate
The Senate passed legislation to fund the government by a 71-29 vote on Friday, setting the stage for what is expected to be a brief, partial government shutdown over the weekend. The deal, if passed by the House and signed by President Donald Trump, will fund a number of federal agencies and buy time for…George Caldwell -
- News
Sen. Graham Receives Concessions After ‘Hold’ on Senate’s Funding Deal
The Senate—with a possible government shutdown looming—has crafted a deal to break a funding logjam between Republicans and Democrats, but ahead of the deal being clinched, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham demanded a guarantee of votes on two legislative priorities. Graham, R-S.C., sought opportunities to vote on legislation to criminalize local officials disobeying federal immigration law,…George Caldwell -
- News
Bill to Defund Taliban Faces Senate Vote
Legislation to defund nongovernmental organizations in Afghanistan that have allegedly been hijacked by the Taliban has cleared the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and is headed to the chamber’s floor for a full vote, despite having been voted against by Democrats. The legislation was introduced after the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction reported in…Pedro Rodriguez -
- News
EXCLUSIVE: ICE Arrests Illegal Aliens Convicted of Manslaughter, Arson
Federal immigration agents on Thursday arrested illegal aliens convicted of a third-degree sex offense, manslaughter, and arson, as the Department of Homeland Security continues to deal with backlash over enforcement operations in Minnesota. “These thugs have no place in our communities,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, adding, “Seventy percent of [Immigration and Customs Enforcement]…Virginia Allen -
- News
Democrat Faces Expulsion Over Findings of MASSIVE Fraud
After the House Ethics Committee announced it found over two dozen instances of “serious financial crimes” against Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., announced on Thursday night he will be filing a resolution to expel the congresswoman. “In November, I filed a resolution to expel [Cherfilus-McCormick] following her indictment by the [Justice Department],” Steube posted on X. “Today’s…Virginia Grace McKinnon -
- News
What Triggered Civil Rights Investigation Into Pretti Shooting?
DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—The Department of Justice has opened a civil rights probe into the death of Alex Pretti in Minnesota, according to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Blanche confirmed the investigation during a press conference on Friday. “All that that means is that [Department of Homeland Security], as they’ve, as the secretary has said,…Katelynn Richardson