US Midterm Elections 2026 Highlights: Candidates ramp up campaign efforts, make final push as election day arrives

On the eve of Election Day, an FBI investigation involving the presence of a second Dan Sullivan in Alaska’s Senate race has expanded to multiple regions across the remote state. Federal agents, who have traveled to several isolated areas of Alaska, have reportedly knocked on around a dozen doors in Petersburg, interviewing donors to Daniel J. Sullivan, the independent candidate listed on the ballot.

The investigation has raised concerns among local residents, including Petersburg Vice Mayor Jeigh Stanton Gregor, who said two FBI agents visited his home and interviewed his wife on Monday afternoon. “It’s unnerving that federal agents are chasing something like this down in the 11th hour ahead of Election Day,” Gregor said.

Maine Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson rallied supporters at a bowling alley in Portland tonight, marking 100 days since securing the Democratic nomination and delivering a message of urgency with the declaration, “It is our time.” Speaking from atop a bench at Bayside Bowl, Jackson called for a broader vision of government beyond simply reversing the changes made under President Donald Trump. “It’s not just about going back to where we were before Donald Trump, which would be a hell of a lot better than where we are right now,” Jackson said. “It’s about getting the government that you know Democrats should have been fighting for for a hell of a long time before this.”

Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed delivered his closing campaign speech in Detroit, emphasizing the rising cost of living and the challenges Americans face in affording basic necessities. "I hope to be your next United States senator because, y'all, it shouldn't be this hard," El-Sayed said.

He highlighted the cost of everyday essentials, including fuel, groceries, housing and healthcare. "It shouldn't be this hard in the richest, most powerful country in the world to afford a tank of gas," he said. El-Sayed added that it also "shouldn't be this hard" for Americans to afford groceries, own homes and access medical care.

He also criticized his Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, comparing him to a computer-controlled character in a video game, "doomed to do the same thing they're forced to do because of the programme". Turning his criticism toward President Donald Trump, El-Sayed mocked the president's use of his full Arabic name.

"They keep pointing to my name and my faith because they are trying to distract you," El-Sayed said, accusing Republicans of using his identity and religion as a distraction. El-Sayed was introduced at the rally by his wife, Sarah Jukaku, a psychiatrist who has largely remained out of the public spotlight throughout his campaign.

Democratic Kansas Senate nominee Adam Hamilton said he is preparing both a victory speech and a concession speech ahead of the election, while expressing confidence in his campaign’s recent polling numbers. Speaking at his final rally today, Hamilton pointed to encouraging poll results and voiced optimism about his chances of winning. “I actually think we are going to win tomorrow,” he whispered at his final rally today.

Attendees at a rally featuring Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers applauded after Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens was mentioned, following her decision to break with her party and endorse Rogers for the US Senate. Michael Bouchard, who is running for Michigan’s 10th Congressional District, brought up Stevens’ endorsement during his remarks.

“Last night, Haley Stevens chose country over party,” he said, prompting cheers and applause from the crowd. It was the first time the controversy was addressed at the rally that evening. Later, Chelsea Rebeck, a member of the Democrats for Rogers Coalition, also acknowledged Stevens and thanked her for the endorsement. Her remarks sparked chants of “Haley!” from the audience. “Haley, thank you for having the courage to stand up for what you believe in,” Beck said.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who chairs the Senate Democrats’ campaign arm, dismissed the potential impact of Representative Haley Stevens’s decision to endorse Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers in Michigan. “I don’t think voters are going to care, because they’re focused on the price of gasoline,” Gillibrand said in an interview on Tuesday, expressing confidence in the campaign of Democratic nominee Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, who narrowly defeated Stevens in the August primary.

Gillibrand praised El-Sayed’s campaign, saying, “Abdul El-Sayed has run such a strong campaign exciting new voters across the state of Michigan.” She also said she had not known “anything about” an alleged effort by Democrats to stack Alaska’s Senate ballot.

Appearing on Fox News, South Carolina Senator Darline Graham urged Republican voters not to write in another candidate's name as she faces a closely contested Senate race. Graham's campaign for a full Senate term has been complicated by a write-in effort launched by supporters of her primary opponent, Representative Ralph Norman.

Warning that write-in votes could benefit her Democratic opponent, Annie Andrews, Graham said, “I’m the only conservative on the ballot, so if you skip over me, or if you do a write-in, it’s going to be a vote for Annie Andrews,” referring to the Democratic nominee. Graham later headed to a final campaign rally at a brewery in Cayce, South Carolina, where a band played “Don’t Stop Believin’” as Republican candidates gathered for a final push ahead of Election Day.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday swiftly rejected President Donald Trump’s attempt to force California to set aside potentially thousands of ballots that the Justice Department alleged may have been cast by noncitizens. The court denied the administration’s emergency request just hours after it was submitted.

The unusually rapid decision by the conservative-majority court, with no dissent noted, marked another setback for the administration’s legal effort. Its case, which relied on an uncertain methodology, had already been rejected by every lower court that considered it. The administration also faced a significant timing challenge, having brought the appeal to the Supreme Court on the eve of the midterm elections, when an unknown number of the mail-in ballots in question may already have been counted. The Supreme Court did not provide an explanation for its decision, issuing only a one-sentence order.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat facing a closely contested mayoral race against progressive challenger Nithya Raman, has criticised the Trump administration’s emergency appeal to the Supreme Court seeking to set aside 20,000 California ballots allegedly submitted by noncitizens.

The administration filed the appeal just one day before Election Day, asking the nation’s highest court to intervene after lower courts had rejected its efforts. In a statement, Bass accused the Trump administration of attempting to intimidate voters and undermine confidence in the electoral process.

"Donald Trump is asking the supreme court to intervene in the California ballot case the day before Election Day, after lower courts have already said no. This is a desperate attempt to scare people into staying home, and it’s a distraction from the real issues that matter to Angelenos and Californians. It’s also an effort to make Americans doubt our elections, which are safe, secure, and run by dedicated election workers. Don’t fall for it."

With 35 Senate seats up for grabs, seven races have emerged as critical toss-ups that could determine the balance of power in the chamber. Six of the seats are currently held by Republicans, while one is represented by a Democrat.

Alaska, a traditionally Republican state, is considered one of the tightest contests in this year's midterm elections. The race features two candidates named Dan Sullivan, one Republican and the other an independent, a coincidence that has prompted a lawsuit.

In Iowa, another Republican stronghold, Congresswoman Ashley Hinson is facing a tougher-than-expected challenge from Democratic candidate Josh Turek.

Kansas could also become a closely watched battleground. Megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton is seeking to become the first Democrat to win a Senate race in the state since 1932. Although Kansas has long been considered reliably Republican, a recent CNN poll placed Hamilton ahead of incumbent Republican Senator Roger Marshall.

In Maine, Republican Senator Susan Collins, who has secured reelection repeatedly over roughly three decades, is facing a competitive challenge from Democrat Troy Jackson. Recent polling indicates the two candidates are running neck and neck.

Michigan, traditionally a Democratic-leaning state, is also drawing attention as Republican Mike Rogers faces Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed. However, El-Sayed's campaign faced a setback yesterday when Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens endorsed Rogers.

In Ohio, Jon Husted is defending his Senate seat against former Senator Sherrod Brown, who is seeking a political comeback. Polls indicate a tight contest between the two. Husted was appointed to the seat last year after JD Vance left it to become vice president.

Texas could deliver another major political surprise, with Democratic candidate James Talarico seeking to flip the state's Senate seat for the first time since 1988. He faces Republican candidate Ken Paxton in the closely watched contest.

The Cook Political Report has revised its ratings for five additional US House races in favour of Democrats, just ahead of a closely contested Election Day. The election forecasting outlet downgraded four Republican-held or Republican-favored races in North Carolina, Florida and Tennessee from “solid Republican” to “likely Republican.” The changes reflect concerns such as potentially lower Republican turnout and increased campaign spending.

Meanwhile, the race in Virginia’s 5th Congressional District, featuring Republican Rep. John McGuire and former Democratic Rep. Tom Perriello, was shifted from “likely Republican” to “lean Republican” amid rising campaign expenditures by both parties. The agency has also indicated that Republicans face challenges in retaining their House majority as Democrats look to make gains in several key states on Tuesday.

Attorney General Todd Blanche urged the public to report any suspected cases of noncitizens voting ahead of tomorrow’s midterm elections. In a social media post, Blanche encouraged voters to submit tips about potential election-related misconduct, “including but not limited to noncitizens voting, double voting, and ballot-box stuffing.” “The Department of Justice expects all federal election laws to be followed,” Blanche said on X, adding, “Violators will be found and prosecuted.”

Approximately 32,000 voters in Washoe County, Nevada, which includes the city of Reno, received mail-in ballot return envelopes bearing the word “FALSE.” According to George Guthrie, a spokesperson for the county’s Registrar of Voters, the envelopes came from an “initial production batch prepared by our ballot printing vendor.” Guthrie clarified that the issue did not target voters based on their political affiliation. “The affected envelopes were not limited to voters of any particular political party,” Guthrie said.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger expressed confidence that the state would deliver “free, fair and fast” election results on election night. “We know that we are going to have an accurate election,” the Republican election official said on Monday. He highlighted the state's efforts to maintain a “clean” voter registration list limited to American citizens, a reliable photo identification system and verifiable paper ballots.

With Georgia facing competitive Senate and gubernatorial races this year, Raffensperger also assured voters that results would be released quickly. “I like to go to bed early and so I want to be done before midnight,” he predicted. “We did that in 2024 there is no reason we won’t do that tomorrow.”

After spending nearly 25 minutes discussing renovation projects across Washington, DC, President Donald Trump shifted his attention to the upcoming midterm elections, launching a sharp attack on Democratic candidates. "The Democrat Party has nominated the most extreme and dangerous slate of candidates in American history," Trump said. "These are the most dangerous candidates ever put up."

The president accused Democrats of promoting what he described as a radical political agenda and "dangerous ideologies." He pointed to their positions on immigration and transgender rights as examples of what he considers concerning policies. Trump also pledged to defend the country's traditional values and cultural identity, telling supporters: "We will defend our country, our culture and our heritage for generations to come," he said.

President Donald Trump has remained a central figure in the 2026 midterm elections, repeatedly urging voters to act like I’m on the ballot as both political parties have made him a major focus of their campaign advertising. According to data from AdImpact, advertisers aired more than 3,600 ads focused on Trump since the beginning of 2025, spending over $1.6 billion to broadcast them during the election cycle.

Democrats, however, have placed considerably greater emphasis on highlighting the president in their campaign messaging, particularly amid declining approval ratings and growing criticism of his policies on tariffs and the war in Iran. Democratic campaigns and groups spent approximately $919 million on Trump-related advertisements this cycle, compared with around $556 million spent by Republicans, according to AdImpact.

The spending gap widened significantly during the fall campaign season. Following Labor Day, when primary elections had concluded and both parties shifted their attention primarily toward general election voters, Democrats spent approximately $339 million on advertisements featuring Trump. Republicans, by comparison, spent just $22 million on Trump-focused ads during the same period, highlighting the stark difference in how the two parties approached the president's role in their midterm campaign strategies.

President Donald Trump highlighted a recent decline in oil prices on Monday, claiming they had recorded their biggest single-day drop in history, even as prices remained among the highest levels ever recorded ahead of Election Day. Speaking at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC, on the eve of the midterm elections, Trump credited the decline to developments involving Iran and predicted that oil prices would fall further.

“Oil today is down $10, which is the biggest drop in oil in history,” Trump said in remarks at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the eve of midterm elections. “There’s never been any single day where oil has gone down that much, down $10, and it’s going to go down a lot further because we’re winning with Iran, easily winning.”

US President Donald Trump on Monday described this week's midterm elections as the most significant in his lifetime while delivering remarks at the reopening of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC. "This is the last day before the midterm elections, the most important midterm I believe in our lifetime," Trump said approximately 26 minutes into his speech. Much of the president's address focused on renovation projects involving monuments and other landmarks across the US capital, with the reopening of the Reflecting Pool serving as the backdrop for his remarks.

On the eve of Election Day, President Donald Trump devoted much of his remarks to highlighting renovation projects across Washington, DC, speaking for more than 24 minutes in front of the newly refurbished Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Around six minutes into his speech, Trump asked an aide to bring him photographs showcasing the renovation work. For at least eight minutes, he displayed the pictures to the small audience, explaining the changes made to the stonework and other improvements. “In many cases, granite will have a million, what they call a million-year life. It’s the strongest stone, but we’re able to resurface it largely,” Trump said, spending considerable time discussing the material and renovation process rather than the approaching midterm elections.

The president eventually addressed issues such as crime and the economy, including the rising cost of living, which remains a major concern for voters. However, those topics came only after an extended discussion of the Reflecting Pool and other projects in and around the nation's capital.

Turning to Tuesday's elections, Trump struck a cautious note, reiterating his familiar observation that the party controlling the White House often faces difficulties during midterm elections. “For some reason, the sitting president doesn’t win the midterms. But we gave this a very strong shot,” Trump said.

Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers has described Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens’ decision to endorse him over fellow Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s US Senate race as “courageous,” defending her move amid criticism from within her own party. “I know Democrats are thumping their chest and saying she has done something other than courageous,” Rogers said on Fox News Monday. “It was nothing but courageous.”

In an interview with CNN, Stevens described her decision to support Rogers as “rock solid” but declined to explain the reasons behind her change of position. Rogers also used his Fox News appearance to criticize the Democratic nominee, urging voters to focus on El-Sayed's political positions. “I think what people need to start focusing on is how extreme Abdul El-Sayed is,” Rogers told Fox News.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday, he would consider preemptive pardons for Elon Musk and aides, if Democrats regain majority in the Congress following the midterm election. He claimed that it was what his predecessor Joe Biden had did to protect his aides. Trump made the remarks in an interview released Monday on the "Pod Force One" podcast. Host Miranda Devine asked him about rumors that Democrats could investigate Musk or seize his assets. Trump called the talk overblown but said that if it came to it, “we'll have to protect them.”

"It's talk, but if it is talk, we'll have to protect them," Trump said in a podcast interview with the New York Post.
He pointed to former President Joe Biden's pardons of members of the House committee that investigated the January 6 Capitol attack. Bloomberg reported that Trump also named aides who could be targeted, including Edward Coristine, a former DOGE staffer.

Read full story here

Texas State Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for the US Senate, emerged as the leading individual fundraiser of the 2026 midterm elections, collecting an impressive $146.3 million through mid-October, according to the latest campaign finance reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission before Election Day.

Other Democratic candidates also posted strong fundraising numbers. Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff secured the second spot with $136.6 million, while former Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, who is seeking a political comeback this year, ranked third with $68.4 million.

A significant portion of Talarico’s fundraising came from grassroots supporters. Small-dollar contributions, defined as donations totaling less than $200, accounted for $75.3 million of his overall haul. Such donations are particularly valuable because they allow campaigns to build broad support and receive additional contributions without quickly reaching individual donor limits. Ossoff demonstrated similar grassroots strength, collecting $66.7 million from small-dollar donors.

Among House candidates, New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez led the fundraising rankings, bringing in $38 million through mid-October. Her total exceeded the fundraising figures of all but five Senate candidates, despite Senate campaigns generally requiring larger financial resources. Small-dollar donors contributed more than half of her total, accounting for $24.4 million.

On the Republican side, Maine Sen. Susan Collins was the party's top-raising Senate candidate, collecting $25.2 million for her principal campaign committee. Former Rep. Mike Rogers, the Republican Senate nominee in Michigan, followed with $23 million. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is challenging Talarico in one of the year's most closely watched Senate contests, raised $22.3 million.

For House Republicans, Speaker Mike Johnson led individual candidates with $24.6 million through his campaign committee. That figure does not include additional millions raised through joint fundraising committees supporting multiple candidates.

Excluding personal loans and contributions, Arizona Rep. Eli Crane ranked second among Republican House candidates, raising $11.9 million. Small-dollar donors contributed $4.2 million of that amount, highlighting his strength among grassroots supporters.

Rock legend Bruce Springsteen has thrown his support behind Dr. Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race, expressing strong confidence in the candidate and his commitment to American democracy. Springsteen praised El-Sayed for defending the U.S. Constitution and democratic values while standing against what he described as the corrupt and lawless leadership of the current White House. “Dr. El-Sayed is a fighter for our American Constitution, he's a fighter for our American Democracy, and he's a fighter against the corrupt, lawless, and anti-American leadership currently in the White House. That's why I'm in his corner 100%.”

President Donald Trump is set to deliver his closing midterm argument from Washington’s Reflecting Pool later today, in a setting far removed from the packed campaign rallies he has led over the past month. A modest audience area, with seating for around 50 people, has been arranged at the base of the Lincoln Memorial. Space has also been reserved for several dozen reporters. Trump will deliver his remarks with the newly reopened Reflecting Pool in the background, protected by ballistic glass.

The signs displayed on the stage offer a glimpse into the message the president intends to convey. One reads, “Restoring our Capital,” while another features an aerial photograph of the pool alongside the words, “Back, and more beautiful than ever!” The pool has been refilled following a prolonged and embarrassing series of setbacks, including the botched installation of a bright blue liner and the return of algae blooms during the summer. The water now looks clean and dark. However, the surrounding section of the National Mall has been closed ahead of Trump's appearance.

Trump's aides had previously suggested that he might spend the final day before the election campaigning on the road. However, no additional events were announced, and the president indicated during his final rally in Kansas on Sunday night that he was finished campaigning. “I’m closing the sucker down. I’m getting outta here. I gotta get a little sleep,” he told his crowd. “I’ve been doing a little too many of these, if you don’t mind.”

As Americans head to the polls on Tuesday, they will face a costly reminder of rising inflation and the Iran war, with gasoline prices set to reach their highest level ever on an election day. The national average price for regular gasoline stood at $4.17 per gallon on Monday, according to AAA. Although pump prices have declined in recent weeks, they are still expected to surpass the previous Election Day record set in 2022 during the Biden administration. According to a CNN analysis of AAA data, the national average on Election Day 2022 was $3.80 per gallon, meaning this year's price is on track to exceed that mark significantly.

Democratic Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed declined to comment on Rep. Haley Stevens’ defection during his latest campaign stop in Ypsilanti, choosing instead to emphasize his focus on issues affecting Michigan residents. When asked after the event whether he had a message for Stevens, El-Sayed simply replied, “Nope.”

He added that he doesn’t “think much about my former opponent,” saying his attention remains on issues facing Michiganders, particularly young people. “Like those are the things I think a lot about. And I know that when we have that conversation in as many places as we can, that people who see the moment and see what the current administration and their lackey, Mike Rogers, want to do in the future, they’re going to choose a different way,” El-Sayed told reporters.

The Trump administration on Monday asked the US Supreme Court to order California to set aside 20,000 mail-in ballots that it alleges were issued to noncitizens. The emergency request followed a divided federal appeals court ruling against the administration, which had sought to require California election officials to impound the ballots for further review. The administration is now turning to the nation’s highest court to challenge the appeals court’s decision and pursue its demand for additional scrutiny of the ballots.

“Ditch the Witch” chants targeting New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul erupted at Vice President JD Vance’s rally in Rome, New York, on Monday, as attendees voiced their opposition to the governor. Although Vance initially said he did not endorse the chants, he drew further attention to them by repeating the slogan and appearing amused by the crowd’s reaction. “I don’t endorse it, but for those who can’t hear it, they’re chanting ‘Ditch the Witch’ on TV,” Vance told the audience, prompting cheers.

Calling it a “proper and appropriate Halloween message,” Vance added that he was not necessarily endorsing the phrase before repeating, “Ditch the witch.” Vance said that Monday marked his final day on the campaign trail ahead of the midterm elections. After his New York appearance, he was scheduled to head to his home state of Ohio for another rally.

Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is facing heavy criticism over his remarks about transgender athletes when he suggested during an interview that the issue is “manufactured”. On being asked about transgender athletes during a ‘60 Minutes’ interview, El-Sayed said, “And instead, we’re out here talking about who gets to play what sport, which, you know, should be the question of the people who govern sports. I’m not running to govern sports, right?”

The discussion came amid a broader question about parental control over education and tensions between some Muslim voters and cultural liberalism, like what schools teach and transgender students’ participation on sports teams.

Click here to read full story

The campaign of Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate nominee in Michigan, announced Monday that it had raised $2.4 million on Sunday, the same day his former primary rival, Representative Haley Stevens, endorsed the Republican candidate in the race. Stevens’s endorsement sparked widespread shock and criticism among fellow Democrats. In a statement, El-Sayed’s campaign said the fundraising surge came from more than 65,000 donors who contributed throughout Sunday.

Election Day is Tuesday, but nearly 50 million ballots have already been cast, with early voting turnout exceeding levels recorded during the previous midterm election cycle across all major Senate battleground states. In several key states, Democrats account for a growing share of registered voters who have cast ballots early, including through mail-in voting and in-person early voting. The emerging numbers offer little encouragement for Republicans, who benefited from strong early in-person turnout in 2024. The surge in early voting also points to the possibility of another high-turnout election, potentially approaching the record-setting midterm participation levels seen in 2018 and 2022.

Ken Paxton, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, addressed his estranged wife, Angela Paxton, during an appearance on a conservative talk radio show Monday, thanking her for appearing in an advertisement urging Republican voters to support the party’s entire ticket despite concerns about individual candidates. Angela Paxton, a state senator who stood by her husband through years of legal and personal controversies, filed for divorce in 2025, citing adultery. Ken Paxton has since been linked to a Christian influencer and registered Democrat from Louisiana, though he has not publicly acknowledged the relationship.