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Panthers rally past Cardinals in Hall of Fame Game to open NFL preseason
Rookie quarterback Haynes King opened the NFL preseason with a last-play finish, scoring from 5 yards out to give the Carolina Panthers a 33-30 win over the Arizona Cardinals in the annual Hall of Fame Game.
The former Georgia Tech standout ended the night with 180 yards in the air and two touchdowns. He racked up 39 yards on the ground.
On the other sideline, fellow rookie Carson Beck gave Arizona an encouraging first look before his exhibition debut wrapped up.
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Quarterback Kedon Slovis later put the Cardinals back ahead, throwing a 1-yard touchdown pass to Bryson Green with just under two minutes remaining for a 30-27 lead.
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But King rallied the Panthers on a night when both teams elected to keep their starters on the sideline. Bryce Young was King's biggest cheerleader throughout the game.
King's 4-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Tyus III in the opening minute of the fourth quarter put Carolina ahead 24-20. He also threw a touchdown pass to Ja'Seem Reed in the second quarter.
Beck, a third-round pick from Miami, ended the night with 188 passing yards and one touchdown.
Quarterback Drew Brees, running back Roger Craig, kicker Adam Vinatieri, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and linebacker Luke Kuechly make up the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Trump praises Team USA Winter Olympians and Paralympians at White House after record medal haul
President Donald Trump looked over his left and right shoulder, as well as in the crowd, as he hosted more than 120 Team USA Winter Olympians and Paralympians at the White House to celebrate their accomplishment at the Milano Cortina Games earlier this year.
There were 57 total medals brought back to the United States by the 300 athletes representing the Stars and Stripes, including 12 gold medals.
As Trump emphasized, it was a historic Winter Games for the Olympians, securing the most-ever U.S. gold medals in a single year. It was also the most medals won (33) by Team USA in a Winter Olympics outside North America.
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And 24 more medals came back to the States after 72 Paralympians competed across all five sports, securing 13 gold medals including a fifth straight sled hockey victory.
"Paralympians bring home their fifth straight gold medal in sled hockey, extending one of the greatest dynasties in all of international sports and it’s amazing what you’ve done. Nobody’s ever done anything like it," Trump said before acknowledging members from that team.
TRUMP URGES CONGRESS TO PASS PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT BEFORE RECESS: 'WE HAVE TO GET THAT DONE'
Speaking of hockey, Trump would be remiss not to mention the men’s and women’s Olympic hockey squads that both defeated Canada in overtime.
"The 2026 men’s Olympic hockey team. We celebrated together and it was really an incredible time. The women’s team and the men’s team — it was just incredible," Trump said.
"We can’t forget and never would — and nobody would have the courage to forget either because they are amazing. The history-making women’s hockey team. This team left everything on the ice."
Trump had previously invited members of the men’s Olympic hockey team to his State of the Union address just days after winning gold, where goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom earlier that day.
Trump received backlash for making a joking remark during a call with the men’s team following their overtime victory that he would be "impeached" if he didn’t invite the women to the White House for an event as well. USA Hockey released a statement later that, while athletes were grateful for the invitation, their active college and pro schedules made attendance impossible.
But forwards Joy Dunne and Abbey Murphy were both among the Olympians and Paralympians behind Trump on Thursday at the White House. He took time during his speech to recognize both of them.
After congratulating every member of Team USA in his speech, Trump was gifted a Team USA varsity jacket and a new pair of shoes as mementos for what was an incredible performance all around by those representing the country.
Those who were unable to attend the event on Thursday were already back training for the 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Games , which will be held in the French Alps .
In 2034, Salt Lake City will be the host site for the Winter Games, which Trump was excited to mention.
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Aces star targets heckling Fever fans in Indy before Chelsea Gray stuns Caitlin Clark in OT thriller
This is the most the WNBA has done to keep men out of its sport.
During Thursday night's WILD battle between the Indiana Fever and Las Vegas Aces at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, venue security confronted several men seated courtside who were making noise.
Las Vegas' Jackie Young took time out of a tight game to confront the fans and actively demanded that security handle them. The Amazon Prime Video commentators even celebrated as the men were shown being escorted off the floor. Young finished with 22 points, but her biggest effort was causing a floor-side scene over paying customers.
SOME WNBA PLAYERS ACT LIKE THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO RECEIVE MEAN SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGES
Welcome to the modern WNBA, where ordinary courtside heckling can apparently become a five-alarm emergency. The optics are ridiculous for a league demanding more eyeballs. When authentic, rowdy sports-fan culture shows up, suddenly everyone acts like they need a safe space.
But the fan drama was only the beginning of the chaos on the hardwood.
The Aces, holding the second-best record in the WNBA, found themselves in an absolute dogfight with Indiana. A'ja Wilson paced Las Vegas with 26 points in a crazy contest featuring nine lead changes between the fourth quarter and overtime alone.
Indiana had victory in its grasp down the stretch, but Caitlin Clark had a sloppy night, finishing with 20 points, eight assists, and three rebounds alongside a whopping eight turnovers. Clark's worst regulation blunder came at the charity stripe, where she uncharacteristically missed two crucial free throws that surrendered Indiana's lead and left the door wide open for Las Vegas.
CAITLIN CLARK ERUPTS FOR 32 POINTS AS FEVER HOLD OFF STORM TO COMPLETE SEASON-SERIES SWEEP
Aces veteran Chelsea Gray made Indiana pay, draining a clutch buzzer-beater to tie the game at 75-75 and force overtime.
Then Clark choked again.
With Indiana clinging to an 84-83 lead in overtime, Clark coughed up a crushing turnover that gave Las Vegas final possession. Gray capitalized once more, knocking down a cold-blooded three-pointer as time expired to secure an 86-84 victory for the Aces.
After the game, an Indiana Fever spokesperson told OutKick-Fox News that security found no violation of the Fan Code of Conduct and that the fan was not ejected, but instead "elected to leave."
FORMER FEVER PLAYER RESPONDS TO SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM BY ALLEGING INDIANA HARASSMENT COVER-UP
In the end, running to venue security because front-row banter hurt your feelings sends a terrible message to the paying fans funding your chartered flights.
The WNBA wants the crowds, the attention and the money that come with big-time professional sports. Fine. But that means taking the heckling, too.
Stop playing arena fun police and let fans be fans.
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
Trump-backed incumbent loses primary after super PAC bankrolled by Dems meddled in race
Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., was defeated in a primary challenge on Thursday evening by Republican challenger Charlie Hatcher, a farmer and the state's former commissioner of agriculture.
Although the primary was far from a top-watched contest coming into the 2026 primaries, it served as a microcosm of larger forces at play in the Republican Party. From a break in endorsements between President Donald Trump and Tennessee’s Republican Governor Bill Lee to millions being pumped into the district over environmental policy, the race attracted attention well beyond its borders.
The Invest in Tomorrow Coalition super PAC had spent roughly $2 million opposing Ogles and supporting Hatcher. The group has raised $6.7 million this year, making Ogles a sizable portion of their spending this cycle.
TOP TRUMP ALLY WARNS SUPER PAC BANKROLLED BY DEM BILLIONAIRE IS MEDDLING IN GOP PRIMARY
The way that Ogles sees it, it’s an attempt to show Republicans what happens when lawmakers attempt to claw back government funding for renewable energy sources.
Like many other Republicans, Ogles has called to scale back renewable energy investments made under the Biden Administration.
"When you have a group spending roughly $2 million in a Republican primary, that tells you how much money they're making off of government subsidies, and they're upset that the government welfare has been taken away from them," Ogles told Fox News Digital in an interview.
A Fox News Digital review of FEC filings discovered that the super PAC is bankrolled by Chris Larsen, the California-based billionaire chairman of Ripple, a financial technology company that, according to its website, offers crypto solutions for businesses.
Larsen is also a frequent Democratic donor, having contributed $5,444,975 to support Kamala Harris's failed presidential campaign.
More than just his opposition to government-backed renewable energy initiatives, Ogles thinks it’s his proximity to Trump that has made him a target.
"It's because I'm close to the president. It is because I am outspoken. And quite frankly, it is because I speak plainly on these issues," Ogles said.
GOP GOVERNOR ENDORSES CANDIDATE CHALLENGING TRUMP-BACKED CONGRESSMAN IN REPUBLICAN US HOUSE PRIMARY
For his own part, Hatcher, a fifth-generation Tennessee dairy farmer, has pitched himself as someone unencumbered by the political scene and ensnaring interests.
"I think there’s something missing in Washington. There’s a lack of farmer common sense. There’s a lack of work ethic. One of my strengths is problem-solving, looking for solutions, looking for collaborations and supporting the Trump Administration and Speaker Johnson on their agenda," Hatcher said in a campaign video.
Notably, Tennessee’s Republican governor put his weight behind Hatcher late on Tuesday evening, citing a personal relationship between them.
"He served as my commissioner of agriculture; I know Charlie. I know his conservative values and how much he loves our country. Charlie has stood with President Trump since day one," Lee said in a video.
Trump, who has endorsed Ogles, reaffirmed his support for the conservative firebrand ahead of the primary.
"Andy will be really enshrined as one of the best congressmen that you’ll ever see. He’s just fantastic," Trump said. "Andy has always been there when we needed him and when I needed him. He’s been a great help. He’s been a source of inspiration to a lot of people in Congress," Trump said in a post to Truth Social earlier this year.
Having captured the Republican nomination, Hatcher now advances to a general election he’s heavily favored to win on Nov. 3. He won re-election in 2024 in a 56.9% to 39.5% victory over Maryam Abolfazli.
Mamdani repeatedly sidesteps questions on reported plan to revive tax hikes on wealthy New Yorkers
New York City democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani repeatedly sidestepped questions Thursday about reported plans to launch a public pressure campaign this fall pushing tax hikes on wealthy New Yorkers and corporations.
Mamdani reportedly plans to build public support after Labor Day for similar proposals that Gov. Kathy Hochul previously rejected in early 2026. The reported push is expected ahead of the New York Legislature's return to Albany in January 2027 and Hochul's re-election campaign this fall, according to The New York Post.
During an interview with Fox 5 New York, Mamdani repeatedly declined to answer questions about the potential campaign before later saying such discussions would only come after the November election.
Asked whether he had spoken with Hochul about the reported campaign, Mamdani did not answer directly, instead using the opportunity to tout the opening of 2,000 free child care seats for New Yorkers through their policy efforts.
NYC MAYOR MAMDANI CALLS THREAT OF RICH PEOPLE LEAVING NYC OVER TAXES 'IMAGINED'
"The governor and I are in constant communication and, frankly, I appreciate her partnership because if it wasn't for the governor, then we wouldn't have been able to stand together to announce that we had more than 5,000 New Yorkers come forward to apply for these 2,000 free child care seats," he said. "And I'm so excited about that, and the fact that we're going to expand to 12,000, and the work that's still to come."
The reporter then pressed Mamdani on whether the Democratic Socialists of America would join the potential campaign this fall, but he again declined to answer directly, saying his focus remains on the present.
BERNIE SANDERS, DSA REVEAL DEMANDS FOR DEM PARTY AFTER SOCIALISTS SWEEP NEW YORK ELECTIONS
"My focus right now is where we are, which is August, and ensuring that everything that we're doing is keeping New Yorkers safe amidst a heat wave and preparing for the school year," Mamdani said. "A lot of the conversation about what comes after November, I think, is a conversation for what comes after November."
"So you don't plan to launch a campaign to tax the rich before the November election?" the reporter asked.
"The conversations I've been having with the governor and with my team are about the here and now and there will always be time for the conversations that come after that," Mamdani said.
MAMDANI EXTENDS DEADLINE FOR NYC HOMEOWNERS TO SEEK EXEMPTION FROM NEW PIED-À-TERRE TAX
The reported campaign would revive a previous push by Mamdani to close the city's multibillion-dollar budget gap through tax increases, a proposal Hochul previously rejected. Mamdani's earlier plan called for raising the city's personal income tax rate on filers earning $1 million or more, a move he projected could generate roughly $3 billion annually, while also increasing corporate tax rates.
As an alternative, Hochul and Mamdani jointly advanced the state's first pied-à-terre tax, an annual surcharge on certain high-value second homes, which passed in May 2026. State and city officials have projected the measure could raise about $500 million annually.
Mamdani also said his May 2026 executive budget closed what his administration described as an inherited $12 billion budget gap, crediting aggressive savings, new investments, his partnership with Albany and new tax revenue, including the pied-à-terre tax.
Mamdani's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Trump urges Congress to pass Protect College Sports Act before recess: 'We have to get that done'
President Donald Trump has once again urged lawmakers to pass the Protect College Sports Act, saying "we have to get that done" as Congress recess looms.
Trump had more than 120 athletes, coaches, staff and representatives from Team USA for a special celebration at the White House on Thursday night to celebrate their achievements at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
As Trump referenced "the collegiate athletic system is the engine of American Olympic dominance," producing 88% of the Team USA representatives in those Games alone, he urged the House and Senate to pass the bill, which he said he would sign immediately at his desk.
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"I’m urging the House and the Senate to come together, bipartisan if possible and it looks like they have done, to send the bill to my desk and I will sign it. I think we have no choice," Trump said. "We have to get that done. If we don’t, we’re very foolish. Nobody knows what will happen. We’re in Never-Never Land. We’re not going to let that be happening. We’re not going to let that happen to these great people and others."
Trump added that his administration is "doing everything we can to protect the cherished sporting traditions that have long been a part of our nation."
"Already we’ve done a lot to save women’s sports, and we’re also saving college sports. We’re in the process of working very hard," he said.
The Protect College Sports Act, a bipartisan bill that NCAA officials continue to lobby lawmakers to pass, would provide the collegiate governing body with greater antitrust legal protections while also establishing a uniform framework for college athletics in terms of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) compensation, the transfer portal and more.
The bill, though, has had its obstacles in the Senate, including Thursday when three Republican senators filed an amendment aimed at preventing the bill from overriding state laws that bar biological men from competing in women’s sports. Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri, Jim Banks of Indiana and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama are pushing to close what they view as a loophole to undo laws in their states designed to keep biological males out of women’s sports.
The bill’s current writing would override certain state laws dealing with college athlete eligibility, and these senators believe their laws, as well as similar ones in other states, would be impacted, leading to their amendment to make clear those state laws remain in effect if the bill passed.
"I’ve reviewed the current draft of the Senate NIL bill and I am very concerned it PREEMPTS Missouri’s law banning men in women’s sports," Hawley wrote on X. "This is what [Riley Gaines] has been saying. Big, big problem."
While word of the amendment has yet to come, and could play a significant role in Republican support, Trump hopes the bill itself heads to the Oval Office sooner than later with the framework needed to protect college sports now and in the future. Earlier on Thursday, the Trump administration issued a statement supporting the passage of the act, reaffirming the president’s wish to see a college sports bill passed.
"The future of college sports, especially the future of Olympic and non-revenue sports, is threatened by significant legal and financial uncertainty. Federal legislative action is imperative to fix the statutory ambiguities, ensure liability protection and uniform standards, and stop the endless litigation that is fueling this crisis, which will in turn provide the stability, fairness, and balance necessary to protect student-athletes and preserve collegiate athletic opportunities," the statement of administration policy read.
But there is the Congress recess to think about. The Senate is set for its five-week recess when the day concludes on Friday, though it faces a big to-do list other than just attempting to pass this bill which could delay leaving Capitol Hill.
Whether the Senate checks the Protect College Sports Act off that list remains to be seen, but Trump gave a Thursday night nudge in hopes it reaches the House, and soon after, his desk.
Retired police chief helps subdue passenger after alleged midair outburst over alcohol cutoff
Retired Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara found himself back in crisis mode Thursday, not on the streets of Mill City, but 35,000 feet in the air, when what should have been a routine United Airlines flight suddenly turned chaotic.
O'Hara told Fox News Digital he watched flight attendants spend nearly 45 minutes trying to de-escalate an increasingly belligerent passenger, prompting him and two off-duty Bergen County, New Jersey, sheriff's deputies to intervene.
The retired police chief, who was traveling with his wife aboard United Flight 1364 from Newark to Fort Lauderdale, said the passenger repeatedly berated flight attendants, tried to get out of his seat and behaved erratically as crew members worked to keep the situation under control.
"About like for the last 45 minutes of the flight ... all the flight attendants came over, and they were incredible," O'Hara told Fox News Digital. "Incredibly professional, just trying to talk to this guy to de-escalate things."
According to O'Hara, the passenger became increasingly agitated after flight attendants refused to serve him more alcohol, a detail O'Hara said he later learned from the Broward Sheriff's Office after the arrest. The man reportedly continued shouting profanities and making threatening remarks before the encounter turned physical.
"It was infuriating to hear a man speak to these women who were just incredibly professional and trying to keep everybody safe that way for so long," O'Hara said. "And, finally, he just kind of got up and lunged towards them."
That's when two passengers seated near the back of the aircraft grabbed the man from behind as O'Hara rushed forward from his seat.
OFF-DUTY TROOPER AND ARMED CITIZEN HAILED AS HEROES AFTER RETURNING FIRE ON IN-N-OUT GUNMAN
The three men worked together to restrain the passenger using plastic flex cuffs before securing him back in his seat, so the flight attendants could take their seats and the plane could land safely.
O'Hara later learned the two passengers were Bergen County Sheriff's deputies from New Jersey.
United Airlines also confirmed the incident in a statement to Fox News Digital.
"Local law enforcement met United Flight 1364 upon its arrival in Fort Lauderdale to address an unruly passenger," the airline said. "We thank our crew and customers for assisting with the situation and helping ensure the safety of everyone onboard."
The airline said the Boeing 737-900 was carrying 174 passengers and six crew members, including two pilots and four flight attendants.
While cellphone video of the confrontation has circulated widely on social media, O'Hara said it doesn't capture the nearly hour-long effort by the flight crew to peacefully resolve the situation before passengers stepped in.
"No one should take the kind of verbal abuse that they did," he said. "They were absolute professionals trying to keep everybody safe."
O'Hara, who spent 25 years in law enforcement before retiring after leading public safety operations in Newark, New Jersey, and later serving as Minneapolis police chief, said the incident underscored just how dangerous violent outbursts can become aboard an aircraft.
"I started to think, ‘Well, geez, what are we going to do if somebody really wants to fight the whole time?’" he said. "It's dangerous. We're in such a confined space like that, and someone's going to act out like that because you don't know potentially what the motivation might be."
His wife, who is a lieutenant with the Newark Police Department, was seated nearby throughout the ordeal.
"The only thing I was thinking about was if this goes bad, I know at least she has my back," O'Hara said with a laugh, adding he has seen her "handle herself on the street" and knew she would be ready if the situation worsened.
Afterward, O'Hara's wife praised her husband's actions in a social media post.
"Proud of my husband today," she wrote. "When a disruptive passenger created a dangerous situation on a flight, he stepped up to help federal agents safely arrest him. Leadership isn’t just about the job you hold, it’s about being willing to help when others need it. Grateful everyone on board arrived safely."
Looking back on the incident, O'Hara said he hopes Americans choose action over standing by when innocent people are in danger.
9/11 MUSEUM CEO REFLECTS ON LASTING IMPACT OF TERROR ATTACKS AS AMERICA MARKS 250TH BIRTHDAY
"We're coming up on the 25th anniversary of September 11," he said. "I would hope everybody in this country now knows that if things are escalating to the point where there's going to be some kind of violence, I think every citizen that is able to has a duty to try and help to stop it."
He also said airlines should ensure restraints are readily available and that crew members are trained to use them if passengers become violent.
"I think it would be good to make sure that they have restraints that are available, that at least some people are trained in some way to use them safely to get somebody restrained if they needed to," O'Hara said.
As of Thursday afternoon, authorities had not publicly identified the passenger or announced any criminal charges.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Broward Sheriff's Office and the Federal Aviation Administration for additional information and comment.
Squad-backed ‘Tennessee Three’ lawmaker wins House primary in newly redrawn district
Squad-backed Tennessee state Rep. Justin Pearson, District 86, part of the trio of lawmakers in his state referred to as the "Tennessee Three," won the Democratic primary Thursday in Tennessee's newly redrawn 9th Congressional District.
Pearson defeated state Sen. London Lamar, District 33, community activist Marion LaTroy Alexandria-Williams and attorney Jim Torino. He will face Brent Taylor, the Republican nominee who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, in November with his campaign warchest of millions of dollars he has raised throughout his campaign, significantly outpacing his Democratic opponents.
The Memphis-area state lawmaker entered the primary with the backing of prominent Democrats who are part of the progressive group of lawmakers called "the Squad," including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Summer Lee, D-Pa., who all joined Pearson at a campaign rally in Memphis last month.
'SQUAD' MEMBER'S COMEBACK BID THWARTED AS ESTABLISHMENT DEMS NOTCH VICTORY AGAINST SOCIALISTS
Known for his fiery, preacher-style speeches, Pearson has also received support from national left-wing groups including Justice Democrats, the Working Families Party, MoveOn and Indivisible.
Pearson rose to national prominence in 2023 as one of the "Tennessee Three" lawmakers who participated in a gun-control protest on the state House floor following the Covenant School shooting in Nashville that killed three young kids and three adults.
Republican lawmakers subsequently expelled Pearson and fellow state Rep. Justin Jones over the protest, though they later regained their seats.
A third Democrat, Gloria Johnson of Knoxville, avoided expulsion by a single vote, according to local media reporting.
'JUMPING SHIP': HOUSE DEM FINDS EXIT STRATEGY AFTER SCOTUS RULING SHIFTS ADVANTAGE TO GOP
The open-seat primary won by Pearson on Thursday followed a redrawing of Tennessee’s congressional map that divided Memphis among three Republican-leaning districts and prompted longtime Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., to retire.
Before the new map, heavily Democratic Memphis was largely kept together in the 9th District, giving Tennessee Democrats one reliable congressional seat in an otherwise deeply Republican state.
Cohen has been the lone Democrat in Tennessee’s nine-member House delegation alongside eight Republicans since 2023, but the new map favors the GOP in all nine districts.
Conservative firebrand who went viral with anti-CCP ad survives key primary
U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., cruised to victory in a GOP primary on Thursday evening in a race to replace outgoing Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee.
With the nomination in tow, Blackburn is likely to become the next governor in the Volunteer State — a state that hasn’t elected a Democrat to its top executive role since 2006.
Lee, who has served in the role since 2019, is term-limited and cannot seek re-election. He last won reelection in a 64.9% to 32.9% victory over Democratic challenger Jason Martin, a businessman and doctor.
DEMS RALLY AROUND BEST HOPE TO DEFEND GOVERNOR'S MANSION FROM GOP TAKEOVER
Notably, Lee did not endorse anyone in the three-way Republican race for the 2026 nomination but noted that he had a close relationship with Blackburn when she announced her candidacy.
"I’ve been friends with Marsha for a long time, and she served as my congressman and representative in the General Assembly. I’m proud we have really good people running for governor in this state," Lee told local outlets.
Blackburn, for her own part, promised to continue focusing on issues that Republicans have made centerpieces to the GOP platform in Washington, D.C.
She highlighted immigration as one such issue.
"As governor, I’ll deport illegals, stop the flow of drugs and drug money. We will crack down on Cartels, restrict cash transfers to drug havens and hit criminals and illegals where it hurts — in their wallets," Blackburn said in a campaign video.
Blackburn also promised to prevent China from buying up Tennessee land, punctuating her commitment with a viral ad where she crushed a fortune cookie.
"It doesn’t take a fortune cookie to figure it out. Here in Tennessee we’re going to stop communist China and protect Tennessee land," she remarked.
President Donald Trump also did not issue an endorsement in the race, saying that he had ties to one of Blackburn’s challengers: Rep. John Rose, R-Tenn.
TRUMP MAY HAVE ENDORSED DARLINE GRAHAM, BUT GOP SENATE HOPEFULS AREN’T BACKING DOWN
Rose, an 8th-generation farmer and the millionaire founder of Transcender Corp., an IT certification company, has served in the Tennessee legislature since 2019. In his gubernatorial campaign, he pitched himself as a homegrown candidate focused on local solutions to local problems.
"I know that anything is achievable in Tennessee because I have lived it. Now, I’m asking for you to give me the chance to bring opportunity to all Tennesseans," Rose said in a campaign video.
On his website, Rose highlighted five key areas of focus, including education, infrastructure, healthcare, energy and economic and community development.
A third candidate, State Rep. Monty Fritts, had run on a more aggressive, small-government platform.
"My number one priority is leaving more money in your pockets, in your purses and in your country bankrolls rather than sending it to Nashville," Fritts said in a campaign video.
On his website, Fritts touted positions like shrinking the size of Tennessee’s budget, protecting citizen rights against encroaching government power and increasing parent input in education.
Fritts attracted controversy earlier this year when, as part of his campaign, he called for a ban on mosques and other "pagan religions."
5 MEXICAN CARTEL BOSSES CHARGED IN WEAPONS, DRUG TRAFFICKING, TIMESHARE FRAUD SCHEMES, DOJ SAYS
"Islam is a little different story than perhaps other religions are, in that it’s not necessarily a religion; it’s a political movement," Fritts said. "It’s that movement that, if you don’t submit, perhaps you are executed. I feel that Islam is incongruent with both our U.S. and Tennessee Constitution," Fritts told local outlets.
Having cleared the primary, Blackburn will run in the state’s general election on Nov. 3 against her Democratic opponent, Memphis City Councilwoman and Chief Public Defender Jerri Green.
EXCLUSIVE: Oversight Project sues to block Maryland Democrats’ redistricting measure backed by Gov Moore
EXCLUSIVE: A new lawsuit set to be filed in Maryland seeks to block a redistricting amendment backed by Democrat Gov. Wes Moore from appearing on the November ballot, arguing state officials advanced the measure after the state's own legislative analysts concluded the statutory deadline for certifying ballot questions had already passed.
The complaint, filed Thursday night in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court by the conservative watchdog group Oversight Project and reviewed by Fox News Digital, argues HB 2100 could not lawfully reach voters because Maryland's July 1 deadline for certifying statewide ballot questions expired more than a month before lawmakers convened a special session to approve the proposal.
The Oversight Project, which filed the lawsuit with Republican lawmakers, argues approval of the amendment could pave the way for an 8-0 Democratic congressional delegation.
SUPREME COURT DEALS BLOW TO VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS IN FIGHT OVER STATE COURT ELECTION MAP RULING
HB 2100 would ask voters to amend the Maryland Constitution so state constitutional standards governing compactness and boundaries would no longer apply to congressional districts.
The Oversight Project describes itself as working "to expose and root out corruption in government, among elected officials, and in our most influential organizations to ensure power resides with the American People."
Its filing points to a Department of Legislative Services fiscal note stating that "the new statutory deadline of July 1 for certification of ballot questions" had already passed. The fiscal note also states that election officials were required to publicly post the full text of a proposed constitutional amendment at least 90 days before Election Day.
According to the complaint, lawmakers then added the phrase "notwithstanding any other provision of law" to HB 2100 less than an hour before the joint committee hearing began. The plaintiffs argue the language was intended to override Maryland's certification, notice and public comment requirements after those deadlines had already elapsed.
The complaint further alleges Democratic sponsors characterized the amendment as merely "technical" in the House, while Senate debate reflected that lawmakers understood the statutory timeline could no longer be met.
The filing cites remarks by Democratic state Sen. Cheryl Kagan during floor debate.
VIRGINIA DEMS ACCUSED OF ILLEGALLY ‘STEAMROLLING’ STATE LAW THAT COULD UPEND REDISTRICTING CRUSADE
"There is no time to comply with the plain language of the law with our new law because July 1st is in the rearview mirror," Kagan said, according to the complaint. "There's no time to have the Secretary of State draft language, to have it published, to have a comment period, to have it modified. It's just not an option."
Maryland GOP Delegate Matt Morgan, one of the plaintiffs, told Fox News Digital the disputed language was introduced at 11:08 a.m. for a noon committee hearing.
"They have the law. They're supposed to follow it. They didn't," Morgan said. "And now we're going to take it to court and see what the judges have to say about it."
Morgan said Democratic leadership later described the amendment as "technical" on the House floor.
"The truth is that that was their way of trying to get around them missing all these statutory deadlines," he said.
Republican Delegate Kathy Szeliga, another plaintiff, said legislators had only hours to review the revised language while the public had no opportunity to comment.
"The public got absolutely no time to look and weigh in on the amended language," Szeliga told Fox News Digital. "So, it just reeks of a naked political, partisan power grab on the Democrats' behalf."
According to the complaint, the proposal is intended to overturn the practical effect of a 2022 state court ruling holding that those constitutional standards applied to congressional redistricting. Democrats hold seven of Maryland's eight U.S. House seats.
REDISTRICTING WAR INTENSIFIES AS GOP SUFFERS SETBACKS IN TWO STATES
Moore has publicly defended the amendment as a response to Republican-led redistricting efforts in other states, saying it would ensure "Marylanders — and no one else — have the final say over their representation."
The lawsuit asks the court to bar state officials from certifying, printing, distributing, tabulating or canvassing votes on the amendment and requests expedited review because of the approaching election calendar.
Moore's office, the Maryland Attorney General's Office and the Maryland State Board of Elections did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.