Northeast

Trump taps massive war chest to energize MAGA voters in final 2025 election push

Published

7 hours ago

November 3, 2025

Trump taps massive war chest to energize MAGA voters in final 2025 election push

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President Donald Trump is making a final multimillion-dollar investment in Tuesday’s statewide elections in New Jersey and Virginia, in an effort to turn out MAGA voters who tend to sit out off-year elections when Trump isn’t on the ballot.

Trump’s political team is making a withdrawal from the president’s massive political war chest, with New Jersey and Virginia each receiving roughly $1 million for get-out-the-vote microtargeting efforts, Fox News confirmed this weekend.

“What you’ve seen just in the last couple of days is the president and all of our Republican forces have put even more money behind our efforts to turn out our votes because that’s what it’s gonna come down to,” Joe Gruters, chairman of the Trump-aligned Republican National Committee (RNC) said Saturday on Fox News’ “The Big Weekend Show.”

While Trump lost New Jersey and Virginia in last year’s presidential election, he made major gains in both states.

TRUMP NOT ON BALLOT, BUT PRESIDENT FRONT AND CENTER IN 2025 ELECTIONS

President Donald Trump, seen during a campaign rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, on May 11, 2024, has poured a couple of million dollars in get-out-the-vote efforts in Tuesday’s elections in New Jersey and Virginia. (Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

New Jersey and Virginia are the only two states to hold gubernatorial contests the year after a presidential election, and the two contests typically receive outsized national attention. The elections are also seen as a key barometer ahead of next year’s midterms, when the GOP will be defending its slim House and Senate majorities.

This year’s elections are also seen as the first major ballot box test of Trump’s unprecedented and explosive agenda.

The new infusion of cash from Trump’s political coffers, which was first reported by Axios, is fueling the RNC’s 72-hour program aimed at turning out GOP voters in the final stretch leading up to Election Day.

FIVE RACES TO WATCH ON ELECTION DAY 2025

Republican operatives are tracking down low-propensity GOP voters, and then reaching out to those voters through phone-banking efforts, or through digital and social media targeting ads.

“We have to have Republicans show up on Election Day if our candidates are gonna have a chance,” Gruters said.

While Trump hasn’t made any campaign stops in New Jersey or Virginia, he reached out to supporters in both states.

Trump held a tele-rally Thursday evening with term-limited Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia, to boost GOP turnout in the state’s races for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.

Jack Ciattarelli Robbinsville, New Jersey

Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli speaks with voters at a restaurant in Robbinsville, New Jersey, on Oct. 29, 2025. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News )

Last weekend, on the eve of the kick-off of early voting in New Jersey, Trump headlined a tele-rally with GOP gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli.

Trump is likely to headline another tele-rally for Ciattarelli ahead of Tuesday’s election, sources told Fox News Digital.

DNC CHAIR PREDICTS WINS IN KEY GOVERNOR RACES AS TRUMP AGENDA FACES FIRST TEST

Meanwhile, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has dished out over $7 million – a party record – for get-out-the-vote and organizing efforts this summer and autumn in New Jersey, Virginia and Pennsylvania, where Democrats are fighting to retain three state Supreme Court seats.

“I’ve always taken the position that every election matters, whether it’s an on-year, off-year, whether it’s a local election, a federal election, every inch of ground that we gain here adds up,” DNC chair Ken Martin said last week in a Fox News Digital interview.

The latest public opinion polls indicate former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger has a solid lead over Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears in Virginia’s gubernatorial race.

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Surveys point to Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey with a slight edge over Ciattarelli in the race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy.

“I do expect that we’ll win those elections in New Jersey and Virginia,” Martin said. “We feel pretty bullish about our chances.”

Fox News’ Bryan Llenas contributed to this report

Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in the swing state of New Hampshire. He covers the campaign trail from coast to coast.”

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Vermont

These Vermonters are about to lose their Medicare Advantage plans and they’re scrambling

Published

19 minutes ago

November 3, 2025

Press Room

These Vermonters are about to lose their Medicare Advantage plans and they’re scrambling

Angela Myers doesn’t know what she’s going to do.

The 54-year-old from Chittenden County lives with a disability. When she needed better health insurance, she said her doctors recommended Vermont Blue Advantage, a type of Medicare provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield that could offer her extra benefits and reduced costs.

She’s been on the plan for five years, she said, and it covers all her frequent doctor visits and monthly prescriptions.

But she’s going to lose that insurance soon.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont announced Oct. 1 that it would drop Medicare Advantage coverage in 2026, leaving the thousands of Vermonters like Meyers scrambling to secure new plans before the turn of the year. Vermont Blue Advantage covers over 26,000 people in Vermont, the company told the Burlington Free Press, and has more complete coverage than traditional Medicare, including dental work and prescriptions.

The company, which is paid by the government to run the program, says it costs too much. The “Vermont Medicare Advantage market is unsustainable for Vermont Blue Advantage to be able to offer reasonably priced and affordable products to serve as an alternative to traditional Medicare coverage,” Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont said when announcing the plan.

That’s been the national trend, with Medicare Advantage plans whittled down across many states. But for a low-population place like Vermont, the disruption for people is magnified.

A big problem with choosing a new Medicare Advantage plan is that there just aren’t many offered in Vermont. The same day Vermont Blue Advantage announced its cut, UnitedHealthcare did the same. United, itself one of the largest purveyors of Medicare Advantage plans across the country, serves almost 8,000 Vermonters, the company told the Free Press.

Medicare Advantage plans in Vermont

As of September, over 51,600 Vermonters were insured by a Medicare Advantage plan, and over 168,000 people were eligible, government data shows.

Advantage plans are run by private companies but funded by the federal government. They are for people 65 and older or who have a disability. More than half of U.S. residents eligible for Medicare Advantage are insured under it, according to KFF, a national health care reporting and research outfit.

Vermonters skew under that trend at 34% for 2024, KFF reported. But the number has been rising. A decade prior, only 7% of eligible Vermonters used an Advantage plan.

Even so, the options are slimming. Insurance plans shuttering has become almost an annual tradition in Vermont. Two Advantage plans — operated by MVP and WellCare — folded this past January.

Come next year, the only option for those seeking an individual Medicare Advantage plan is Humana, which serves Bennington, Caledonia, Essex, Orange, Windam and Windsor counties, or less than half the counties in Vermont.

People losing health insurance feel ‘abandoned’

Larry Mindell of Williston said he and his wife signed up with Vermont Blue Advantage after MVP cancelled its coverage. He said they feel “abandoned” by the companies and worry this may only be the beginning of a sharper downturn.

“I say ‘abandon’ because that’s what it feels like, and it’s happening to us for the second year in a row,” Mindell said.

Mindell has been working with an insurance broker to find a new plan, but that’s not an option everyone has.

Some were able to be proactive in changing their plans. The Vermont Treasurer’s Office announced Sept. 11 that starting next year, retired teachers receiving health insurance from Vermont Blue Advantage will be covered by equivalent plans from HealthSpring.

The change will impact over 7,000 retirees and beneficiaries in Vermont, says the Treasurer’s Office. The decision came after Vermont Blue Advantage proposed a 50% premium increase in July, and it proved to be a good one as Blue Cross Blue Shield pulled the plan altogether just a few months later.

Other people were not prepared to lose their insurance.

Frankin County resident Barb Fichter has been living in Vermont since 2022 and said it took her a few years to find an Advantage plan she was happy with before choosing Blue Cross Blue Shield’s offering in January 2024.

Now, she’s back to where she started.

“It’s so disconcerting to wade through alternatives, and I fear I may just be on regular Medicare with no prescription drug coverage or dental coverage,” Fichter said. “I’m going to have to weigh out which things I’m going to have to give up because I can’t afford the costs or co-pays.”

When is Medicare open enrollment? Special enrollment if you’re losing coverage?

The annual open enrollment period for choosing new Medicare plans runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. There is a special enrollment period for those who will be losing coverage, allowing them until March 4 to find a new plan.

But as the current plans end by Jan. 1, 2026, people will have a gap in coverage if they wait to sign up for a new one.

Sydney P. Hakes is the Burlington city reporter. Contact her at SHakes@gannett.com.

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Boston, MA

Free November events in Boston: Fleurs de Villes, Memory Café – The Boston Globe

Published

10 hours ago

November 3, 2025

Press Room

Free November events in Boston: Fleurs de Villes, Memory Café – The Boston Globe

November has arrived and daylight saving time has come to an end, meaning there are only a few weeks of downtime before the holiday spirit kicks in. Before your calendar fills up (and your wallet empties out), here are low-key, no-cost ways to have fun in Greater Boston — from “Downton”-inspired blooms to classic comedy screening night … with live organ accompaniment. Whether you want to create heartwarming harmonies or make your way through the Goblin Market, here are five fun and free events and activities across Greater Boston, Nov. 3-9.

‘DOWNTON ABBEY’ DOWNTOWN If “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” left you wanting more from your favorite family of aristocrats, check out Fleurs de Villes’ pop-up floral show featuring decorated mannequins and displays based on the fashion of “Downton Abbey.” The show, which has been exhibited in London, New York, and other cities, arrives in the Hub featuring 21 local floral designers’ meticulous and artful arrangements inspired by the show’s early-20th-century elegance and glamour. Nov. 5-9. Prudential Center, 800 Boylston St. prudentialcenter.com

TOGETHER IN TUNE The New School of Music, in partnership with local home care agency Seniors Helping Seniors, will present a Memory Café event for individuals experiencing memory and cognitive changes (and those who love and care for them). The musical sing-along features a selection of well-known tunes led by an NSM faculty member, pianist Joe Reid, followed by socializing and complimentary treats. Nov. 5 at 1 p.m. RSVP required. New School of Music, Concert Room. 25 Lowell St., Cambridge. newschoolofmusic.org/events/memory-cafe-sing-along

Knights, merchants, and other fantasy characters come to the Bow Market’s Urban Ren Faire on Nov. 8.Carlie Febo Photography

FALL FAIRE Miss the King Richard’s Faire season? Don’t fret, as the Bow Market’s Urban Ren Faire brings a full day of medieval activities to the city, including two armored combat demos (knight fights) at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m., a circus performance from local aerialist Qatherine in Flight at 3:30 p.m., and a Celtic music performance at 5:30 p.m. Fun competitions, including a stein-holding contest, will be held throughout the day, with a chance to win mystery prizes. At 7:30 p.m., the event transforms from a Goblin Market into a Fantasy Ball, where all witches, wizards, and warlocks can dance to modern tunes in ancient garb. Nov. 8, noon-11 p.m. Bow Market, 1 Bow Market Way, Somerville. bowmarketsomerville.com

ORGAN TUNES Catch a free screening of two classic comedies: “The Red Balloon,” a post-WWII fable about a boy chasing a bright-colored balloon in a world of dull tones, and “The Kid,” a silent comedy by Charlie Chaplin about found family. Local organist Peter Krasinski, who has performed live movie accompaniments throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island, will improvise a score for both films live. The screening starts at 5 p.m. — beforehand, at 4 p.m., the church will hold a silent auction to raise funds for organ maintenance. Nov. 8, 4-6:30 p.m. The Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 138 Tremont St. stpaulboston.org

HISTORIC HARMONIES The Key of Cambridge exhibit, on display at the Kendall Public Lobby through Dec. 2, showcases 100 years of the city’s expansive musical history. The showcase features the likes of Joan Baez, a Club 47 performer, and Tracy Chapman, who busked in Harvard Square as a student. On Nov. 9, the Cambridge curious can explore the exhibit with an opening reception featuring live music and beverages. Through Dec. 2. Kendall Public Lobby, 355-325 Main St., Cambridge. kendallcenter.com

For National Sandwich Day, Bootleg Special in the North End offers a buy-one-get-one-free deal for their Po' boy sandwiches Nov. 3-7. — For National Sandwich Day, Bootleg Special in the North End offers a buy-one-get-one-free deal for their Po’ boy sandwiches Nov. 3-7.FWA Creative

SANDWICH SECONDS Monday is National Sandwich Day, and Bootleg Special, a Cajun-inspired fusion restaurant in the South End, celebrates the occasion with its buy-one-get-one-free Po’ boy deal, valid from Monday through Friday. Take a double serving of the Louisiana favorite filled with fried catfish, oyster, or shrimp. Nov. 3-7. Bootleg Special, 400 Tremont St. bootlegspecial.com

Check individual event websites for the most up-to-date information. Send info on free events and special offers at least 10 days in advance to ryan.yau@globe.com.

Ryan Yau can be reached at ryan.yau@globe.com.

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