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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](https://a.abcnews.com/images/Politics/PowerTrip_1920x1080_FF_Now_1664207247948_hpEmbed_16x9_608.jpg)
Here is the latest from the campaign trail:
- Republican Rep. Liz Cheney endorses Ohio Democratic Senate candidate Rep. Tim Ryan
- Biden to travel San Diego on Thursday for endangered House Democrat Rep. Mike Levin
- Arizona Libertarian Senate candidate drops out of race, throws support to GOP nominee Blake Masters
- Fetterman gives first interview after post-stroke debate
- Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman cuts ad for Sen. Mike Lee
- Obama backs PA Senate candidate John Fetterman in new ads
DeSantis, White House trade fire over migrant drop-offs
Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis confirmed Friday that the undocumented migrants flown to Martha's Vineyard came from Texas -- not Florida.
He defended his actions, noting that he transported the migrants -- who he said had plans to come to Florida -- with a portion of $12 million allocated in the state's budget to relocate undocumented migrants out of the state.
"They went from Texas to Florida to Martha's Vineyard," DeSantis told reporters in Daytona Beach. "I have 12 million for us to use, and so we are going to use it and you're gonna see more and more. I'm going to make sure that we exhaust all those funds."
DeSantis also took a swipe at President Joe Biden -- suggesting he has lured people out of their countries with the "false promise" that the borders were open, then leaving them "high and dry."
The White House on Friday lashed back, arguing that the Florida governor and Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott -- who routinely transports undocumented immigrants to blue states -- engage in the practice as "cruel" political theater.
"These were children. They were moms. They were fleeing communism. And what did Governor DeSantis and Governor Abbott do to them? They use them as political pawns, treated them like chattel in a cruel, premeditated political stunt," White House press secretary Karine Jean Pierre said.
DeSantis ended his presser by responding to Gov. Newsom's request for the DOJ to investigate Florida and Texas' moves.
"The governor of California sent a letter to the Department of Justice saying, 'you need to prosecute the Texas and Florida governors' and all I can say is: I think his hair gel is interfering with his brain," DeSantis said.
–ABC News' Miles Cohen
GOP leaders seek base-driving narratives: The Note
If the point was to make a point, the mission has already been accomplished.
That's not the same as saying the midterms look any different than they did before a few prominent Republican figures made major political moves that sure look like stunts, even if they carry significant messaging and human impact.
It is to say that they are trying to establish a new set of narratives. This week was marked by efforts from several Republicans -- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham -- aiming to put their party on offense.
For Graham, it was a bill banning almost all abortions after 15 weeks nationwide, a move that drew praise for its clarity from anti-abortion groups and former Vice President Mike Pence, among others. But pushback also came from inside Graham’s party -- from lawmakers and candidates who want abortion rights figured out state by state and would rather be talking about high inflation anyway -- and also well outside of it.
Read more here.
-- ABC News' Rick Klein
In Georgia, Walker backs DeSantis' Martha’s Vineyard migrant stunt
On Friday, Georgia GOP Senate nominee Herschel Walker lauded the move by Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis to send migrants to Martha's Vineyard.
The Trump-endorsed former NFL running back, following a tour of the Port of Savannah with the president of the National Border Patrol Council, Brandon Judd, told ABC News that DeSantis' decision brought attention to the border after he said the Biden administration "did absolutely nothing."
"You weren't talking about it yesterday. Nobody wanted to talk about it. Now he got someone's attention," Walker said. "We know that we have a problem at the border. So something has to be done. So, I'm saying hey, right now, something's gotta be done. So, if they have to send people all over the country, do that."
-- ABC News' Lalee Ibssa in Savannah
Colorado river drought cuts through midterm races
The scorched-earth fight over a shrinking supply of water in Western states is playing out in key midterm races along the depleted Colorado River.
Paul "Paco" Ollerton, 67, a third-generation farmer and registered Republican who says he's undecided in the November midterms, worries how his cotton farm might suffer next year when Arizona sees a massive cut in its allocation of Colorado River water.
"It's gonna get tough," Ollerton told ABC News in a phone interview, one year after ABC correspondent Kayna Whitworth walked with him through his Casa Grande farm. "There's no doubt about it, and I question whether agriculture in this state will even be able to survive."
Read more here.
-- ABC News' Libby Cathey in Phoenix
Fetterman gives first interview after post-stroke debate
Amid post-stroke challenges that were on full display in a debate Tuesday night, John Fetterman is still running for the U.S. Senate out of “love of my state” and “love of my nation,” the Pennsylvania Democrat said on Thursday in his first interview since the debate.
“I think the direction that we could go in if we don’t have -- step up and fight for that, as well too,” Fetterman told Javier Palomarez, president of the United States Hispanic Business Council, which hosted a pre-planned virtual town hall with the candidate.
“If anyone has any question, you know, I always show up, I always lean in, and I always make sure to,” Fetterman told Palomarez, alluding to the scrutiny over his health both before and after the debate, when his auditory and language issues caused him to repeatedly struggle to answer questions on stage.
Over the course of Thursday’s roughly 35-minute interview, which took place on Zoom with closed captioning, Fetterman was asked about policy issues that might affect Hispanic business owners rather than about his debate performance.
Fetterman was asked to clarify his stance on hydraulic fracking, an issue about which he has made contradicting statements.
“I absolutely would support fracking, and I have,” he told Palomarez when asked about previously calling the industry “a stain on Pennsylvania.”
Fetterman said his previous opposition to fracking was borne from environmental concerns but that the war in Ukraine makes it an essential part of the state’s economy.
The United States Hispanic Business Council will host a similar town hall with Fetterman’s opponent, Republican Mehmet Oz, on Friday afternoon.
-- ABC News' Will McDuffie