A last-minute shake-up in a competitive congressional primary to replace outgoing Arizona Republican Rep. Debbie Lesko could have an impact on Tuesday’s results.

Trump endorsed both Blake Masters and Abe Hamadeh in a Truth Social post late Saturday night, even though the Republican originally only endorsed Hamadeh, the Arizona Republic reported.

“We have a very important Republican Primary Election on Tuesday for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, with two spectacular America First Candidates,” the former president posted.
 
“Blake Masters is a very successful businessman, and an incredibly strong supporter of our Movement to Make America Great Again – He is smart and tough! Likewise, Abe Hamadeh, a Veteran, former prosecutor, and fearless fighter for Election Integrity, has been with me all the way!” he continued.

“In Congress, we need a true Warrior who will work tirelessly with us to Grow our Economy, Stop Inflation, Secure our Border, End Migrant Crime, Support our Great Military/Vets, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment . . . THEY WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!” Trump added.

Masters was the Senate nominee and Hamadeh was the Attorney General nominee in the 2022 Republican primary, but the two drifted apart over disagreements related to the election outcome.

Masters conceded his race to Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, whereas Hamadeh legally challenged the results, along with gubernatorial turned senatorial candidate Kari Lake. Masters lost by roughly 125,000 votes, but Hamadeh lost by 280 votes.

The endorsement appears to close a gap between Trump and his Vice Presidential pick, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, who backed Masters in the race for the safely Republican congressional district.

Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma, former Congressman Trent Franks, state Sen. Anthony Kern and Patrick Briody are also pursuing the seat.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed top draft pick, outfielder Slade Caldwell, to a deal. Caldwell signed for $3,087,000, $41,500 above slot value, per MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis. He becomes the 18th member of the D-backs’ draft class to sign with the organization.

Caldwell has a locker at Chase Field, and took BP with the major league squad today before speaking to the media.

The young outfielder was Arizona’s first pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, going 29th overall to the D-backs out of Valley View High School in Arkansas–the top draft prospect in the state.

He’s got a high motor, able to cover plenty of ground and create chaos on the basepaths. He sports a 55-grade hit tool and 65-grade speed, and while he doesn’t exactly come off as a power hitter, there’s still a bit of pop in the bat.

After getting in some reps at the plate, Caldwell spoke to the media about his decision to sign with the organization, rather than play college ball at Ole Miss, where he had previously committed.

“It was very exciting, I took some time off and let my agent work. I had two good opportunities between school and here, and I finally came down to wanting to play pro baseball, and it was just really surreal,” Caldwell said.

“It was pretty tough for me, I have a pretty good connection over there at Ole Miss, with all the coaches and all the new teammates,” said the 18-year-old, “ultimately, I think I made the best decision coming to Arizona.”

Caldwell fits the D-backs archetype well, profiling as a left-handed hitting, 5-foot-9, 172-pound speedster with good instincts, excellent fielding and good contact-hitting ability.

His style and build are reminiscent of reigning Rookie of the Year Corbin Carroll, and he’ll join Arizona’s horde of diminutive lefty outfield speedsters.

Caldwell noted how his build and style of play fit in with what the D-backs have seen out of many of their younger prospects, and feels encouraged to see players of his build and stature succeed and compete at the highest level.

“It brings me hope to see these guys out on the field playing in the World Series and everything. It gives me hope as a smaller guy to come out here and compete with everybody,” Caldwell said.

“I can definitely hit the ball as hard as anybody else, I just think it’s working hard, and your work ethic really pushes you forward no matter what your size is.”

Earlier, the young outfielder met one-on-one with manager Torey Lovullo. The skipper was impressed with Caldwell’s maturity at only 18 years old.

“He handled himself unbelievably, very mature. You walk into a major league manager’s office, could be a little intimidating, but he looked me square in the eye, we had a good conversation,” Lovullo said.

“I was very glad with the meeting [with Lovullo],” Caldwell reflected, “it gives me hope, and it gives me a determination to come out here and hopefully be here in the next couple years.”

Caldwell said he expects to head out to the Arizona Complex League in the next few days, and spend a few months getting “settled” in the D-backs’ farm system before being evaluated.

“To make sure that he continues to progress through the system is entirely up to what he does each and every day, and he accepted that challenge, he’s excited to go out and take some BP today, and we’re all excited to watch him go to work as well,” Lovullo said.

Three children and one adult were hospitalized after being rescued along with nine others on a hiking trail amid oppressive heat in Arizona. Citing a release from the Scottsdale Fire Department, ABC News reports that the group, in town for a family reunion, decided to go on an early morning hike Friday on the Gateway Loop Trail in Scottsdale, setting out around 7:30am local time. The fire department was called to the scene less than three hours later to initiate a rescue, and they found the group in a wash under a tree several miles down the trail.

An adult female was taken off the trail via a “big wheel operation” and taken to a local hospital, Scottsdale Fire Capt. Dave Folio tells ABC. The release notes that a 10-year-old victim was transported to a nearby children’s hospital to be checked out, while two toddlers with heat exhaustion symptoms—one a year old, the other 18 months—were also hospitalized. All of the other hikers were said to have been able to leave the trail on their own power.

Folio tells ABC that the group, which had started to run low on water, wisely “called early” for help, before things got too dire. KNXV reports that all parties involved in the ordeal are expected to survive. The fire department ended its press release with cautionary tips about hiking on hot days, as well as a list of symptoms for heat exhaustion and heatstroke. “With the hot desert temperatures in full swing, it becomes vital to follow basic precautions when hiking,” the department notes. (More hikers stories.)