Until earlier this month, 43-year-old Sara Gilson was yet another mother who was also a TikTok influencer.
Now, she is the victim of a brutal crime — and an apparent murder-suicide.
Just days before her killing, she accused her now-ex of being a “pedophile.”
In the horrific 911 call, she can be heard “screaming and crying” in her final moments.
Police lights flash in this stock photo from 2017. (Photo Credit: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
A tragic murder-suicide
On Thursday, July 23, 911 dispatchers received an emergency call after Gilson’s estranged husband, Jeremiah “Shawn” Duffey, allegedly shot her to death.
(He then apparently killed himself, making it an alleged murder-suicide.)
The 911 call was not placed by Gilson, but by the couple’s son.
The child on the phone reported that his stepfather had shot his mother inside their Owasso, Oklahoma home.
Meanwhile, it appears that dispatchers may have heard — and recorded — audio of at least part of the crime.
“I’m trying to reach him back,” a dispatcher explained to first responders, “but I could hear a female in the background screaming and crying.”
The 911 dispatcher then described: “Some sort of loud bang in the background.”
Once they arrived, police confirmed that Gilson had been fatally shot, seemingly by Duffey.
The crime scene then indicated that Duffey had taken his own life using the same firearm.
Officially, the motive is not known. However, Gilson’s video just days earlier, calling Duffey a pedophile and predicting a Netflix documentary, seems like a pretty strong — if unproven — motive.
‘My soon-to-be ex husband, who I just found out is a pedophile’
On July 11, Gilson had publicly accused Duffey — her husband — of being a “pedophile.” On TikTok, she explained why.
“Preparing for when Netflix drops a documentary about my soon to be ex husband who I just found out is a pedophile,” the word above her read. “I wish I [were] joking.”
Unfortunately, she was not joking. And while somewhat absurd allegations of predatory behavior sometimes circulate, especially on social media, she wasn’t accusing Duffey because of fanart that he liked or a story that he read.
Last month, a woman in Owasso filed a protective order against Duffey on behalf of her 15-year-old daughter. Her daughter played basketball on a team that he coached.
According to the report, another coach caught Duffey kissing and touching the child, who later confirmed to her mother that this was not the first time.
Sara Gilson’s TikTok post’s caption exposed her ex. Did it cost her her life? (Image Credit: TikTok/YouTube)
The 15-year-old reported to her mother that Duffey had sent her inappropriate messages, including inviting him to her hotel room during a tournament trip.
He had also offered her money, the report listed, “to keep her quiet.”
Duffey was not arrested or charged. It is unclear if authorities planned to do so.
Gilson filed her own protective order, and alleged that he “proceeded to threaten suicide and went on the run.”
Duffey was not legally allowed near Gilson or her children. Unfortunately, as countless victims instinctively know often happens, he did not abide by the protective order.
It sounds like Gilson took swift action as a responsible mother to protect her own children after she was alerted to her husband’s true nature. She paid the ultimate price for it in a society that too often protects bad adults over children.
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is facing backlash from within his own party after using controversial rhetoric to describe the stakes of his victory in a recent donor meeting.
“If I win … well y’all came at me so now I get to come at you, and you know, primarying people like John Fetterman, I have no problem to do that,” he said, according to audio of a Zoom meeting obtained by POLITICO. “Ideally you put one ogre on a pike, and then everyone else gets the message, and all of a sudden starts to sound a lot different,” El-Sayed added later, referencing how he could help propel the progressive moment.
On Monday, several Democrats were quick to slam his comments.
“Violent, vulgar threats have no place in a democratic electoral contest,” said Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.). “With political violence on the rise, we need to be doing everything we can to lower the temperature — not raise it. It’s the American people who suffer most when we degrade the political process this way.”
Some took El-Sayed’s remarks as an attack on the party. Shannon Watts, founder of gun violence prevention group Moms Demand Action, said on X that El-Sayed “doesn’t mean Republicans.”
Another gun control activist, Fred Guttenberg, wrote: “That is what Abdul El-Sayed and his DSA movement think of Democrats and the party.” Guttenberg — whose daughter was killed in the Parkland, Florida, school shooting — urged Michiganders to support El-Sayed’s primary opponent, Rep. Haley Stevens, and “show AES the loss he deserves.”
An El-Sayed campaign spokesperson referred POLITICO back to an earlier statement that the candidate was “speaking metaphorically” about his intention to support a primary against Fetterman, a Pennsylvania senator. Fetterman and El-Sayed have clashed over support for Israel.
The senator, who possesses a towering stature, has been mocked for his physical appearance by political rivals, and the “ogre” moniker partly stems from an attack by Kari Lake, a failed Republican Arizona gubernatorial candidate and ally of President Donald Trump.
“I pick being Senator Shrek over being the Pontiac Platner any day,” Fetterman said in a statement, referencing former Senate Maine Democratic nominee Graham Platner, who ended his campaign following a sexual assault allegation against him.
El-Sayed’s leaked comments and the reaction to them amount to another flashpoint in a tense primary that is dividing the progressive and moderate wings of the party, and at times has been defined by accusations of racism and sexism.
A few Democrats assumed the candidate’s comments were a reference to Stevens, though El-Sayed had not explicitly mentioned his opponent in the portion of the call POLITICO reviewed.
“Calling your female opponent an ogre you want to put on a pike is not beating the rap that this race has some serious sexism,” Neera Tanden, a centrist Democrat and president of the Center for American Progress, posted on X. Melissa Byrne, a former staffer for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), called the remark an “unforced error” that is “really bad and beneath the progressive project.” She later deleted the post.
“Abdul continues with personal insults and making this race about his personal political ambitions and the other 49 states,” said Arik Wolk, spokesperson for the Stevens campaign. “Haley is focused on getting things done for Michigan, and only Michigan.”
Republicans, too, jumped on the comment, with some leaning into stereotypes of El-Sayed’s religion as a Muslim. “Michigan Islamist discusses beheading his opponents,” said Steve Guest, a former staffer for Sen. Ted Cruz, on X.
This is not the first time El-Sayed has used — and defended — aggressive political rhetoric. “When they go low, we don’t go high,” the progressive said while speaking at a campaign rally earlier this year, riffing on a famous line from former first lady Michelle Obama. “We take them to the mud and choke them out.”
He and Stevens will face off in their final Democratic Senate debate Monday night, and the results of the Aug. 4 primary could have major consequences for the party as it grapples with its ideological tack ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
We have some very troubling news to report from the world of sports today:
Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is dealing with a frightening family emergency after his wife, Mia Bieniemy, was reportedly shot at the couple’s Virginia home Sunday night.
According to ESPN, Mia, 57, was hospitalized after the shooting.
Police tape hangs across a street in front of a house in Park City, Kansas. (Photo by Larry W. Smith/Getty Images)
Thankfully, she is currently in stable condition.
Authorities in Loudoun County, Virginia, confirmed they responded to a residence in Ashburn at approximately 7:32 pm ET following reports of a person suffering serious injuries, though they did not initially identify the victim.
According to TMZ, Eric and Mia’s son, Elijah, was arrested and charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, and discharge of a firearm inside of a dwelling as a result of the shooting.
At the time of the incident, Eric was with the Chiefs in St. Joseph, Missouri, where the team had wrapped up its second practice of training camp.
The Chiefs acknowledged the situation in a brief statement.
“The club is aware of the incident involving Eric Bieniemy’s family,” the organization said, adding that it would have no further comment out of respect for the family’s privacy.
Few additional details have been released about the shooting, and investigators have not publicly discussed what led to the incident. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate.
Eric, 56, returned to Kansas City earlier this year after spending the 2025 season as the Chicago Bears’ running backs coach.
He previously served as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator from 2018 through 2022, helping the franchise win two Super Bowls before departing for the Washington Commanders in 2023.
His return to Kansas City was viewed as a significant offseason move as the Chiefs look to rebound following an injury-plagued 2025 campaign.
For now, however, football has understandably taken a back seat.
As of Monday morning, Mia remained hospitalized in stable condition, and neither the family nor law enforcement had released additional information regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The investigation remains ongoing, and more details are expected as authorities continue their work.
We will have further updates on this developing story as new information becomes available.
The Red Sox are streaking, the Marlins are fading, and for the plethora of teams on the bubble, we’re finally nearing decision time. Every win or loss coming out of the All-Star break provides a bit more clarity as teams decide whether they’re buyers, sellers or somewhere in between. With one week to go before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, this week’s Power Rankings features one second-half question for every team. The Rockies’ starters have an ERA over 6.00. They need more pitching in the system, and they have a couple outfield trade chips in Jake McCarthy and Mickey Moniak who could help them get that done. Will they also consider trading Hunter Goodman, who leads all catchers with 31 home runs and is under team control through 2029? Under interim general manager John Mozeliak, the Angels sound more open-minded to making the kinds of changes that will be required to return the team to relevance. Will there finally be a fire-sale in Anaheim? Just a few weeks ago, the A’s looked like buyers. Then they lost 23 of 29 games and now seem to be obvious sellers. But with many of their top young talents signed long-term, what are they willing to sell in order to add more pitching to the system? Among the top 20 or so potential MLB trade deadline candidates, Luis Arraez has to be the likeliest to go. Rental Robbie Ray is likely gone, too, but can the Giants use this lost season to also move one of their big contracts? It will be interesting to see if Jung Hoo Lee, Matt Chapman, Willy Adames and Rafael Devers are all still Giants after the deadline. With the size of their payroll, the Mets have to try to contend again next season. So, beyond their rentals such as starter Freddy Peralta, relievers Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter and outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (who has a team option next season), which of their controllable players will they feel comfortable trading? Same question as directly above. The Royals are similar to the Mets in that a season with playoff aspirations quickly spiraled, yet they can’t be thinking about a long-term rebuild. So, without many valuable rental arms on the roster, how many controllable pitchers will they be willing to deal? Michael Wacha will command the most attention. The reigning American League champs as sellers? That seems to be the likeliest course of action after the offense’s disappearing act and the struggles in the rotation behind Cy Young contender Dylan Cease. The biggest question: Where is Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s power? And can he find it in time to give Toronto some late-season hope? When healthy, the Reds can envision a rotation featuring Chase Burns, Hunter Greene and Andrew Abbott giving them a better chance in 2027. But that won’t matter much if they still have one of the least productive offenses in MLB. Can someone other than Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart establish himself as a reliable long-term mainstay in the lineup? Will Trevor Rogers, Taylor Ward and Andrew Kittredge help the Orioles return to the playoffs after last year’s disappointing fifth-place finish, or will they be wearing different uniforms after the deadline? How Baltimore decides to handle its impending free agents could determine its second-half fate. It’s the question of the deadline: What does Detroit do with Tarik Skubal? The Tigers are trending in the right direction, but when you’re trying to convince your front office to keep one of the game’s most talented pitchers, you can’t afford to split a late July four-game series at home against the Royals. It seems like every year we’re asking if Sandy Alcantara will remain a Marlin. Suddenly, here we are again. Will the Marlins try to catch fire again with the current group they have, or will a franchise-record 12-game losing streak cause them to sell some pieces? Had the Twins not sold off all of their top relief arms last deadline, they might be in first place right now. Instead, they’re one of the many teams on the bubble. Will the Twins use this deadline to fix the bullpen it just dismantled? Or will they look to the future and sell rental catcher Ryan Jeffers and listen to offers for All-Star right-hander Joe Ryan? As constructed, it’s hard to imagine there’s enough pitching here to seriously contend. As long as the Astros are still in the mix, I’d expect them to keep pushing in to build around MVP favorite Yordan Alvarez. They could use more outfield help, but the bigger question: Do they have enough pitching to get back to the playoffs and make some noise in the weak AL? Will the offense get right? I mean that in every possible sense. The Mariners need their best players to play better, and they also might need a right-handed hitter at the deadline to help an offense that currently has the lowest OPS against left-handed pitching in the sport. Another high-leverage reliever wouldn’t hurt, either. Can this rotation continue to hold up? The Cardinals are trending in the wrong direction, but Jordan Walker, JJ Wetherholt, Alec Burleson and Ivan Herrera should give them enough firepower to at least stay competitive. Will the rotation, which currently ranks 10th in MLB in ERA despite missing very few bats, do the same? What does AJ Preller have up his sleeve? The Padres’ president of baseball operations rarely sits still at the deadline, but this team has more flaws than in years past (particularly in the rotation) and now has less of a farm system to address the deficiencies at the deadline. Could he trade All-Star closer Mason Miller to address the team’s other weaknesses? It might take some creativity to make this group a contender. Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but the Guardians’ offense could use more thump. Will they add an impact bat to fix an offense with the lowest OPS in MLB? Or will having star third baseman José Ramírez back from a broken hand be enough for Cleveland to win its third straight division title? Will Paul Skenes look like a Cy Young contender again down the stretch? Skenes is still racking up strikeouts with strong underlying numbers, but he currently ranks 32nd among qualified MLB starters in ERA. If he pitches like one of the best pitchers on the planet in the second half and the bullpen adds some pieces at the deadline, you can envision this Pirates team and its vastly improved offense ending Pittsburgh’s 10-year playoff drought. Can they keep their top offensive players on the field? Star shortstop Corey Seager hasn’t played all month due to a back injury. Wyatt Langford has mashed … when available. He has played in only 53 games this year due to forearm, hamstring and ankle injuries. Josh Jung, the team’s hit leader, is currently sidelined with a calf issue. The Rangers need those guys on the field if they want to hold off the Mariners and Astros. Will this offense play to its potential? The D-backs are currently in wild-card position despite a depleted pitching staff and an offense that ranks 20th in MLB in OPS. They could use a first-base upgrade at the deadline (as well as pitching reinforcements), but they also need more of their top offensive players to perform. What lane do the Nationals pick at the deadline? They’re ahead of schedule in the rebuild under new leadership, now only one game out of a wild-card spot with the best offense in MLB. It’s one thing to trade slugging utility man Curtis Mead, but would they really trade All-Star Foster Griffin as well, given the way they’re playing? Or entertain offers for superstar CJ Abrams? Or will they run this surprise season out and see where it goes? Do the White Sox have (or will they acquire) the pitching required to finish off this magical run? The young offense has slugged its way to the sixth-most home runs in MLB, but the South Siders might need to add more depth both in the rotation and the bullpen to complete the extraordinary turnaround and end the four-year playoff drought. Speaking of turnarounds … a lot can change in a matter of weeks. The Red Sox looked cooked, and now they’ve won 22 of 26 games and are already starting the process of adding offense at the deadline. The biggest question, though, is how quickly Roman Anthony (torn finger ligament) and Garrett Crochet (shoulder, lat) return to action. Having Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo and Jhoan Duran is a heckuva starting point, but you can bank on the Phillies adding depth at the deadline for their second-half push. The question: Does it come in the outfield, at the back end of the rotation, in high-leverage relief — or maybe all three? How quickly will Aaron Judge return? We can debate whether their bigger need is behind the plate or in relief at the deadline, but regardless of what they do a week from now, they need their captain back and looking like himself if they want to get back to the World Series. Here is a list of injured Cubs pitchers: Justin Steele, Edward Cabrera, Ben Brown, Cade Horton, Daniel Palencia, Hunter Harvey, Shelby Miller, Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Porter Hodge, Riley Martin, Ethan Roberts. With several of them expected back at some point in the second half, how will the Cubs choose to patch up their beleaguered pitching staff at the deadline? Do they make a big splash at the deadline? They have the best record in a weak American League, they have needs up the middle offensively, and they could use a boost both in the rotation and the bullpen. President of baseball operations Erik Neander might see an opportunity ahead to push in. The Braves have gotten their NL East lead back to a more comfortable distance and look destined to prove that last year was a blip. Still, they can’t feel too comfortable about their starting options beyond Chris Sale once they get to October. Can they land a co-ace at the deadline? How much will last year’s sweep in the NLCS motivate them at the deadline? The Brewers have proven their might as regular-season juggernauts, but the disparity in star talent was evident when they went to Los Angeles last October. They have the talent on the farm to take a big swing. Will they finally do it? How much will Shohei Ohtani’s balky left knee hold him back the rest of the way, and how will that issue impact the Dodgers’ deadline decision-making? Blake Snell is closing in on a return, but neither he nor Tyler Glasnow have pitched in nearly two months. If the Dodgers have any reservations at all about their pitching staff, they have the resources to make significant midseason moves — even if they’d prefer not to — in their quest to three-peat.Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
Ne-Yo has been spending the past few months looking back on his origins as a recording artist while simultaneously pushing forward with new music. The hit-making singer-songwriter has celebrated the 20th anniversary of his debut album In My Own Words with special edition reissues and a performance of the album’s chart-topping hit “So Sick” for Apple Music’s “The One” series. Now, on the latest episode of The Zach Sang Show, Ne-Yo tells the stories behind the album as the jumpoff point for a far-reaching conversation about his career.
During the show, Ne-Yo spoke about his original chance meeting with Norwegian production team Stargate, which resulted in “So Sick,” and shared the stories behind several other indelible songs he wrote for himself and other artists. Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable,” for instance, was originally meant for himself before he and his collaborators realized it should be sung by a woman. “We shopped it around to a few different artists who will remain nameless,” Ne-Yo said. “There might have been six other female artists that heard it and turned it down before it got to Beyoncé.”
Ne-Yo talked with Sang about the influence of country music on “Irreplaceable” and some of his other songwriting successes, a thread he’s further explored on Highway 79, his new country-inspired album. “I’ve been a fan of country music for a long time,” he said, recalling his mother exposing him to a range of genres growing up in Las Vegas, including Reba McEntire’s “Fancy,” a song that “had me in a chokehold for like three years.” He spoke about his experiences writing in Nashville, including Highway 79 track “Ms. Tundra,” and performing at the Grand Ole Opry, country music’s storied institution.
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Elsewhere in the interview, Ne-Yo told more stories behind hits of his own, such as “Closer” and “Miss Independent,” and for other artists, such as Rihanna’s “Take A Bow.” He also talked about unreleased songs he wrote for Michael Jackson, being a father to seven kids, his thoughts on the changing definition of pop, and why he believes vulnerability has disappeared from the current R&B landscape. It’s a must-hear interview for Ne-Yo diehards and casual fans alike.
Time and disease continue to come for some of our culture’s most iconic figures.
At 83, legendary singer Carly Simon is disclosing her diagnosis.
She has Parkinson’s disease, and it has transformed her life.
But there is a major silver lining to this story: she has exciting news to share.
Singer/songwriter Carly Simon poses for a portrait in circa 1975. (Photo Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
‘I’ve been learning how to live with Parkinson’s disease’
In a statement to Page Six on Monday, July 27, the music legend disclosed her diagnosis.
“So many people have written to me, kindly wondering about my relative silence, asking how I am and what I have been doing,” Simon began.
“The truth is,” she revealed, “I’ve been learning how to live with Parkinson’s disease.”
Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disease that impacts both motor and non-motor functions. It is most recognized by physical tremors.
Simon explained that it has “taken me some time to understand the diagnosis, to adjust to it, and to decide how much I wanted to say about it publicly.”
“Parkinson’s is different for everyone, and it can be unpredictable,” Simon explained.
“Some days I’m so tired I can’t get the day moving at all,” she acknowledged. “On others, it gives me a little more room to move, think, work, and feel like myself.”
Simon underwent three joint replacement surgeries after arthritis attacked her knees and one hip. During her recovery, new mobility issues presented themselves.
“I had trouble standing up from low chairs and deep couches without someone offering me an arm,” Simon recalled.
She shared that it reached a point where she could no longer walk without “considerable help.”
‘I do not consider Parkinson’s a gift or a blessing’
“There is no tidy or predictable schedule to the illness. It does not consult my calendar before deciding what kind of day I am going to have,” Simon explained bluntly.
Additionally, she shared, she had a basal cell carcinoma — a form of cancer. Though she treated it with surgery, she has felt self-conscious about her appearance as a result.
“Between my mobility issues, the Parkinson’s diagnosis, the surgery, and the emotional effects of it all, withdrawing from public view was the most palatable reaction,” Simon reasoned.
“I do not consider Parkinson’s a gift or a blessing. It is neither. It is difficult, frustrating, and sometimes frightening,” she described.
Simon affirmed: “I am still learning how to live with it and how to accept it without feeling that I have surrendered something essential.”
We mentioned that there was good news, and there is!
Simon’s new album, Comes in Waves, releases on August 14.
“Working on the music gave shape to days that did not always have much shape,” Simon expressed. “It gave me somewhere to go without having to leave the room.”
She added: “It reminded me that illness can change your life without becoming the whole of your life.”
Simon concluded her statement: “I have learned to accept that every day will look a little different. But I am still very much here.”
Campaign signs for Democrats Matt Schultz and Tom Begich are seen in a Midtown Anchorage yard on July 17, 2026. Schultz mounted his campaign to oust Republican U.S. Rep. Nick Begich. But he endorsed Nick’s uncle, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Begich, a former state senator. Schultz suspended his campaign on July 17 and urged supporters to rally behind independent Bill Hill. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
On July 17, the leading Democratic candidate in Alaska’s U.S. House race suspended his campaign and announced his support for independent House candidate Bill Hill.
In an interview last week, Democrat Matt Schultz said his decision didn’t come from a lack of desire or a lack of support — it was simply a matter of money.
“One of the most disturbing things about the election process is how much … is determined by money, and I did not have a viable financial path forward,” Schultz said on July 17.
Schultz will remain on the ballot for the Aug. 18 statewide primary but is expected to withdraw after the results become final.
Campaign finance reports through June 30 showed Schultz’s campaign with $470,681 in cash on hand. Hill’s campaign had $702,626. Incumbent Republican Rep. Nick Begich’s campaign had more than $3.2 million.
Begich and Hill are also being boosted by third-party groups. In Hill’s case, Wheel Dog PAC is preparing to spend more than $1 million and has already sent mailers to voters across the state. The National Republican Congressional Committee and other groups are spending similarly to back Begich.
While Schultz has lagged in financial support, public opinion polling in the spring found him significantly ahead of Hill in Alaska’s top-four primary, but in head-to-head polling, Hill appeared to perform better against Begich than Schultz did. Neither polled ahead of Begich.
In Alaska’s election system, voters will pick one of the 14 U.S. House candidates during the Aug. 18 statewide primary. The top four vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to the general election.
“If I had made it through the primary, which — I think there’s a real good chance I would have been the the frontrunner — but I would not have had the the financial war chest required to take on Nick Begich, and the priority here is to make sure that Nick Begich does not get back into office,” Schultz said.
As a candidate, Schultz has been a solid progressive. Speaking to the Beacon and writing in a column to the Anchorage Daily News, he said he feels that some Democrats are too motivated to seek a political “middle,” even when it doesn’t make sense.
“I think that shifting to the middle is not inherently virtuous. When we think about history, there are issues like slavery or in World War II when the Nazi Party was on the rise — there’s no value in saying ‘let’s be a moderate and meet them in the middle and compromise,’” he said. “I think this is a time in history right now. The reason I was so motivated to flip the House of Representatives is because the Republican Party is pulling us into fascism. They’re attacking our democracy and handing over our freedom to billionaires and trillionaires. The stakes are so very high, and yet the folks on our side of the playing field here seem to be willing to kneel and beg for our rights instead of standing and demanding them, and I think that happened in my race as well.”
Alaska’s labor unions have backed Hill, as did the Alaska Center, a progressive environmental and pro-democracy group that hasn’t supported an independent for U.S. House since Alyse Galvin in 2020.
The Alaska Democratic Party itself declined to endorse Schultz during its April convention in Cordova, leaving open the possibility that it would support Hill instead of a party member.
The week before Schultz’s decision, the National Republican Campaign Committee signaled that it was preparing to run ads in favor of Schultz to boost his performance and help Begich.
Both Schultz and Hill released statements denouncing the strategy.
Under Alaska’s general-election system, voters are asked to rank their preferred candidates. The candidate with the lowest number of No. 1 votes is eliminated, and that candidate’s supporters have the option to give the vote to a second choice instead.
“Matt Schultz and the Alaska Democrat Party have been outspoken supporters for ranked choice voting, but when given the opportunity to present the public with their own candidate they chose to withdraw,” said Paul Smith, Begich’s campaign manager. “Despite raising nearly $1 million, making the case to progressives and traveling throughout the state, Democrats have proven that they support ranked choice voting only when it advantages them. Regardless, Alaskan voters will reject these political games and re-elect the most productive freshman Congressman on record, Congressman Nick Begich.”
Since 2022, when the system was used for the first time, statistics show that a significant number of voters have chosen to not rank a second or subsequent choice.
Hill and Schultz each said they believe that ads from the NRCC could have engendered bad feelings, reducing the odds that supporters would rank the other candidate.
Schultz said his top priority is ending Republican control of the U.S. House, and that holds whether or not he is elected.
“Once I recognized that I didn’t have a viable path forward, then it didn’t really matter what I’m being asked to sacrifice. I had to sacrifice (my candidacy) to make sure that we prevent that majority,” he said.
Reached by phone last week, Hill thanked Schultz.
“In his statement, he made it clear that it’s not about me or him. It’s about giving Alaskans the best chance to beat Nick Begich this fall,” he said.
“I think we’re both aligned on a lot of things that are not going right for Alaskans,” Hill said. “You look at things like, well, the cost of gas and groceries, the loss of health care to a lot of Alaskans who just can’t afford it with the loss of the (Affordable Care Act) premiums. There’s a lot of things that are going on in the House right now that are not benefiting Alaskans, and we definitely need to make sure that, in the long run, that there’s a change made there.”
One major difference between Hill and Schultz is that while Schultz sought to eliminate Republican control of the House, Hill is willing to join a Republican majority under certain circumstances.
“I am not committing to who I’m going to vote for (Speaker of the House, if elected), but I will tell you right up front that I’m not going to vote for Mike Johnson to be Speaker because he does not represent my values at all, and he has been the lead in doing things that have impacted Alaska negatively,” Hill said.
Asked what he will do to earn the votes of Schultz supporters, Hill said he understands that they may have concerns about his candidacy, “but I will assure them that I am there to make sure that we have a government that’s going to work on providing Alaskans with the opportunities and tools needed to build good lives, and that means things like making sure everybody has health care, to make sure that our school systems are good and solid, and providing the education that our that our children need.”
Riley Hawk is celebrating a major milestone.
The 33-year-old son of Tony Hawk and Cindy Dunbar completed a year of sobriety on July 26, celebrating the occasion with a sweet treat.
“1 year sober… E! Online (US) – Top Stories
Democratic U.S. House candidate Matt Schultz is seen in an undated photo published on his campaign website. (Screenshot)
Alaska Beacon government and politics reporter James Brooks spoke with Matt Schultz for 15 minutes about the end of his campaign for Alaska’s sole U.S. House seat. Their conversation has been lightly edited for clarity.
Q: Well, how are you feeling?
A: For the first time in months, I’m feeling well rested. … There’s an upside to what was a difficult decision, but there’s definitely an upside in terms of that I could take a moment for myself once in a blue moon.
Q: Doing that kind of thing (suspending your campaign) seems like an impossible choice. I mean, I can’t imagine how difficult that is when you’ve spent all this time and effort on something.
A: Thanks for saying so. And it’s — I agree — it’s a difficult decision to make. But a lot of things like this are really — the proof is in retrospect. And looking back on it now, even though it’s just a few days old, I feel confident that it was the correct decision because the priority is to make sure that we prevent the Republican Party from having a House majority. And once I recognized that I didn’t have a viable path forward, then it didn’t really matter what I’m being asked to sacrifice. I had to sacrifice that to make sure that we prevent that majority.
Q: Why before the primary, though? I mean, there’s still a chance you’re the guy.
A: There’s lots of reasons, but honestly, one of the most disturbing things about the election process is how much … is determined by money, and I did not have a viable financial path forward. If I had made it through the primary, which — I think there’s a real good chance I would have been the the frontrunner — but I would not have had the the financial war chest required to take on Nick Begich, and the priority here is to make sure that Nick Begich does not get back into office.
Q: How long have you been thinking about this? This is not something you do on the spur of the moment.
A: Oh, good golly! I honestly don’t know. You’re right. It was not at all in the moment. Even before you jump into the race, you start to put together the financial plan going ahead, and as that slowly weakens, you start to look at different factors. But I wouldn’t even want to venture a guess, other than to say it was a long process with a lot of good guidance from people who know the political world closely.
In the end, though, it was the decision made by my wife and I to really look at it carefully and make sure that we were serving the purposes we got into this for. You know, we got into the race to serve the people of Alaska with love and do our best to create for them the best possible environment, beginning with the next round of people getting into office in Congress, and if it wasn’t going to be us, we had to make sure it was at least not Nick Begich.
And so again, looking back now, that’s why I feel confident that we did the right thing and that I made the right decision, because I want to make sure that I honor the people who gave me this beautiful opportunity to attempt a run by not turning the run into something that causes the wrong outcome by accident.
And while I’m on that topic, while I’m mentioning the people that supported me doing this, I am just so extraordinarily grateful to have had this opportunity to try. It was such an honor and such a joy. I mentioned I was tired, and that’s true. But what a great gift it is to be allowed to tire yourself out doing something that matters on behalf of people that you love.
Q: What do you think you learned about all this? What did we learn?
A: That sounds like the question they ask at the end of an episode of a sitcom.
Q: Exactly — a very special episode.
A: Well, I’ll reiterate what I just said — that it’s a joy. I didn’t necessarily anticipate that it would be as joyful — and that doesn’t mean (it was) fun always. It’s hard work, and it’s challenging, and you get hate mail and all those things. But joy is a deeper sense of a worthwhile purpose toward something that matters. And to have that in a different field — I have that in my ministry life every day. To get to experience it also in the political realm was such a gift: Tons of support from so many corners of the state was just a beautiful thing that’s all on the upside.
On the negative side — I’ll just keep on singing this song till my final days — it was deeply disappointing how much money plays a role. It is so essential that we overturn Citizens United, or else our country will never be repaired.
Q: Why do you think you didn’t raise as much money as other folks?
A: I’m not sure. I think there are very powerful and wealthy people that are connected that work behind the scenes to choose who’s going to get to move forward and who doesn’t. I think if our system were different and there were a more level playing field financially, I think I would have had a much better shot.
Q: Is there any advice you’d give someone running for office?
A: Oh man, let me think for a sec.
Choose an awesome team. I feel like I was privileged to work with the people I worked with.
Be sure you have your family’s support throughout, because it’s going to be a stressor on your entire family. And I never would have done this unless they were with me 100% along the way.
Recognize that win or lose, the campaign is an opportunity to speak an important message. So make sure that you’re in it for the right reasons: not for ego, not for power, not for money, but that you’re in there to communicate something that matters to people. Because if the campaign ends and you can look back on it and say, ‘I was honest and I used my brief time with that megaphone to build the common good and serve the people,’ then you can do so with pride, and I feel pretty proud.
Q: When I read your statement, you had said suspending this campaign does not mean stepping away from the fight. What do you intend to do going forward?
A: I’m going to first and foremost continue what I’ve been doing for more than a decade here in Alaska, which is standing and speaking and marching and writing, and always advocating for the people who need it most.
Generally, that means people who are poor or ostracized by our society. The work of social justice is always ongoing, and I will be continuing to work in those ways via nonprofits and public demonstrations, and preaching from the pulpit, and serving my neighbor with every ounce of my ability.
In terms of what that might mean politically, I’m afraid the best answer I can give you is I’m not sure. Things like this open doors, and I would be foolish to try to predict exactly what that means.
Q: Your statement also said, ‘I am deeply disappointed that the GOP chose to meddle in this race, and that too many institutions within the Democratic Party ecosystem declined to meaningfully support a campaign rooted in service, integrity, and the needs of working Alaskans.’
I understand the first half of that sentence to refer to the National Republican Campaign Committee’s activities, but I didn’t quite understand what the second half of that sentence was referring to. What was that in reference to?
A: I think that nationwide, people on the left of the aisle — and whatever categories and titles you want to put on that — I think there’s too much willingness to pander to the other side instead of trying to persuade them that what we’re saying is correct.
I think that shifting to the middle is not inherently virtuous. When we think about history, there are issues like slavery or in World War II when the Nazi Party was on the rise — there’s no value in saying ‘let’s be a moderate and meet them in the middle and compromise.’
I think this is a time in history right now.
The reason I was so motivated to flip the House of Representatives is because the Republican Party is pulling us into fascism. They’re attacking our democracy and handing over our freedom to billionaires and trillionaires. The stakes are so very high, and yet the folks on our side of the playing field here seem to be willing to kneel and beg for our rights instead of standing and demanding them, and I think that happened in my race as well.
Various people and institutions have decided that they weren’t ready to proclaim some truths that might be less popular initially, but if we all pull together and keep on pushing these messages, I believe they’re going to win out in the end.
Q: Did you talk with Bill (Hill) before making your decision?
A: No. I spoke to him before I announced it, but not before making it. It was a decision that, as I say, the buck stops here. I consulted a lot of people I truly know and truly trust, and called Bill to inform him.
Q: What did you tell him in that call?
A: Oh boy, I’m not — I’m going to say to you what I said to my wife. I’m not good at relaying exactly how a conversation went. So I just told him the decision. I told him I hope that he beats Nick Begich in November, that I will be casting my vote for him.
Q: So that it wasn’t a situation where you said, ‘I will drop out if you do X, Y, and Z?’
A: No. I didn’t feel that that moment was the time for that. He knows what I’m asking of him. I’ve asked him many times, and he was gracious in this phone call. But you know that wasn’t the nature of the call. I did say to him, ‘Here’s what I expect of you.’
Q: What was that?
A: To stand for the oppressed, to be a voice for the unheard, to represent those who are poor and impoverished and outcast. … Bear in mind, please, that these are all paraphrases. I don’t recall them exactly.
Q: One thing I’ve heard from your supporters is a desire to have somebody who definitively says, ‘I will not caucus with Republicans. I will caucus with Democrats.’ Do you have an assurance? Do you have a feeling? Do you feel that Bill Hill, if elected, will not caucus with Republicans?
A: I don’t know the answer to that yet.
Q: Is there anything that I haven’t asked you that you think is important for me to know?
A: That’s a really good question. Hang on, let me give it some thought.
I think that I’ve been spending a lot of time on this campaign trail, listening to younger generations seeking out their opinion, trying to learn from what their priorities are, and understand why they do or don’t join certain movements.
This has been true in my work in the church too, as I’ve been engaged deeply in the work of fighting against Christian nationalism and wondering why young people join that.
And one of the common factors is young people will join a movement that stands up for what it believes in, whether that’s right or whether that’s wrong.
If they feel that someone is going to have a certain level of commitment and conviction, it’s more likely to bring younger generations along to at least give it some time and effort. But if a given institution signals, time and time and time again, that all they’re going to do is compromise before they’ve even reached the bargaining table, they’re going to walk away from that — because why would you stand with a group that doesn’t even stand for itself? And I think that’s a message that we all need to remember heading into this election.
Q: What do you think it says if, when this primary is said and done, you have more votes than Bill Hill, even after suspending your campaign?
A: I don’t know. You know, sometimes I just follow my conscience, do what I think is best, and tell the truth as best as I possibly can, and then I’ll let other people interpret those results. So I apologize — I’m saying again to you, I don’t know, but I don’t know what that would say.
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