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WOODY JOHNSON: Making flag football official gives girls a chance to catch their futures
On May 4, the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association made girls flag football the 35th sanctioned varsity sport in the state. The vote took a few minutes. The work behind it took 15 years.
Sanctioning girls flag football as a varsity sport makes opportunity official. Too — turning years of grassroots effort by parents, educators, coaches, students and us into lasting equity through stable funding, structured competition and a clear pathway for girls to advance.
Football has always been a powerful force for connections — bridging communities, generations and backgrounds. Too often, access to the game has not matched its promise. Opportunity, resources and the simple assurance that a girl belongs on the field have been unevenly shared. Girls flag football is changing that, not through symbolism, but through sustained commitment, real belief and decisive action.
That belief has been matched by investment. Since 2011, the New York Jets have supported more than 260 teams across three countries, reaching over 7,000 young women each year through more than $2.5 million in funding and grants. What began as a question of possibility supporting roughly 20 schools in New York City’s Public Schools Athletic League has become a movement, and with it, a responsibility to keep pushing forward.
For us, the numbers have never been the point — they’re just evidence of what happens when a community commits to making room. New Jersey’s vote is the latest, and most personal, milestone in that work. It is the culmination of a five-year effort led by students, coaches, schools and advocates who believe the game deserves equal standing.
That journey began in earnest in 2021, when the Jets launched New Jersey’s first high school girls flag football league with eight schools, all located within a short drive of our Florham Park facility. Within two years, that modest start grew into a league of more than 100 schools and 1,000 athletes, expanding statewide and into Long Island and the Hudson Valley.
From the outset, the goal was clear: girls flag football should stand alongside soccer, lacrosse, softball, and yes, boys tackle football, as an official varsity sport. New York reached that mark in 2023. New Jersey now joins it, closing an opportunity gap that has been open too long.
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Most recently, the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation has been central to that progress. Its mission reflects the values my mother lived by: expanding opportunity, opening doors and measuring success not in words but in impact.
Today, the commitment spans every level of the game. We helped the Eastern College Athletic Conference launch the nation’s largest collegiate women’s flag football league, supported by a $1 million grant from the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation. We continue to invest in youth and middle-school programs that strengthen the pipeline. Internationally, we have helped establish the first NFL-supported girls flag football leagues in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
With flag football set to debut as an Olympic sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, the pathway is now visible end to end — but only if the first step is real. That is what sanctioning delivers. Varsity status moves girls flag football from a promising program to a permanent part of high school athletics, unlocking sustainable funding, structured competition, dedicated coaching and the long-term infrastructure that any serious sport requires.
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A girl playing her first season in a New Jersey high school today can see, clearly and without imagination, the steps from her school field to a college program, to a national team, to the Olympic stage. And because varsity status takes the sport out of the discretion of any one school, that pathway becomes reliable for the next class of athletes as well. Nearly 160 New Jersey high schools are expected to field teams next season — a clear sign that this is not a moment of attention. It is a structural shift.
It is also a moment that does not belong to any one organization. It belongs to the parents who advocated at school board meetings, the educators who listened, the athletic directors who made room on the calendar, the coaches who built programs from inception and the students who showed up, competed and made the case for themselves on the field. This movement has always been powered by community. The Jets’ role has been to have the vision, invest, build the path and make sure the door stays open.
Together, we have made New Jersey a national model for equity in sports — and ensured that the next generation of female athletes no longer has to ask for a place on the field, because opportunity is finally official.
They already have one.
NATO's eastern flank races to rearm as Trump pressure exposes Western Europe's defense gap
This is part six of a series examining the challenges confronting the NATO alliance.
As President Donald Trump presses NATO allies to shoulder more of Europe's defense burden, countries closest to Russia are moving fastest — while some of Western Europe's biggest economies face growing pressure to catch up.
Retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and former deputy director for strategy, policy and plans at U.S. European Command, said the shift is already visible across the alliance.
"Europe is clearly stepping up, but they're stepping up by geographic variation," Montgomery told Fox News Digital.
"If you ask me who's doing the most, the Eastern Europeans are clearly."
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Montgomery pointed to the Baltic states, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria as countries moving aggressively to strengthen deterrence against Russia.
His assessment comes as NATO allies work toward a new defense spending benchmark agreed at the 2025 summit in The Hague, which calls on members to invest 5% of GDP in defense and security-related spending by 2035, including 3.5% for core defense requirements and 1.5% for defense-related infrastructure and security investments.
John Deni, a research professor at the U.S. Army War College, said the trend shouldn't be surprising.
"Given the threat of Russia, allies in the East are acquiring capabilities more quickly, and they're spending even more than allies in the West," Deni told Fox News Digital. "This shouldn't surprise us because they're the ones closest to the threat."
Deni noted that many eastern allies are rapidly purchasing equipment already available on the market rather than waiting years for domestic defense programs to mature.
UK, GERMAN DEFENSE OFFICIALS DEFEND MILITARY BUILDUP UNDER RUSSIAN THREATS
The transformation is visible across NATO's eastern and northern flanks. Poland has become one of the alliance's largest military spenders, Romania is increasing defense investments, and Finland and Sweden have added advanced military capabilities to NATO following their accession.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Finland and Sweden Thursday at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, using them as examples of allies strengthening the alliance.
"Sweden and Finland have actually contributed because they brought their own defense industry, their own advanced technology," Rubio said. "They have been great partners."
Romanian Foreign Minister Oana-Silvia Ţoiu echoed that message in an interview with Fox News Digital following an emergency U.N. Security Council session convened after a Russian drone strike injured civilians in the Romanian city of Galați.
"We do agree with President Trump on the need to increase budgets," Ţoiu said.
Ţoiu said Romania raised defense spending to 2% of GDP during Trump's previous term and plans to allocate "an average of 3.4 percent" next year through military procurement and strategic infrastructure investments.
POLAND SEEKS ANSWERS AFTER PENTAGON SCRAPS PLANNED US ARMORED BRIGADE ROTATION
"We have launched initiatives that are directed at the eastern flank because it is increasingly more clear that that needs to be protected," she said.
She argued that Romania's role extends beyond national defense.
"We need better deterrence, better defense capabilities there in order to ensure our responsibility in protecting not just the Romanian border, which is the longest border to the war, but also it is in the same time a European border and the border of the Allied territory," Ţoiu said.
For frontline states, the urgency is driven by geography as much as politics. Romania shares a border with Ukraine and repeatedly has dealt with Russian drones entering its airspace. Poland has become one of NATO's top military spenders, while the Baltic states are racing toward defense expenditures approaching 5% of GDP.
Montgomery said the eastern flank's urgency contrasts sharply with the pace in much of Western Europe.
Among the continent's five largest economies, and despite a slight decrease in military spending in 2025, the U.K. remains the largest investor relative to GDP, with 2.4%, trailed by Germany (2.3%), Spain (2.1%), France (2%) and Italy (1.9%), according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
WHY NATO’S DEFENSE SPENDING IMBALANCE LASTED FOR DECADES
"The Germans are the one country, I think, with a large economy that is starting to make the right kind of investments."
Germany, he argued, could become the backbone of Europe's future defense industrial base.
"Germany developing a large, impressive defense industrial base is good for NATO, it's good for Western security, and it's even good for our primes," Montgomery said.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has embraced higher defense spending and backed NATO's new spending goals, positioning Berlin as a potential hub for Europe's future defense industrial base as allies seek to reduce long-term dependence on the United States.
But despite rising defense budgets, experts warn Europe remains heavily dependent on American military capabilities.
Barak Seener, a senior fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, said Europe still relies on the United States for many of the systems required to fight a modern war.
NATO CHIEF WARNS EUROPE CAN’T DEFEND ITSELF WITHOUT US AS TENSIONS RISE OVER GREENLAND
"Europe is heavily dependent on NATO for its strategic airlift and sea lift, its air-to-air refueling, its cyber capabilities, its space assets, its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance," Seener said.
Without those capabilities, he warned, European forces would struggle to maintain situational awareness during a major conflict.
Montgomery said Europe faces three major challenges: expanding military capacity, rebuilding its defense industrial base and developing high-end support capabilities that have long been provided by the United States.
PENTAGON CUTS BRIGADE COMBAT TEAMS IN EUROPE AS TRUMP PRESSURES NATO ON SPENDING
"When you are freeloading for 30 years, you create enormous deficits in terms of people, equipment, technology and know-how," he said.
"The primary forces to defend Europe should be European," he said. "The United States should provide additional forces that allow maneuver and offensive operations."
Montgomery also criticized reported Pentagon deliberations over delaying long-range strike deployments to Germany and reconsidering future Tomahawk missile sales, arguing the systems are critical for deterring Russia.
"The goal here is not to fight Russia in the Baltics or in Poland. The idea here is we want to deter Russia from even trying to attack."
Looking ahead, Montgomery remains optimistic about NATO's future.
Montgomery predicted Europe will continue increasing defense spending and expanding its defense industrial base, while the alliance benefits from steadier transatlantic relations.
"I think you'll have a U.S. president that probably doesn't provoke the Europeans as much. You'll have Europe that's investing more," he said.
He also predicted NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte would be remembered for helping hold the alliance together through a period of significant change.
"I think five years from now, NATO will be stronger," he said. "And I hope we have Ukraine in there."
Florida woman mauled to death by dogs that had allegedly terrorized neighborhood, owner charged in killing
A Florida woman was mauled to death by two dogs that neighbors say had terrorized the community — and now the animals' owner is in jail.
The dogs are being held by the county’s animal services unit and will be euthanized, authorities said.
And now, neighbors along Blue Bonnet Drive don’t have to worry anymore about the duo that used to "terrorize" them, resident Dominica Midkiff told Fox News Digital.
Jodi Cowan, 50, had only lived on the street for about two weeks, Midkiff said.
WOMAN KILLED AND ANOTHER SEVERELY INJURED AFTER DOG MAULING AT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PARK
At the time of the attack, Cowan was walking her small dog on the dark street after midnight, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said in a video his office shared on Facebook on May 27.
Meanwhile, the pit bull pair belonging to neighbor Linda Cutler "had once again gotten out of their yard and were roaming the neighborhood," Ivey said.
FLORIDA WOMAN CHARGED FOR DROWNING DOG IN AIRPORT TOILET AFTER IT WAS BARRED FROM TRAVELING: POLICE
A neighbor’s security camera captured the attack in an "extremely troubling and graphic" video, Ivey said.
The video shows Cowan clutching her tiny dog to her chest, shrieking and trying to flee.
The larger dogs, known as Max and Mako, "began to brutally attack and maul Cowan, forcing her to the ground, viciously attacking her, and eventually dragging her across the ground for quite some distance," Ivey said.
FLORIDA MAN SHOT BY DEPUTIES AFTER ALLIGATOR ATTACK, CHARGING OFFICERS WITH GARDEN SHEARS
Cowan’s partner, Donnell Smith, heard her screams and raced to stop the attack "by swinging a knife at the dogs and trying to drive them away," Ivey said.
Smith called 911 while trying to protect his longtime love.
He could be heard on an eight-minute 911 call trying to drive back the barking dogs and render aid to still-conscious Cowan.
INFANT HORRIFYINGLY MAULED TO DEATH BY PUPPY AS PARENTS SLEPT
"It’s brutal," said Brevard PIO Tod Goodyear, a former homicide detective with 40 years at the sheriff’s office, told Fox News Digital. "She suffered."
Cowan was transported to a nearby trauma center. She died about four hours later, Ivey said.
The little dog Cowan died trying to protect escaped unharmed.
FLORIDA MAN ARRESTED FOR SHOOTING NEIGHBOR'S PREGNANT COW AFTER IT WANDERED ONTO HIS PROPERTY
"She was a great woman," Smith told a reporter for WESH 2 News. "She just loved people, loved dogs more than people."
A sheriff’s office investigation revealed that Cutler knew "her dogs repeatedly got out of her yard and … were attacking humans and … took minimal action to prevent the dogs from getting out of her yard, even after being cited by Animal Services," Ivey said.
Cutler also knew that her dogs previously "had bitten a neighbor who had to seek medical treatment," Ivey said.
FLORIDA WOMAN LEAVES TEEN, 7 DOGS HOME ALONE TO GO ON VEGAS VACATION: POLICE
Since October 2024, neighbors had called the sheriff’s office at least 14 times about Cutler’s animals, agency reports show.
Some callers complained about her dogs roaming the neighborhood. Some callers expressed concern that Cutler’s dogs might be neglected.
Investigators found food and water at Cutler’s home and documented no signs of neglect, Goodyear said.
In his video address, Ivey fumed at the suggestion that his agency’s animal services unit hadn’t taken appropriate action.
"While you might think that Animal Services has the authority to seize dogs that routinely escape from yards or that have even bitten someone, the unfortunate reality is that they don't," Ivey said.
If "it’s not a severe bite, the most action our animal enforcement officers are allowed by law to take is the issuance of a citation and a fine," he said.
Animal Services officers issued at least five citations to Cutler with hundreds of dollars in fines, Goodyear said. He didn’t have the exact amount.
But even after a second bite, Ivey said in his address, a "dog still can't be seized by animal enforcement officers, as it is not the number of bites, but the severity of the bite that elevates the potential for the dog to be declared a dangerous dog and the owner go before a magistrate."
And even then, under Florida’s dangerous dog law, he added, the "dog owner still has the right to keep the dog or dogs by following the court's ruling that they must have effective fencing, muzzle the dog anytime someone is visiting the residence, [put] signage on all egress points saying a dangerous dog resides there, and have $100,000 insurance policy in the event the dog bites another person."
In the case of Max and Mako, Ivey said, some people making complaints about the dogs said they "were not aggressive and that they just keep getting out of the fence and need to be returned to their home."
After a report that one of the dogs had bitten a neighbor, the victim "did not cooperate with law enforcement after repeated calls to do so from our animal enforcement officers," Ivey said.
"The investigation could not be continued, which prohibited our animal enforcement officers from taking any further action."
As puppies, Max and Mako made friends on their romps away from their own yard, Midkiff said.
"The whole neighborhood was friendly with them until they started to turn on people."
As the puppy brothers grew, Midkiff said, they showed signs of aggression. And as adult dogs, their frequent escapes through or over the yard’s chain-link fence frightened people living nearby.
They "pinned people on their porches as people were trying to leave for work and come home," Midkiff said. "You never knew where them loose dogs would be and who they were going to terrorize next."
Just 20 days before they mauled Cowan, Midkiff snapped photos of Max and Mako standing outside her car, watching her intently through the windows.
Midkiff wanted to go inside her home, she said, but she was afraid to leave the safety of the vehicle.
"I waited in my car until they got distracted by something else."
During the investigation after the mauling, Cutler indicated she knew her dogs had been escaping, knew one had bitten someone, and revealed "both dogs were becoming more and more aggressive, even towards her," Ivey said.
Then, she asked when she could get her dogs back, the sheriff said.
After Cowan’s death, Cutler checked into a hotel on a nearby beach, Ivey said. There, another law enforcement agency responded to a "disturbance" involving Cutler.
Eight days after the mauling, Cutler, 29, was arrested. While being taken into custody, she pretended to have a heart attack, Ivey said.
Cutler was evaluated at a hospital and cleared of any medical issues, Goodyear told Fox News Digital. It’s common, he said, for people to pretend to have life-threatening medical issues when facing arrest.
During his update on the case on social media, Ivey shared a video showing him greeting Cutler as she was walked into the jail. The video shows him telling Cutler, "Hope you enjoyed your time at the beach, because you're not going to be going back."
She glares at him and retorts, "What is the purpose of that?"
"A woman's dead, and two dogs are about to be euthanized because of your uselessness," Ivey fires back. "So, have a nice visit."
Cutler is being held without bond because she was already out of jail on another charge, Goodyear said. She could not be reached for comment.
"Being her neighbor has been hell," Midkiff said. "I am praying Linda Cutler gets 15 years."
Florida and Texas are battling for new residents. DeSantis thinks he found an advantage
Florida and Texas have for years attracted Americans feeling high-tax, high-cost states with an absence of personal income tax and business-friendly policies. Now, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is betting that reducing property taxes could become the Sunshine State's next competitive advantage.
The stakes extend well beyond Florida.
The competition for new residents translates directly to political influence, with population growth affecting everything from congressional representation to Electoral College votes.
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As Americans continue relocating to southern states in search of affordability amid a bubbling economic crisis, the latest proposal in Florida could become a test of whether low-tax states can further widen their advantage over higher-tax rivals.
Supporters argue it would strengthen Florida's appeal to homeowners, retirees and businesses while giving it a new edge over competitors like fellow red state Texas. Critics counter that any tax savings must eventually be offset through spending cuts, higher fees or alternative revenue sources, making Florida a potential case study in both the promise and the pitfalls of aggressive tax reduction.
The governor is backing a constitutional amendment that would dramatically expand Florida's homestead exemption, potentially lowering tax bills for millions of homeowners.
Under the proposal, Florida's existing $50,000 homestead exemption would increase to $150,000 in 2027 and to $250,000 in 2028. In practice, the exemption reduces the portion of a home's value that is subject to taxation, lowering the tax bill for qualifying homeowners.
For homeowners, that could translate to meaningful tax savings. For local governments, however, it would mean collecting substantially less revenue from one of their largest funding sources.
That tension between tax relief and government funding is at the heart of the debate.
THE RED STATES RACING AHEAD IN AMERICA’S POWERFUL WEALTH BOOM — AND THE STATES FALLING BEHIND
State analysts estimate the measure could reduce local government revenue by more than $8.4 billion annually, raising questions about how cities and counties would make up the difference.
Backers say the proposal would provide relief to homeowners at a time when many Floridians are grappling with rising housing costs, insurance premiums and inflation. Critics, however, warn that property taxes help fund many of the local services residents rely on every day.
"While the idea of eliminating the property tax sounds appealing, it's important to remember the local services those tax dollars provide," Nicole Fox, a policy analyst with the Center for State Tax Policy at the Tax Foundation, told Fox News Digital.
"The quality of a community's schools and roads, as well as the safety of a community, are important both for quality of life and contributing to the value of one's home," she added.
Fox noted that the proposal would eventually eliminate roughly 36% of homestead property taxes and argued that a reduction of that magnitude would likely require some form of replacement revenue.
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"When you are talking about 36% of homestead property taxes eventually being eliminated, there must be a plan for at least some degree of revenue replacement," Fox said. "Currently that plan is unknown."
Fox, who recently co-authored a Tax Foundation analysis of the Florida proposal, argued the measure could shift the tax burden onto businesses, renters and property owners who do not qualify for the homestead exemption.
"It would do so through less stable revenue sources that could alter consumer behaviors and negatively impact businesses, as well as shift the burden to those who do not qualify for the homestead exemption," Fox said.
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Florida already has "a very competitive tax structure," Fox added, but warned that "this drastic restructure risks significant uncertainty and economic harm."
Whether voters ultimately embrace the proposal remains an open question. The constitutional amendment must receive support from at least 60% of voters to take effect.
If approved, supporters argue it could cement Florida's status as one of the nation's most attractive destinations for homeowners and businesses, potentially giving it a new advantage over competitors like Texas and South Carolina.
If critics are right, however, the proposal could become a test case for whether billions of dollars in property tax relief can be delivered without shifting costs elsewhere.
Either way, the debate unfolding in Florida is being watched closely as states compete for residents, businesses and investment in an increasingly mobile America.
Cops halt planned 'teen takeover' as officials brace for a summer surge in chaos and arrests: police chief
A Florida police department is taking a victory lap after thwarting an unsanctioned "teen takeover," marking the latest move from law enforcement working to combat the viral events sweeping the nation.
Authorities with the St. Augustine Beach Police Department shut down an unsanctioned event scheduled for Thursday at a local pier after they used electronic monitoring to identify the plan before it dissolved into chaos.
"We’re a beach town, so we’ve always had spring break crowds that show up – but nothing that’s been organized like this with the sole intent of just causing disruption," St. Augustine Beach Police Chief Daniel Carswell told Fox News Digital.
The gathering was initially scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, according to the event flyer shared by the department.
VIRAL TEEN TAKEOVERS UNLEASH CHAOS NATIONWIDE AS MALLS, BEACHES AND RESTAURANTS BECOME BATTLEGROUNDS
"Pull up. Turn Up. Take over," the flyer reads, with a large "Canceled" banner plastered across the post on social media.
According to Carswell, the department is working alongside neighboring law enforcement agencies to leverage an electronic monitoring system designed to flag planned events before they take place.
"We work together great, especially with the [St. John’s County] Sheriff’s Office," Carswell said. "They have what’s called a Real-Time Intelligence Center – or ARTIC – and that’s their job."
SPRING BREAK HOT SPOT DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY, CURFEW AFTER ROWDY TAKEOVERS SPARK MASS ARRESTS
In the days leading up to Thursday’s planned takeover, Carswell said ARTIC flagged the event to authorities, providing enough time to shut it down.
"They search the internet, they’re searching constantly for threats to our community and threats to the public," Carswell said. "They came across this and sent it to us. Which was fortunate for us, because we had time to act."
In the days leading up to the unsanctioned event, the St. Augustine Beach Police Department used social media to spread the word that the viral takeover had been canceled.
"All we can do is what we did, which was putting it out there that this is not a sanctioned event. If you come with the intention of causing chaos or causing disruption, there's going to be zero tolerance."
The department also deployed additional officers to the pier in the event attendees still showed up – a move that could mean local law enforcement agencies are left understaffed as they devote manpower to the unsanctioned takeovers.
"We’re a small police department, we’re 25 police officers," Carswell told Fox News Digital. "So it is a complete drain on our resources, especially when it’s unplanned – that’s the danger of it."
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Carswell added that the unpredictability of each unplanned event creates a dangerous situation for responding officers and the community.
"We don't know how many people could show up," Carswell said. "It could be tens, it could be hundreds – we don't know. And that is overwhelming to our resources. To have to call in people on their days off or pull resources from other agencies to come down here to the beach in preparation for this [event]."
No charges were filed stemming from the planned takeover event scheduled Thursday, Carswell added.
The rise of teen takeovers overtaking neighborhoods and communities throughout the country has gotten the attention of Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who condemned the trend in a social media post.
"Whoever is organizing these ‘teen takeovers,’ congrats: you have my attention," Uthmeier wrote. "This behavior is unacceptable, and I’m having our Statewide Prosecutors develop a plan to investigate and prosecute those who are responsible for these events. Stay tuned. More to come."
On Sunday, May 31, hundreds of teens descended on Clearwater Beach on the Sunshine State’s west coast, prompting a massive police response that ended in multiple people being detained, FOX 13 reported.
TEEN TAKEOVER SPIRALS INTO CHAOS—GUNFIRE REPORTED AS POLICE RUSH IN DAY AFTER LEADERS CALL FOR CALM
Authorities said a 17-year-old sustained non-life-threatening injuries after being shot during an alleged altercation near Coronado Drive and Devon Drive during the unsanctioned event. A 16-year-old was subsequently arrested in connection with the alleged shooting, the outlet reported.
"What we saw yesterday is behavior that is completely unacceptable," Council member Ryan Cotton said. "It's reprehensible and will not be tolerated within the city limits of Clearwater, as far as I'm concerned."
Additionally, authorities in Palm Beach County were looking into another teen takeover planned for Friday at the Wellington Green Mall, according to WPBF.
Officials reportedly became aware of the takeover after a flyer was circulated on social media, calling on local teens to "bring your crew, bring the energy, let's take over," and are monitoring the situation.
As schools throughout the country are releasing students for summer vacation, Carswell offered a stark warning for both the teenagers planning to partake in such takeovers and their parents.
"They're risking their future and they're risking the safety of others," Carswell told Fox News Digital. "We want you to come out here to the beach, have fun and be kids."
"But to come here with the sole intention to, the flyer says, ‘Turn up, take over, let's make a movie,’ [and] create chaos, things like that, then you're jeopardizing not only your future, but the safety and the future of other people."
Pro-US conservative faces leftist in Peru's high-stakes presidential runoff
Peruvians head to the polls in a pivotal presidential runoff June 7 in an election that could reshape not only the country’s future but also the balance of power across Latin America.
Two candidates are vying to become the country's ninth president in just 10 years. Conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori is campaigning on law and order, free-market policies and closer ties with the United States, while left-wing challenger Roberto Sánchez represents a political movement that many see as a continuation of the leftist currents that have challenged U.S. interests in the region.
José Ignacio Beteta, executive director of Asociación de Contribuyentes, a think tank in Peru, told Fox News Digital, "Peru’s June 7 runoff carries consequences well beyond its borders. When analyzed against the current U.S. National Security Strategy, this election will determine whether Peru consolidates its alignment as a U.S. partner or devolves into deeper geopolitical contention. Peru’s institutional weakness has already allowed China to expand into strategic sectors."
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Beteta added, "Meanwhile, the vote is seen as a choice between a return to freer and more competitive economic and security policies with Fujimori and a second attempt at left-wing governance with Sanchez, a binary that mirrors South America’s broader ideological fractures."
The election follows years of political instability in Peru, a country that has seen multiple presidents removed from office over the past decade and remains deeply divided between urban and rural constituencies.
Sunday’s election's outcome is expected to be very close, with the possibility of a final result not being known for days, according to the Associated Press.
For Washington, Peru’s election represents more than a domestic political contest. It is another test of the broader political direction of Latin America. Over the past several years, several countries in the region have experienced electoral shifts toward center-right or conservative governments, including Argentina under Javier Milei and Ecuador under Daniel Noboa who are all more friendly to Washington.
A Fujimori victory would reinforce that trend and could position Peru alongside a growing bloc of governments favoring tougher approaches to crime, stronger ties with the United States and market-oriented economic policies.
Presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori told Fox News Digital that if she wins, "My government's foreign policy will be based on a very clear premise: defending Peru's interests. Specifically, regarding the United States, my government will seek a relationship of cooperation, mutual respect and investment promotion. We welcome the Trump administration's renewed perspective on Latin America and, especially, on Peru, which occupies a strategic geopolitical position in the region."
Fujimori continued: "We want to seize this opportunity by generating greater stability, legal certainty, and confidence for investment. Peru must always be a country open to the world, committed to freedom, free competition, and the free market. Our goal is to lay the groundwork so that investors from the United States and around the world find in Peru a reliable, stable, and attractive country in which to invest, produce, and create jobs."
Fox News Digital reached out to Sánchez’ campaign but did not get a response.
ALLIANCE WITH US ‘DISMANTLED’ BY LEFTIST PETRO REGIME, COLOMBIA’S FORMER DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS
Peruvian analyst and legal expert Lucas Ghersi told Fox News Digital, "Roberto Sánchez represents a rather radical left. His platform includes nationalizations and expropriations, and he is close to Evo Morales and Nicolás Maduro. This election is highly polarizing Peruvian society."
Ghersi continued, "If Keiko Fujimori wins, she would have a good relationship with the United States. She is a reasonable person who defends the constitutional framework and the rule of law, and she has ties to the United States because she has done academic work at Florida International University (FIU).
"Roberto Sánchez, on the other hand, would create tension in the relationship with the United States. During his campaign and in the presidential debate, he bitterly criticized Peru's purchase of F-16 jets from the United States. He said that Peru shouldn't buy from the United States and should instead use that money for health or education. He also has ties to illegal mining and has been accused of drug trafficking. This could create tensions in the relationship with the United States."
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Ghersi concluded, "Peru is a very strategic country and has been the focus of competition between the United States and China. Peru has one of the largest proven copper reserves and is a major gold producer. Therefore, both China and the United States are vying for influence in Peru, and China has been promoting mega-investment projects there, such as a mega-port that is already operational. In response, the United States offered to renovate the Peruvian Navy's base and invest in large port projects."
A Fujimori victory would likely be interpreted in Washington as a continuation of the recent trend toward center-right governance in parts of Latin America. Fujimori has campaigned on restoring public security, strengthening economic growth, and maintaining Peru’s market-oriented model. Her supporters argue that these policies could encourage greater foreign investment and closer cooperation with the United States on security and economic issues.
A Sánchez victory would present a different scenario. Although he has recently moderated portions of his platform, emphasizing respect for private property, free trade agreements and macroeconomic stability, questions remain about how his administration would approach relations with Washington and regional left-wing movements.
The next Peruvian president will help determine whether one of South America’s most important countries moves closer to Washington, or charts a leftward course.
The Associated Press reports that voting is mandatory in Peru for citizens from the ages of 18 to 70, with more than 27 million people registered.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
American Culture Quiz: Test yourself on music milestones and patriotic pursuits
The American Culture Quiz is a weekly test of our unique national traits, trends, history and people — including current events and the sights and sounds of the United States.
This week's quiz highlights music milestones, patriotic pursuits — and much more.
Can you get all 8 questions right?
Give it a try and see how you do!
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WATCH: Mace says Trump's endorsement hasn't sealed SC gubernatorial race: ‘It’s a dog fight’
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., told Fox News Digital ahead of Tuesday's South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primary that President Donald Trump's endorsement has done little to boost her opponent's standing with conservative voters, arguing that many grassroots Republicans are "very upset" with the decision.
"It's not going over well for her with the grassroots, which is why she didn't get much of a bump," Mace said. "She got maybe a five point bump — not much."
"And she's going to be in a runoff and I think at that point all bets are off."
Mace was referring to South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, whom Trump endorsed last week, as Mace and Trump have publicly broken in recent months.
FIRST ON FOX: REPUBLICAN FIREBRAND NANCY MACE LAUNCHES BID FOR SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR
"It’s a dog fight," Mace said. "We’re in it and I’m gonna fight to the death."
Mace shared that she wasn’t shocked when Trump chose not to endorse her because of her vote in Congress to push for the release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
"I knew it was on the line when I voted to release the Epstein files, and I'm a survivor," Mace said. "If the price to pay for an endorsement was to not release those files, I would never pay it."
Mace was one of four Republicans to sign a petition last year to force a vote in the House on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, legislation that urged the Department of Justice to publish all its information on its probe into Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell — millions of documents.
NANCY MACE TORCHES CLEMSON UNIVERSITY OVER 15-GENDER MENU: 'NOT ON MY WATCH'
Trump’s endorsement in the Republican primary was also in favor of South Carolina’s current term-limited governor, Henry McMaster, who has also endorsed Evette as his potential successor. Trump wrote that he expected Evette would choose the current governor’s son, Henry McMaster Jr., as her lieutenant governor.
"Pam Evette is a good friend, fighter, and WINNER, and will be a terrific Governor of South Carolina," the president posted. "Pam has my Complete and Total Endorsement — SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!"
Trump's endorsement came days before the June 9 primary and as early voting was getting underway in South Carolina.
MACE TARGETS SQUAD DEM WITH PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL BAN ON FOREIGN-BORN LAWMAKERS
Tuesday’s crowded Republican primary field includes Evette, Attorney General Alan Wilson, Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., businessman Rom Reddy and Mace. If no candidate wins a majority, the top two finishers will advance to a runoff — a situation Mace predicted could reshape the race despite Trump's backing of Evette.
"I disagree with this endorsement," Mace said. "And I'm going to vote for myself. I'm asking voters in South Carolina to vote for me as well on Tuesday."
GOP firebrand lashes out at reporter over Massie allegation: ‘F--- you, first of all!’
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., cursed out a Fox News Digital reporter after he began asking about allegations of a sexual relationship between her and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., that were recently raised by a woman identifying herself as Massie's ex-girlfriend.
"F – – – you, first of all!’ Boebert said to a Fox News Digital reporter when bringing up claims from Massie’s alleged ex-girlfriend.
"If you're gonna bring me into this, like, the sexist stuff is like out of control," she continued. "So there's your clickbait that you were looking for."
FIVE TIMES NANCY PELOSI LOST HER COOL WITH THE MEDIA
Boebert then declined to discuss the allegations further.
The exchange came after Boebert had been discussing President Donald Trump's efforts to unseat Republican incumbents and Massie's political future.
The former congressional staffer Cynthia West, who previously worked for Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., accused Massie of bragging to her about an alleged sexual encounter with Boebert within weeks of his wife's death.
West also accused Massie of offering her $5,000 to drop a wrongful termination lawsuit she was pursuing against Spartz, an ally of Massie. The allegations surfaced just a week before Massie lost his House seat in the May 19 Republican primary.
"I don't want to talk about anybody's exes and their crazy s– – – that they do," Boebert said to the reporter.
Before the exchange turned contentious, Boebert was answering questions about whether Trump's strategy of backing primary challengers against Republican incumbents is backfiring on the GOP agenda.
"I think most of the folks that have lost their primaries, they were backfiring on the GOP agenda — Cassidy, Cornyn," Boebert replied.
"I mean, obviously Thomas Massie is the only one that I'm a little sad about," she said.
Boebert was also asked about Massie’s recent announcement that he is filing for re-election in 2028. Many are speculating that Massie could make a 2028 presidential run as he said he is unsure which position he will be seeking re-election for.
"I haven’t made a final decision about which office to seek, if I run," he wrote in a post on X announcing his re-election filing with the Federal Election Commission.
TRUMP CALLS OUT REP THOMAS MASSIE: 'KENTUCKY, GET THIS LOSER OUT OF POLITICS' TUESDAY
Boebert shared that she was unsure of Massie’s next move, before she reprimanded the reporter for shifting the conversation to allegations raised by West.
"He filed for something," she said. "He didn't specify what and I don't know if he's going to move forward with that or not. I don’t know." "Hopefully he leaves here and makes some money," Boebert added.
Moments later, the reporter began asking about the allegations from Massie’s alleged ex-girlfriend, prompting Boebert's expletive-laced response.
Boebert declined to discuss the allegations further and walked away from the interview.
Pope Leo XIV jokes young Spaniards would pick Bad Bunny over him during Madrid visit this weekend
Pope Leo XIV joked Saturday that he knows who would win if young people had to choose between seeing him or Latin pop singer Bad Bunny this weekend.
The Pope, who began a weeklong visit to Spain on Saturday, acknowledged that he is competing for attention with the Puerto Rican superstar while in Madrid. Many young Spaniards, he suggested, would likely choose the Grammy-winning artist over the pontiff.
"If they are confronted with the question ‘Do you want to go see Bad Bunny or do you want to go to see the pope?’ I think many will see Bad Bunny," Leo told reporters aboard the papal plane before his arrival.
"But I think there will also be a few here to see the pope," he added. "And that says something, you know."
WHY BAD BUNNY’S ‘GOD BLESS AMERICA’ MOMENT AT THE SUPER BOWL SPARKED CONTROVERSY
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is currently performing a 10-show run in Madrid as part of his Spanish tour.
Leo raised the comparison while discussing what he described as signs of a spiritual awakening among some young people in Spain.
The pope said many young adults appear to be searching for meaning and expressed hope that his visit could help "awaken" something within them.
POPE LEO XIV GIVES 1ST HOMILY AS AMERICAN PONTIFF, SAYS LOSS IN FAITH HAS LED TO CRISIS IN HUMANITY
Despite his remarks, thousands of young Catholics turned out to greet the pope.
An estimated 500,000 people gathered in a Madrid plaza Saturday evening for a prayer vigil, chanting, "This is the youth of the pope!"
Leo later rode through the crowd in his popemobile while a Spanish rendition of the 1970s musical "Godspell" played.
The Chicago-born pope was also asked about reports that the Chicago Bears could soon move out of Illinois.
The team's board of directors voted Thursday to advance a proposed stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana.
"That’s out of my pay (scale)," Leo quipped when asked about the potential relocation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.