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Midterm campaign live updates: GOP's Cheney endorses Ohio Democrat Tim Ryan for Senate

ABC News is reporting on campaign developments in key states across the U.S.

The 2022 campaign is shaping up to be a historic, decisive moment in American politics.

From our reporters across the country, ABC News brings you all the latest on what the candidates are saying and doing -- and what voters want to happen in November's midterm elections.

For more from ABC News' team of reporters embedded in battleground states, watch "Power Trip: Those Seeking Power and Those Who Chase Them" on Hulu , with new episodes on Sunday.

Power Trip
Power Trip
"Power Trip: Those Seeking Power and Those Who Chase Them" follows 7 young reporters as they chase down candidates in the lead up to the midterms with George Stephanopoulos guiding them along the way.
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Donald Trump Jr., Tudor Dixon joke about kidnapping plot against Michigan's Democratic governor

The former president's eldest son and the Republican gubernatorial candidate in Michigan each joked about the 2020 kidnapping plot against Democratic incumbent Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

"The sad thing is that Gretchen will tie your hands, put a gun to your head and ask if you're ready to talk," Dixon said at a rally Friday in Troy. Trump Jr., stumping for Dixon and the rest of the state's Republican ticket, called the plot a "PR stunt."

When asked by ABC News at a gaggle after the rally wrapped whether the jokes were a step too far, Dixon said that "we have to have a little levity still in life." Trump Jr.'s response: "Oh, I think we also have to hold those accountable" as he accused the FBI of staging the plot.

Two men were convicted in August for conspiring to kidnap Whitmer and attempting to use weapons of mass destruction. The governor was not harmed.

The Democratic Governors Association called Dixon's comments "dangerous" and an "insult to law enforcement."

-ABC News' Paulina Tam


Ted Budd says what's happening at the border is a 'humanitarian crisis'

Taking the stage ahead of Donald Trump at a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ted Budd went after President Joe Biden on several policy issues.

Budd specifically hit at the administration over high inflation being felt in North Carolina and across the country, telling the crowd he'll work to "make your life better."

The GOP candidate also touched on border issues amid an influx of apprehensions, calling it a "humanitarian crisis." Budd, however, did not mention Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis flying migrants to Martha's Vineyard as he blamed Biden for the immigration challenges.

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie


Stacey Abrams on GMA3: 'We are behind, but only by a couple of points'

Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, speaking Friday on ABC's "GMA 3," acknowledged polls showed she was running behind incumbent Republican Gov. Brian Kemp.

With only about a month and a half left before the midterm elections, Abrams said the polls were not "paying attention" to growing momentum among young voters.

A Monmouth University poll published Thursday found that Abrams' path to victory is narrower than Kemp's as more Georgia voters have ruled out voting for Abrams (46%) than Kemp (37%).

"We are behind, but only by a couple of points. And we know that these are polls that are not paying attention necessarily to the growing energy among women and young people," she said.

Abrams noted that victory may hinge on the issue of abortion, which has been moving party bases in even red states over the past primary season, along with issues like gun control, following mass shootings earlier this summer.

"Georgia is, unfortunately, one of the states with a six-week abortion ban, and that ban is animating voters. We have seen record number of women asking for absentee ballots early in the process, and we know that we're seeing the same energy on the ground," she said.

"We also know that we're a state that is number nine in gun violence and that guns are the number one killer of our children."

See more here.


Biden fires back at McCarthy's 'Commitment to America' agenda

President Joe Biden on Friday criticized House Republicans over their newly released agenda should they regain control of Congress this midterm cycle.

Speaking at a Democratic National Committee event in Washington, Biden hit the "Commitment to America" plan rolled out by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy as a "thin series of policy goals with little to no detail."

McCarthy and 30 other House Republicans were in Pennsylvania earlier Friday to release the four-part agenda, which focuses heavily on the economy, immigration and crime.

"In the course of nearly an hour, here's a few of the things we didn't hear: We didn't hear him mention the right to choose, we didn't hear him mention Medicare, we didn't hear him mention Social Security," Biden countered.

Biden then mocked McCarthy for saying Republicans want to "preserve constitutional freedom" while they've celebrated the Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade and GOP leaders around the country pass laws to restrict abortion. If Republicans were to win back Congress and passed a national abortion ban, Biden said Friday he would veto it -- which prompted applause from the crowd gathered at the National Education Association.

Biden again framed the November elections, which are now just 46 days away, as an inflection point for the nation between Democrats, independents and mainstream Republicans versus extreme "MAGA Republicans."

"This November you have to choose to be a nation of hope, unity and optimism or a nation of fear, division and darkness. I believe America will move forward to the future," he said.


Arizona Libertarian Senate candidate drops out of race, throws support to GOP nominee Blake Masters

Arizona's Libertarian Senate candidate Marc Victor dropped out of the race on Tuesday, putting his support behind Blake Masters, the Republican nominee.

His move, made a week ahead of Election Day, gives Trump-backed Masters a further boost as Victor's candidacy was forecasted to split off some of the Republican vote in the race to unseat incumbent Democrat Sen. Mark Kelly.

Victor told ABC News in a written statement Tuesday that Blake Masters approached him, agreeing to the Libertarian's offer to both his opponents on "why it was in the interests of freedom, peace, and civility for me to step down and endorse either of them." Their taped conversation "impressed" the Libertarian, Victor said, prompting him to drop out.

"I publicly offered to meet with either Mark Kelly or Blake Masters to have an unscripted discussion about why it was in the interests of freedom, peace, and civility for me to step down and endorse either of them," Victor told ABC News.

"Blake Masters availed himself of that opportunity yesterday, and we had a public conversation where I asked him whatever I wanted. I was impressed with Blake Masters and his commitment to being a Live and Let Live Senator from Arizona," Victor told ABC.

In the [,]() Victor said this decision to drop out one week before Election Day will make some people "very upset" and others "very happy."

Masters responded to the new support in a campaign press release.

"Marc Victor joins a growing list of Arizonans from across the political spectrum who are fed up with open borders, big government corruption, and rising crime. We are building a broad coalition to defeat the worst Senator in America. This is another major boost of momentum as we consolidate our support against the extreme and radical policies of Mark Kelly and Joe Biden. Live and Let Live," Masters said.

Victor will still be on the ballot, but any votes cast for him will not be tabulated, according to a spokesperson at the secretary of state's office.

--ABC News' Libby Cathey