A Democrat running for the state legislature in battleground North Carolina remains on the ballot despite her party publicly abandoning her after inflammatory social media posts she made resurfaced.

The North Carolina House Democratic Caucus and a county party group both condemned posts by Shelly Headen in which the legislative candidate called for an attack on U.S. soil targeting red states and compared President Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler.

But Headen remains a candidate because the filing deadline to drop out of the race was Aug. 20, and the general election ballots are finalized and were sent out to voters starting on Sept. 4.

Headen, who is challenging Republican state Rep. John Blust for the House District 62 seat in Greensboro-anchored Guilford County, posted a year ago, «I think our only hope is an attack on US Soil … preferably Alabama, Louisiana … where the stupid people live.»

WATCH: HUGH HEWITT’S TAKE ON THE HEADEN CONTROVERSY

In separate posts, she argued that the damage done by Trump was «getting close to surpassing Hitler» and claimed the «MAGA cult may be more destructive and evil than the Nazis.»

Breitbart reported that a Facebook post by Headen that pictured her at a memorial at the Nazis’ Dachau concentration camp in Germany, where tens of thousands of people were murdered during World War II, with the words, «This is where Trump supporters belong.»

Headen denied last week to the Greensboro News and Record that she posted the concentration camp image and said she believed the image was edited to include the words over a real photo.

Her old comments grabbed new national attention earlier this week when the White House Rapid Response account that supports Trump shared them on X and charged that Democrats «ARE SICK PEOPLE!»

DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE ELECTION HUB

North Carolina Republican U.S. Senate nominee Michael Whatley posted on social media a photo of Headen and former Gov. Roy Cooper, the Democratic Senate nominee, and argued, «Roy Cooper still stands with NC Dem who called for the genocide of Republicans. This is against everything America stands for.»

«These remarks are reprehensible – Roy strongly condemns them and all forms of political violence and he believes it’s up to all of us to speak responsibly,» Cooper’s campaign emphasized in a statement.

Headen, a certified public accountant and small business owner, told WFDD, a public radio station in North Carolina, that she didn’t remember making the posts but apologized to those hurt by them. And she added that she understood the party’s decision to drop support for her.

But in an interview with The Assembly, a digital-first news operation in North Carolina, Headen defended her posts, describing them as «a few angry moments.»

«I’ve sacrificed myself just like Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross, and Martin Luther King and Abraham Lincoln and all the people that put themselves out there to sacrifice for our country,» Headen also told The Assembly. 

«If a few angry moments on social media are the end, then so be it. MAGA will keep winning if we continue with not standing up for what’s right.»

The Assembly’s reporting preceded the move by Democrats to drop support.

SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER

«Shelly Headen’s posts are unacceptable and do not reflect the values we expect of our candidates,» the North Carolina House Democratic Caucus said in a statement. The caucus added that it «condemns these comments without qualification and will not support Shelly Headen’s candidacy.»

The Guilford County Democratic Party said in a statement, «We unequivocally reject and condemn the social media posts by Shelly Headen. These statements violate everything our party represents. Effective immediately, the county Democratic Party is formally withdrawing all financial, operational and organizational support for Shelley Headen’s campaign.»

Headen earlier this week told Digital she’s received death threats in recent days but declined to give any further responses regarding her posts.

In an article published Thursday in The Rhino Times, Headen reiterated, «I’ve been getting death threats, and now all I want to do is protect myself and my family. My whole world has been collapsing.»

And she acknowledged that she took down her social media pages, saying, «I don’t have access to any of my accounts anymore.»

Republicans have spotlighted the controversy.

North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall called Headen’s comments «Absolutely disgusting.»

And the North Carolina House Republicans wrote on X, «Democrat Shelly Headen who is «Running to Restore Human Decency» just posted that she wants an attack on US soil. It is unclear whether Shelly would prefer ISIS or China to attack the United States, but it’s clear she wants an attack.»

Meanwhile, the popular conservative X account Libs of TikTok argued that Headen «should drop out immediately. She doesn’t belong anywhere public office.»

The attention over the resurfaced comments comes a week after Headen faced a separate controversy following a move by State House Republicans to release two 2024 Guilford County Sheriff’s Office incident reports involving her and her husband, Gregory Thomas Headen.

The reports, which identify the alleged domestic offense as physical assault, list Headen as the suspect and her husband as the potential victim.

In a statement she released earlier this month, Headen said that during a stressful time in their marriage, she and her husband had «a couple of arguments that escalated.» She said that, during one argument, her husband grabbed her, causing her to fall backward and hit her head. She then called 911.

Headen, in her statement, described herself as having experienced abuse. And she argued that Republicans were using a private family matter for political gain.

politics, north carolina, donald trump, democrats elections, republicans elections, elections

Anyone who has a conversation with former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is likely to hear his claim that he was never going to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by former President Barack Obama in 2008, insisting his innocence in the high-profile case that led to him serving nearly eight years in federal prison. 

Blagojevich has repeated for years that he was closing in on a deal to appoint Lisa Madigan to the U.S. Senate.

Hers is a name that has largely dropped out of the public arena. At the time of the scandal, Madigan served as Illinois attorney general. More relevant to this case, she is the daughter of the very powerful and entrenched then-Speaker of the Illinois House Mike Madigan. 

RAHM EMANUEL WARNS DSA AGENDA DOESN’T PLAY WELL OUTSIDE ‘UPPER WEST SIDE OF MANHATTAN’

The former speaker has since gone to prison for a separate corruption case. (Welcome to Illinois.) Blagojevich claims he would have appointed Lisa to the Senate in exchange for the father supporting his healthcare package and budget.

Shortly after the arrest of Gov. Blagojevich in December 2009, both President-elect Obama and his incoming chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, were interviewed by the FBI. Obama was interviewed Dec. 18, nine days after the governor was arrested. Emanuel was interviewed on the 20th. The records of those interviews were kept out of both criminal trials and away from the public, until now. has obtained the partially redacted FBI FD-302s of those interviews.

The Obama interview notes, «Obama was asked whether he was aware of Emanuel having a conversation with the Blagojevich administration regarding Lisa Madigan being considered for the Senate seat in exchange for legislation being passed.

«Emanuel would have been aware that Lisa Madigan was an acceptable candidate to Obama. Emanuel had an open line of conversation with the Blagojevich administration.»

The Emanuel interview notes that, on Dec. 8, 2008, «(David) Axelrod and Emanuel went to see (U.S. Senator Dick) Durbin, D-Ill. In this meeting, they all agreed that Lisa Madigan would be a good candidate.»

«As a result of this conversation, Emanuel contacted (Blagojevich Chief of staff, John) Harris and told him the merits of appointing Lisa Madigan as Senator.»

The next morning, Dec. 9, 2009, just after 6 a.m., Blagojevich was arrested at his home in Chicago.

RAHM EMANUEL WARNS ‘BERNIE BROS’ COULD SINK DEMOCRATS BY SADDLING MODERATES WITH SOCIALIST AGENDA

Then-U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Patrick Fitzgerald said, «Governor Blagojevich was arrested in the middle of what we can only describe as a political corruption crime spree. We acted to stop that crime spree.»

«That just proves the Madigan deal was very much front and center. It was something I was about to do,» Blagojevich said in light of the newly unsealed information. «There never was a crime spree that Mr. Fitzgerald, the U.S. attorney, said he was stopping to justify arresting a sitting governor in his home.»

Other interesting notes from the interviews: President Obama initially wanted Valerie Jarrett to succeed him in the Senate. But he reversed his thinking early in the process, deciding «that he would like Jarrett to join him at the White House as a senior advisor.»

However, «Emanuel was still interested in Jarrett taking the Senate seat rather than working in the White House.»

Because, according to the Emanuel interview, «the fact that she is the president-elect’s best friend, having her on the White House staff would be awkward.»

«Rahm’s a crafty, political, crafty, cunning and very effective political operator,» Blagojevich chimed in. «He was interested in being closer to the king.»

Eventually, according to the Emanuel interview, Obama became resolute. 

«Obama told Emanuel he made a decision that Jarrett was going to the White House, and he was not going to reconsider this decision.»

After that, a gaggle of familiar names entered the ring for consideration: Tammy Duckworth, and Reps. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., and Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., who also went to prison for a separate case.

MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL WILL HAUNT FLANAGAN IN HIGH-STAKES SENATE RACE, TOP HOUSE REPUBLICAN WARNS

Then Obama, busy with establishing a new administration, stated, «He did not want to put his thumb on the scale.»

Still, he dispatched Emanuel to communicate with the governor’s office that «Obama was interested in someone who he thought would be a good senator for the people of Illinois and who could also hold the seat in the 2010 election.»

Blagojevich ended up appointing Roland Burris to Obama’s vacated seat. Burris did not run for re-election.

Republican Mark Kirk won the seat in 2010 and was defeated by Tammy Duckworth in 2016.

Blagojevich served 7 years, 11 months in prison until President Trump commuted his sentence in 2020. Blagojevich received a full pardon in 2025.

reached out to both former President Obama and Rahm Emanuel. They did not respond.

illinois, barack obama, governors, fbi, corruption

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Cuba experienced a total power failure Friday, according to the U.S. Embassy in Havana.

Advertisement

The embassy said the failure was due to the «collapse of Cuba’s electrical grid.»

According to Cuban regime media, the reason for the collapse is under investigation and the timeline to restore power is unknown.»

«All U.S. citizens in Cuba or planning to travel to Cuba should be aware and plan accordingly. There are reports of cellphone and internet outages,» the embassy added, noting that Cuba’s electrical grid is «increasingly unstable,» which has led to «multiple» nationwide power outages in the last few months.

Advertisement

CUBA’S ECONOMIC FREEFALL IS HIDING A NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT JUST MILES FROM FLORIDA: REPORT

The sun sets during a power outage in Havana Friday.  (Adalberto Roque/AFP via Getty Images)

The embassy added, «The electrical system remains vulnerable, and additional regular outages have been occurring more frequently and for longer periods. Scheduled power cuts occur daily, and unscheduled outages persist throughout Cuba.»

Advertisement

Cuba’s energy ministry also posted about the power outage on social media.

LEFT-WING INFLUENCER DOWNPLAYS CUBA BLACKOUTS: WORSENING SHORTAGES; ‘PEOPLE ARE PARTYING’

A bicycle taxi travels down a street in Havana during an island-wide power outage Friday. (Yami Lage/AFP via Getty Images)

The country’s power system has been struggling because of fuel shortages, the U.S.-imposed oil blockade and crumbling infrastructure.

Advertisement

CUBA’S DICTATORSHIP HAS LONG BEEN A THREAT TO AMERICA. NOW, IT’S FINALLY TEETERING

People sit in a darkened building lobby during a power outage in Havana, Cuba, Friday.  (Ricardo Arduengo/Reuters)

Even when there isn’t a national outage, the country often endures rolling blackouts that leave millions without power.

The last national outage happened just last month, and Friday’s marks the seventh this year.

Advertisement

Brie Stimson is a Los Angeles-based entertainment and breaking news writer for Fox News Digital. 

cuba, geopolitics, state department, world