Trump-endorsed Congressman Randy Feenstra lost Iowa's Republican gubernatorial primary Tuesday to businessman Zach Lahn, a rare setback for a president whose chosen candidates have won nearly every contested primary race this cycle, according to NPR.
Iowa has been hit hard by several Trump administration policies, including tariffs and the ongoing military conflict with Iran, both of which have affected the state's farming communities. While Republicans govern the state, voters there have recently backed Democrats in multiple federal and state contests.
In the general election, Lahn will face Rob Sand, the Democratic nominee, who ran unopposed in Tuesday's primary and is currently the only statewide Democratic elected official in Iowa. NPR's Stephen Fowler described the matchup as beginning as a true toss-up.
California's gubernatorial primary remained undecided as of Tuesday night. Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton led the field, with Democrat Tom Steyer in third, according to NPR. Results from California were still being counted.
Tuesday also brought significant news from the Department of Justice. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told members of Congress that plans for Trump's $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund are no longer moving forward. His announcement came days after a federal judge temporarily blocked the fund's creation following a lawsuit filed by Democracy Forward and other organizations.
The fund had drawn rare opposition from within the Republican Party, particularly in the Senate, where many members objected to the possibility that payouts could go to Capitol rioters who attacked police on January 6, 2021. That Republican pushback has stalled some of the administration's legislative priorities, including immigration enforcement funding. Democrats had criticized the fund from the start, arguing it would allow the president to distribute nearly $1.8 billion in taxpayer money to supporters and allies.
Separately, Trump announced he is appointing Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence. Pulte will replace Tulsi Gabbard, who is stepping down at the end of the month. Pulte's official biography highlights experience in housing and philanthropy but does not mention a background in intelligence. The law that established the director of national intelligence position after the September 11 attacks requires that all nominees have extensive national security experience, NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben noted.
