Midwest

'Unprecedented field operation': Republicans gain momentum toward capturing critical Senate race

Published

1 year ago

October 19, 2024

'Unprecedented field operation': Republicans gain momentum toward capturing critical Senate race

Former Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., is suddenly gaining steam in his bid for Michigan’s open Senate seat, with polls showing a tightening race down the stretch.

“It’s clear the momentum is fully behind Mike Rogers,” Chris Gustafson, communications director for the Rogers campaign, told Fox News Digital. “It’s no surprise as Mike crisscrosses the state talking to families and small business owners while our unprecedented field operation contacts millions of voters at the doors.”

The comments come as Rogers has gained ground on his Democratic opponent, Rep. Elissa Slotkin, in the critical Senate race in recent weeks, moving from over five points down as recently as September 23 to just 2.7 points down as of Wednesday, according to the Real Clear Politics polling average.

The race, which is to replace retiring Michigan Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow, is rated as “Lean Dem” by Fox News Power Rankings, 270toWin and RacetotheWH, representing one of the few races that will help determine control of the Senate in this year’s election.

WHAT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLLS IN THE 2024 ELECTION SHOW

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers speaks during a campaign event hosted by former President Trump at the Falk Productions manufacturing facility on Sept. 27, 2024, in Walker, Michigan. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

However, while former President Donald Trump was able to crack the fabled “Blue Wall” in 2016 and became the first Republican presidential candidate to win Michigan since 1988, GOP Senate candidates have not fared so well in the state in recent elections.

The outgoing Stabenow has held this seat in the Senate since being elected in 2000, while Michigan’s other Senate seat has been held by a Democrat since 1975, first by longtime Sen. Carl Levin and currently by Sen. Gary Peters. The last Republican to win a Senate campaign in Michigan was Spencer Abraham in 1994, serving only one term before losing the seat to Stabenow.

The Michigan Senate race between Elissa Slotkin and Mike Rogers is more competitive than initially predicted. (Associated Press)

CHECK OUT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS

However, Peters narrowly defeated Rep. John James, R-Mich., by just over one percentage point in his race in 2020, signaling potential renewed Republican strength in the state for Rogers to capitalize on.

Republican sources in the state believe Rogers is beginning to capitalize on that momentum, stressing that GOP operatives up and down the ballot have been working in tandem to knock on thousands of doors for the party’s candidates.

The push has included integration between the Trump and Rogers campaigns, one GOP source on the ground in Michigan told Fox News Digital, noting that Rogers is also winning on issues most important to Michigan voters, such as inflation and resistance to electric vehicle subsidies.

The Rogers campaign has continued to stress those issues as the election nears, signaling optimism as the race enters its final days.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin speaks during the final day of the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 22, 2024, in Chicago. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

“Whether it’s a dangerous border, record prices for gas and groceries, or job-destroying EV Mandates, Slotkin has made it abundantly clear that she does not share our Michigan values,” Gustafson said. “Mike Rogers has proven that he’ll fight for the people of Michigan like he always has. With just three weeks to go, Mike is well positioned to win and help elect Republicans up and down the ballot.”

The Slotkin campaign did not respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment by publication deadline.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

Michael Lee is a writer for Fox News. Prior to joining Fox News, Michael worked for the Washington Examiner, Bongino.com, and Unbiased America. He has covered politics for more than eight years.

Read the full article from Here

Illinois

Takeaways: Michigan basketball ends Illinois streak, wins Big Ten

Published

6 minutes ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Takeaways: Michigan basketball ends Illinois streak, wins Big Ten

Michigan basketball entered Friday having lost nine straight games to Illinois. With the sole regular-season matchup coming in Champaign against the KenPom No. 4 Illini, it was going to be a tall task for the Wolverines to end that streak.

The game matched up the nation’s No. 2 defense against the No. 1 offense, and in front of a raucous Orange Krush, the maize and blue took a little while to get into an offensive rhythm. Because the No. 5 offense is no slouch, especially against the No. 31 defense. What’s more, Morez Johnson Jr. returned to Champaign after spending his first year with Illinois.

However, the Illini certainly showed how much Michigan appears to be their rival, and really played a physical brand of basketball. After Illinois got a five-point lead, the Wolverines bounced back and got a six-point lead. Illinois had a slight advantage in the first half on the boards, but the Wolverines had a field goal advantage. Both teams were relatively even on turnovers.

Ultimately, Michigan ended up taking a seven-point lead into the locker room at halftime, but backup point guard LJ Cason appeared to have hurt his knee on the final score of the half.

The second half started with a Michigan layup and an Illinois 3. The next round of scoring went exactly the same way. But then Yaxel Lendeborg hit a 3 to stop the asymmetry. They traded baskets, but then after a few Illinois turnovers, the Wolverines pushed the lead to 10.

Cason returned to the game after the under-16 media timeout, providing (temporary) good news for the maize and blue (he would leave the game again shortly). But the Wolverines missed a few shots, and Illinois took advantage, getting a shot from the field by Mirkovic before Wagler hit a 3 to cut the lead to five, prompting a Michigan timeout with 13:09 remaining.

Illinois cut Michigan’s lead back down to six, but Yaxel Lendeborg stretched it back to nine with a layup-and-one. Then Aday Mara started taking over.

Mara was unguardable, scoring floaters, dunks, and putbacks. His quick 7 points put the Wolverines up to a game-high of 14 with 9:13 remaining. The Illini answered to end the nearly three-minute field goal drought, ending Michigan’s 7-0 scoring run. But the Wolverine defense held, and Trey McKenney finally hit his first (of three) 3-point attempts to push the lead to 15, and he hit again on the next trip, pushing the lead to 18 with 7:34 left in the game. It was a 13-2 scoring run for the maize and blue.

After an Illinois timeout, they missed again, and Will Tschetter got in on the contagious, 3-pointer action, pushing the lead to 21. Cadeau finally broke the makes from deep, and Wagler hit to cut the lead back to 18 with 5:41 remaining.

Illinois couldn’t mount a comeback, and Michigan won, 84-70. Here are our five takeaways.

Homecoming for Morez Johnson Jr.

An Illinois native who spent his first year with the Illini, the Orange Krush did as much as it could to make it uncomfortable for the outgoing transfer. However, it wasn’t the case, as Johnson was often the best player on the floor.

He was the only Michigan basketball player in double digits at halftime, with 13 points, five rebounds, and a steal, and he was something of an energizer bunny out on the floor for the Wolverines. There were no qualms for Johnson returning to his old stomping ground, as he played one of his best games in a maize and blue uniform.

Johnson was quiet in the second half, but the damage was done, and it makes his former teammate’s pregame comments more prescient:

What could have been.

Johnson finished with a double-double, scoring 19 points and netting 11 rebounds.

Michigan’s offense outplays Illinois’ offense

As noted, the Illini entered the game with the No. 1 overall offense, while the Wolverines were No. 5. Yet, when the rubber hit the road, it was the maize and blue who had the superior offensive attack, managing to shoot 52.5% overall and 60% in the second half. Illinois managed 41.3% and 43.3% respectively.

The Michigan defense forced Illinois to go through a series of uncomfortable stretches in the second half, with multiple three-minute droughts from the floor. And Illinois, which is accustomed to getting to the foul line, couldn’t seem to draw many fouls until relatively late in the game. Even when the Illini forced three Wolverine turnovers late, they couldn’t seem to take advantage.

Ultimately, Michigan was dominant on both ends of the floor.

Bench, fastbreak, and points in the paint

The Wolverines dominated all three categories, finishing the game with 20 bench points, 10 fastbreak points, and 42 points in the paint. We already discussed Johnson and his homecoming, but we cannot leave out Aday Mara, who was just such a mismatch for Michigan vs. the Illini. As noted, Mara really flexed late in the game, taking it over. He was the catalyst for most of these stats.

Meanwhile, Illinois only had 7 bench points, 1 fastbreak point, and was just behind Michigan with 32 points in the paint.

The streak was emphatically broken

As we said in the open, the Illini had beaten the Wolverines nine straight times. Even the Fab Five couldn’t beat Illinois in Champaign, as the maize and blue have historically struggled at State Farm Arena. Though it took some time for the Wolverines to flex, flex they did, and this was as emphatic of a win as Michigan had all season.

The final score may have been just a 14-point gulf, but honestly, the game wasn’t really that close (and it hadn’t been for most of the final 10 minutes). This was a huge win for the Wolverines, one that’s been years in the making. If not decades.

With the win over Illinois, Michigan has won the outright Big Ten regular-season title.

No. 1 overall seed back in the realm of possibility

It may come down to the Big Ten Tournament now that Michigan has lost the head-to-head with Duke. And the Blue Devils’ 54-point win over Notre Dame pushed them into the No. 1 NET ranking, stealing it away from the maize and blue. But with a win over the No. 4 NET-ranked Illini, the Wolverines have the second-best win in college basketball (behind Duke, of course). They also have wins over No. 5 Gonzaga, No. 7 Purdue, No. 11 MSU, No. 12 Nebraska, and will face No. 26 Iowa on the road next week.

There’s a strong case for the maize and blue to have the No. 1 overall seed given the levels of domination over most all of the aforementioned teams.

Source link

Indiana

Highlights: Beech Grove at Whiteland; February 27, 2026

Published

12 minutes ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Highlights: Beech Grove at Whiteland; February 27, 2026

WHITELAND, Ind. (WISH) — “The Zone” featured highlights from eight high school boys basketball games from across central Indiana on Friday.

Watch highlights of Beech Grove at Whiteland above.

Final Score: Whiteland 89 Beech Grove 61

“The Zone” airs each Friday at 11:08 p.m. Click here to watch ‘The Zone’ for basketball highlights on February 27, 2026.

Source link

Iowa

Iowa Boys High School Basketball Substate Finals Locked In For 4A

Published

18 minutes ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Iowa Boys High School Basketball Substate Finals Locked In For 4A

The fourth and final bunch of Iowa high school boys basketball substate championship games are now set after the second round of Class 4A games were completed on Friday, February 27.

Substate championships in Iowa’s largest classification will take place on Tuesday, March 3, with the higher seed serving as host in all eight games. Winners advance to Des Moines, Iowa and the Casey’s Center to compete in the Iowa High School Athletic Association Boys State Tournament beginning March 9.

Three-time defending 4A state champion Valley was eliminated by Ankeny, 72-36. The Tigers, who lost all five starters from a year ago, won just one game prior to earning a victory in the opening round of postseason play.

Cedar Falls, who has held the No. 1 spot in 4A throughout the season, scored a dominating 78-45 decision vs. Iowa City High to move on.

Colin Rice, a Nebraska commit for Fred Hoiberg, scored a single-game school-record 50 points as Waukee Northwest topped Iowa City Liberty, 101-58.

Council Bluffs Lincoln, Ames, North Scott, Dowling Catholic, Dubuque Senior, Johnston, Linn-Mar, Muscatine, Norwalk, Cedar Rapids Prairie, Des Moines Roosevelt, Urbandale and Waukee all joined them in the next round after winning games at home.

The 1A and 2A substate finals will take place on Saturday, February 28 while the 3A games go down on Monday, March 2.

Here are the Iowa boys high school basketball Class 4A substate finals for Wednesday, March 3.

Wednesday, March 3

Class 4A

Source link