FIRST ON FOX: Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab is launching a campaign for the state’s Democrat-held governor’s seat in 2026, announcing his run exclusively with Fox News Digital on Wednesday.

Schwab, who is running as a Republican, is seeking to replace Kansas’ Democrat Gov. Laura Kelly, who will have held the seat for eight years when her term ends next cycle.

“We need to return to the values and principles that have always fueled us, and gave me the strength to lead in Topeka,” Schwab, Kansas’ two-term secretary of state, said in a press release shared with Fox News Digital. “I have a proven conservative record. And a servant’s heart. It’s important for Kansas to take the right path.”

Schwab was first elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in 2002, serving as speaker pro tempore of the state’s House of Representatives before being elected secretary of state in 2018.

KANSAS GOVERNOR VETOES BILL BANNING TRANSGENDER TREATMENT TO MINORS, ABORTION RESTRICTIONS

“A Christian, a father, and a believer in the American dream. I believe that to do something great, you need to throw off the chains holding you back,” Schwab said in his official campaign launch. “For Kansas, that’s big government, and that is why I am running for Governor.”

TRUMP’S CONVINCING 2024 VICTORY SETS HOUSE GOP UP FOR HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE IN 2026 MIDTERMS

Schwab noted his alignment with President-elect Donald Trump on several key issues as one of the reasons he is launching a bid for governor.

Specifically, Schwab noted in his first campaign ad that, if elected, he intends to stop China from buying farmland, increase security as it pertains to elections and cut property taxes.

Scott Schwab, who won the Republican primary for Kansas secretary of state, addresses a watch party during an election night gathering on Aug. 7, 2018, in Overland Park. (John Sleezer)

The candidate, who made his Christian faith a focal point of his campaign launch, also highlighted that he wants the U.S. to return to the “values that have always fueled us.”

Although the state currently has a Democrat governor, its leadership is predominantly Republican, with two GOP senators and three of its four congressional seats held by Republicans.

Kelly, who has served two terms as governor, insinuated that she might not seek re-election in the 2026 midterms.

“It is really time for me to move on and to let others come up and serve,” Kelly told KCUR’s Up To Date in 2024.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite/File)

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, the recently elected chair of the Republican Governors Association, said the Kansas race is going to be a top priority for the GOP in 2026.

“I’m going to be very engaged, you can rest assured, to making sure that my [successors] are Republican,” Kemp, who is term-limited next cycle, previously told Fox News Digital. 

“We’ll be working with the Trump administration and a lot of other people to make sure that that’s happening not only in Georgia, but in other states around the country, in places like Kansas, where we have a Democratic governor right now, in places like Arizona, where we have a really good shot at winning the governor’s races. So we’re going to be on offense.”

There really is nothing like being a Detroit Lions fan.

Before Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell came to turn things around the past few years, this franchise put their fans through decades of misery. They didn’t just lose games; they lost them spectacularly. They were the first 0-16 team in the history of the NFL. They had a head coach “take the wind” in overtime. They had another win just 13 games in three years. Before last year, they went 65 years — 65! — with just one playoff win. What other NFL franchise can say all that?

Most fans don’t choose Lions fandom; they’re born into it. Maybe you grew up in Michigan. Maybe your mom or dad passed the fandom down to you. Maybe you just love the team’s colors or mascot. No matter what, through all the ups and downs — mostly downs — you stuck by your team, hoping one day you could see it join the NFL’s elite and become a perennial Super Bowl contender.

That day has come. And what a journey it’s been to get here.

FROM JEFF SEIDEL: A death brought 2 Detroit Lions fans together. And then the team went above and beyond

Tell us your Lions story!

We want to hear the journey of your Detroit Lions fandom. How, and when, did you become a Lions fan? What is your favorite, or least favorite, memory watching games? Who’s your all-time favorite player? What’s the best game you ever attended? How did you cope during the tough times, and what does this current run of success mean to you? What would you do if the team went to the Super Bowl — and won it?

You can submit your story one of two ways:

• Call 313-222-2242 and leave a voicemail. After the greeting and beep, tell us your story, including your name, age and where you’re from. When you’ve finished your recording, you can hang up or press pound (#) for additional options, including reviewing your message (1), re-recording your message (2), or canceling your message (3).
• Record an audio or video clip of your story and submit it using this form. You’ll be prompted with a few questions, but it shouldn’t take more than a couple minutes to complete.

We plan to feature our favorite submissions on freep.com, our social media and podcast platforms, and in the newspaper. If you’d like to share a photo of yourself in your Lions gear as well, send us an email.

Thank you for telling us your Lions fan story!

Follow the Detroit Free Press on Instagram (@detroitfreepress), TikTok (@detroitfreepress), YouTube (@DetroitFreePress), Twitter/X (@freep), and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook (@detroitfreepress).

The San Antonio Spurs season has been filled with ups and downs. Every time they manage to get a few games over .500, a string of disappointing games takes them right back to even. The Spurs started a five-game road trip with a loss to the Chicago Bulls in which they blew a 19-point lead. It’s their second loss in a row where the game was decided in the final minutes. Now they’ll travel north to face the Milwaukee Bucks and one of the best players in the world.

There were plenty of late-game fireworks the last time Victor Wembanyama and Giannis Antetokounmpo played each other. Wembanyama’s “he’s arrived” moment came when he stuffed the Greek Freak at the rim in clutch time on national TV. Now the two abnormal superstars are muttered in the same breath and are a must-watch basketball matchup.

Milwaukee has turned things around after a tough start to the year but is 2-4 in their last six games. San Antonio will need to be on their A-game to get back above .500 and bounce back from a disappointing two-game stretch.

San Antonio Spurs (18-18) at Milwaukee Bucks (18-16)

January 8th, 2025 | 8:30 CT

Watch: ESPN | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries: Jeremy Sochan – Out (back), Sidy Cissoko – Out (G League), Riley Minix – Out (G League), Harrison Ingram – Out (G League), David Duke Jr. – Out (G League)

Bucks Injuries: Giannis Antetokounmpo – Probable (knee), Andre Jackson Jr. – Probable (back), Khris Middleton – Probable (ankle)

What to watch for

Can the Spurs find an offensive groove?

It’s been tough sledding for the Spurs offense lately. They’ve dropped to 18th in the NBA in points scored per game. It’s been a feast or famine for San Antonio, with the majority of the roster struggling to find offensive consistency. Wembanyama has been the only consistent offensive threat, with the rest of the supporting cast struggling to find its footing. It seems like the team can’t get more than two or three players to have an on-night at the same time. The Bucks are a top-10 defense in the NBA. If San Antonio’s offensive struggles continue, it could get ugly in Milwaukee.

Late game execution

The Spurs have blown two straight games in the fourth quarter. A lot of their issues have come on the offensive end, where they’ve scored 15 and 16 points in the fourth quarter of their last two games. Whether it be dead legs, a lack of execution of the offense, or a lack of play-calling creativity, San Antonio has been brutal down the stretch. The Spurs have the talent to stick around with Milwaukee. Whether they can find ways to create advantages down the stretch could decide the game’s fate.

The rotation without Jeremy Sochan and backup center minutes

Sochan will miss another game on Wednesday night due to a back injury. Without Sochan, the Spurs’ rotation becomes very interesting. Expect to see Stephon Castle in the starting lineup and either Zach Collins or Charles Bassey playing a lot of minutes as the backup five. One of them needs to step up so the Spurs aren’t reliant on playing Wembanyama 36+ minutes, wearing him out late in the game. Without Sochan, we will probably see more of Julian Champagnie, who has been playing great basketball lately.