US Midterms Approach as Democrats Lead in National Polls
President Donald Trump and Democratic candidates hold final rallies before Tuesday's midterm elections, which serve as a referendum on Trump's second-term performance.
The United States is entering the final stages of the 2026 midterm elections, with polls opening Tuesday, November 3. The cycle serves as a referendum on the performance of Donald Trump halfway through his second term. While Republicans have out-raised and out-spent Democrats—supported by a $446 million contribution from Elon Musk—national polling shows Democrats leading 51.5 percent to 43.1 percent. Analysts suggest Democrats are favored to take control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
President Trump is conducting final campaign events in Iowa and Kansas, while Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed is rallying in Detroit and Southfield, Michigan. Both parties have centered their final messages on a cost-of-living crisis exacerbated by tariffs and the US-Israel war on Iran. Over 51 million Americans have already cast early ballots, though Republicans have questioned the accuracy of current polling.
Spending for the cycle is projected to break records, with an estimated $11.21 billion spent on advertisements. The most expensive contests are toss-up Senate races in Texas, Ohio, and Michigan. In Texas, Republican Ken Paxton has received $37 million from the Trump-aligned super PAC MAGA Inc. Other high-stakes races include a gubernatorial contest in New Mexico, where Democrat Deb Haaland leads, and a close Senate race in Alaska between Republican Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola.
