US midterm elections 2026 LIVE: Democrats, Republicans see close contest; Justice dept intervenes in mail-in ballot case

US midterm elections 2026 LIVE: President Donald Trump delivered a final political message on the eve of the midterm elections, directing his criticism towards Democratic candidates and what he described as their “radical agenda.”

During the ceremony marking the reopening of the renovated Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Trump highlighted the significance of the approaching midterm vote, describing it as an especially consequential election.

“As you know, today is the last day before the midterm elections, the most important 'midterm' in our lives, I think,” he remarked.

He subsequently turned his attention to the opposing party, attacking its choice of candidates.

“The Democrat Party has nominated the most extreme and dangerous slate of candidates in American history," Trump said.

(Fox News)

US midterm elections 2026 LIVE: President Donald Trump's administration approached the Supreme Court on Monday, seeking an order to temporarily stop California from counting mail-in ballots submitted by more than 20,000 registered voters who federal officials allege are likely non-US citizens.

In its emergency filing, the Justice Department sought to halt the counting of the contested ballots until the citizenship of each affected voter could be established, intensifying a legal dispute with potential consequences for thousands of voters.

A federal appeals court rejected the administration's request on Friday.

The legal battle comes as Republicans aligned with Trump seek to maintain their control of Congress in Tuesday's midterm elections. California, the country's most populous state, remains a Democratic stronghold.

(Reuters)

US midterm elections 2026 LIVE: Power outages in downtown Washington DC, have disrupted traffic signals and affected several government offices, including the State Department.

Meanwhile, two election centers in Arizona's Maricopa County were forced to close because of power-related issues, according to Inside Wire.

The disruptions occurred just a day before Election Day, as voters nationwide prepared to head to the polls for the midterm elections.

US President Donald Trump urged Republican voters to turn out in large numbers on Tuesday, warning that Democrats could take control of Congress if Republicans failed to win enough seats.

Trump delivered the message at a campaign rally in Kansas on Sunday, his final rally ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Before beginning his speech, Trump paused to look at the new Air Force One jet gifted by Qatar. He asked the crowd for a few minutes to admire the aircraft and called it a "beauty".

Trump held around 30 rallies over the past month to support Republican candidates and encourage their supporters to vote in the midterm elections.

During Sunday's speech, Trump warned that the country could face serious problems if Democrats gained control of Congress. He called the party "a party that hates America" and accused its members of being "communists and jihadists". He also warned that Democrats would try to reverse the policies and achievements of his administration if they took control of Congress.

Trump briefly addressed concerns about the Iran war and rising prices but focused mainly on why Republicans needed to retain control of Washington. He again asked supporters to "pretend I'm on the ballot", highlighting the importance of the midterm elections for his presidency. As he ended his campaign tour, Trump praised the large crowds at his rallies, saying there had never been anything like them. (CNN)

Chants of "Ditch the Witch" broke out at US Vice President JD Vance's campaign event in Rome, New York, on Monday as the crowd protested against Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul.

Vance said he did not support the chant but repeated the words while addressing the crowd, drawing cheers from supporters. He called it an appropriate Halloween message but said he was not necessarily endorsing it.

Vance said Monday was his final day of campaigning before the US midterm elections. After his New York event, Vance was scheduled to travel to his home state of Ohio for another rally. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump was set to deliver his final campaign remarks at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC. (CNN)

The Trump administration has asked the US Supreme Court to order California to separate ballots that may have been submitted by people who are not US citizens. The request came after lower courts rejected the Justice Department's attempt to intervene in California's election process shortly before voting.

The federal government claims that around 20,000 people registered to vote in California may not be eligible because their citizenship status is unclear.

The Justice Department wants mail-in ballots submitted by these voters to be kept separate until officials can check whether they are US citizens. Under California law, people must confirm that they are US citizens before registering to vote. (NBC News)

Americans going to vote on Tuesday will have to deal with record-high petrol prices. This comes as people are already worried about rising prices and the impact of the Iran war. According to AAA, the average price of regular petrol in the US was $4.17 per gallon on Monday.

Gas prices have fallen slightly in recent weeks. However, gas prices are still higher than the previous Election Day record of $3.80 per gallon in November 2022. They are also much higher than during the 2024 presidential election, when gas cost an average of $3.10 per gallon.

Diesel prices are also close to record levels. The national average stood at $6.29 per gallon on Monday, higher than the previous Election Day record of $5.35 in 2022.

Michigan, a key battleground state, has seen the biggest increase in gas prices over the past 12 months compared with other US states. Trump had promised to bring back $2-a-gallon gasoline during his 2024 election campaign. However, the Iran war has pushed fuel prices higher.

Gas prices during Trump's second term have averaged $3.48 per gallon so far, slightly above the $3.471 average during former President Joe Biden's administration. When adjusted for inflation, gas prices were actually higher in 2012, reaching $5.07 per gallon. However, voters usually focus on the actual amount they pay at petrol pumps. Diesel prices are expected to set a new record on Election Day, even after adjusting for inflation. (CNN)

Millions of Americans have already voted ahead of Tuesday's US midterm elections, including voters in Georgia. Georgia has recorded 2.8 million early votes, the highest number ever recorded in a midterm election in the state.

The early votes account for around one-third of all registered voters in Georgia. The high turnout is being seen as a sign of strong voter interest, especially in areas that traditionally support Democrats.

However, votes cast on November 3 will also be important, particularly in Georgia's closely contested governor's race between Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republican Rick Jackson. (BBC)

Several key Senate races across the US remain close, but Democrats are gaining support in some important states just one day before the midterm elections. Polls show Democratic candidates leading in five of the seven key battleground states: Kansas, Maine, Ohio, Texas and Alaska.

In Iowa, Democrat Joshua Turek and Republican Ashley Hinson are almost tied, according to several polls. Experts have warned that election polls can be wrong. However, Democratic victories in these states would be important because some have not elected a Democratic senator in decades.

Since 1988 Texas has not elected a Democratic senator. Kansas has not had a Democratic senator since 1932. To take control of the Senate, Democrats must keep all the seats they currently hold and win at least four seats held by Republicans.

In Michigan, polls show Democrat Abdul El-Sayed leading. However, most of these polls were conducted before Democratic candidate Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers, creating tensions within the party. (BBC)

US President Donald Trump is not on the ballot in Tuesday's midterm elections because the polls will decide control of Congress, not the presidency. However, Trump has been campaigning across the country and asking voters to support Republican candidates.

At a recent campaign event, Trump told supporters to "pretend I'm on the ballot", saying the elections were also important for him. Republicans keeping control of Congress would help Trump pass his plans and push forward the laws he wants.

Trump has held campaign events in several states, including Texas, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama and Oklahoma, to encourage people to vote for Republican candidates. During rallies in Iowa and Kansas on Sunday, Trump tried to shift attention away from voters' concerns about rising prices. (BBC)

US Vice President JD Vance will hold election rallies in Ohio and New York on Monday, a day before the midterm elections. Ohio is a key battleground state, with close races for the Senate, governor and several seats in the House of Representatives.

In the Ohio Senate race, Republican Jon Husted is facing Democrat and former senator Sherrod Brown. The state's governor race is also competitive, with Republican Vivek Ramaswamy taking on Democrat Amy Acton.

Vance will also hold a rally in upstate New York, in the district represented by Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, as noted by NBC News.

President Donald Trump will not hold any in-person rallies on Monday. However, he will take part in several virtual rallies to support Republican candidates, the White House said.

Abdul El-Sayed, Michigan Democratic Senate candidate, raised more than $2.4 million in a single day, marking the biggest one-day fundraising total of his campaign. More than 65,000 people donated to his campaign, with each person giving an average of around $36.

More than 29,000 people made their first donation to El-Sayed's campaign. The fundraising came on the same day that Haley Stevens, El-Sayed's rival in the Democratic primary, endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers. El-Sayed's campaign said the money would help him reach voters across Michigan during the final days of the election campaign. (NBC News)

Around 54.5 million Americans have already cast their votes ahead of Tuesday's US midterm elections, according to figures from the University of Florida's Election Lab. Of the total early votes, around 30 million people voted in person, while 24 million returned their ballots by mail.

Older voters made up the largest share of early voters. People aged 41 to 65 accounted for 37.6% of the votes, while those aged over 65 made up 43.1%. The figures show strong early voting activity ahead of the elections, which will decide control of the US Congress. (CNN)

US midterm elections 2026 LIVE: The Department of Justice under the Trump administration has announced it will intervene in the midterm elections on November 3, with regard to the mail-in ballots.

In California, the Justice Department sought to set aside mail-in ballots from about 20,000 voters it alleges are likely non-US citizens ineligible to vote.

The department has also demanded records in a related criminal probe. California has said it has implemented measures to prevent voting by noncitizens and argued the Justice Department does not have the authority to block votes.

In Alaska, the department has also launched a criminal investigation if a Senate candidate with the same name as Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan entered the race to confuse voters.

US Attorney General Todd Blanche says the department's efforts are lawful and aim to protect the integrity of the vote.

“The Department isn’t helping any campaign. It’s enforcing the law," department spokesperson Kiersten Pels said in a statement.

US midterm elections 2026 LIVE: US stock index futures were higher on Monday as technology and AI-related stocks steadied after a dismal October, with investors turning their attention to the midterm elections and another busy week of earnings.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 shed over $2.5 trillion in market value last month and was on the brink of entering correction territory, as investors grew wary of Big Tech's soaring AI spending while awaiting evidence of stronger returns.

US midterm elections 2026 LIVE: The elections are being closely watched as a test of President Donald Trump's popularity and could shape the final two years of his presidency. Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both chambers, while Democrats are seeking to regain control of Congress.

More than 43 million Americans had already cast their ballots through early voting, according to figures reported five days before Election Day. The early turnout was nearly 10 million higher than at the same stage in the 2022 midterm elections. Among states reporting party affiliation, around 6.8 million Democrats and 5.2 million Republicans had voted. However, early voting figures do not indicate how people have voted. (AP)

US midterm elections 2026 LIVE: Trump's Justice Department has intervened in election disputes ahead of Tuesday's midterm polls, breaking with a long-standing practice of avoiding actions that could appear to favour a political party.

The department sought to block mail-in ballots from around 20,000 voters in California over alleged non-citizen voting and pursued a case in Alaska involving a Senate candidate with the same name as Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan. Courts have rejected both lawsuits, although the DOJ has appealed the Alaska ruling. (Reuters)

US midterm elections 2026 LIVE: The Texas Senate contest has become the most expensive non-presidential race in American electoral history, with political advertising spending and reservations reaching a record $573 million, according to advertising intelligence firm AdImpact.

The record expenditure comes as Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico face off in a closely contested Senate race ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections, with recent polling indicating a lead for the Democratic candidate.

According to AdImpact, the Texas Senate race has recorded $165.7 million in primary advertising expenditure, followed by another $407.5 million in general election advertising spending and reservations.

Texas is only the second non-presidential race in US history to cross the $500 million mark in political advertising, following the 2024 Ohio Senate contest, which recorded $542.7 million.

US midterm elections 2026 LIVE: Michigan Democrat, Representative Haley Stevens, endorsed Republican Mike Rogers on Sunday, giving US President Donald Trump's Republicans an unexpected boost in a critical Senate race two days before midterm elections that will decide control of Congress.

Stevens, who lost the Michigan Democrats' Senate primary to Abdul El-Sayed in a bitterly contested race, publicly backed Rogers and appeared with him at a Detroit church, threatening to worsen divisions in a state viewed as crucial to Democratic hopes of retaking the US Senate.

"I don't belong in Abdul's campaign," Stevens said in a video posted to social media.

US midterm elections 2026 LIVE: US midterm elections 2026 LIVE: The Republicans and Democrats have held their final rallies as they brace for the key midterm vote on November 3.

For his closing argument, Trump chose a speech in Washington at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool -- a landmark that has become synonymous with the 80-year-old president's obsessive, controversial drive to redevelop the US capital.

US midterm elections 2026 LIVE: Most polls across the US states will open from 6am to 8am. The counting of votes start Tuesday night but could go on for days or even weeks as not all states will close polls early.

The first polls will close at 7pm Eastern Time in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Virginia, Vermont. The last poll will close at 1am Eastern time in Alaska.

US midterm elections 2026 LIVE: Abdul El-Sayed is running as a Democratic nominee in Michigan’s US Senate election where he will be competing against Republican Mike Rogers for an open seat.

El-Sayed won the Democratic primary in August, defeating US Representative Haley Stevens and securing the nomination with support from progressive leaders, including Bernie Sanders. His campaign has focused on healthcare affordability, Medicare for All and campaign finance reform.

El-Sayed entered electoral politics in 2018 where he ran for the governor of Michigan. He lost the primary to Gretchen Whitmer by roughly 21% votes. In 2025, he launched his campaign for the US Senate after Democratic Senator Gary Peters announced he would not seek re-election. If elected, El-Sayed would become the first Muslim ever to serve in the US Senate.

US midterm elections 2026 LIVE: In Texas, Democrat James Talarico, a state representative, faces Ken Paxton, the state’s Republican attorney general, who defeated four-term senator John Cornyn in a primary runoff in May.

Talarico beat Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett for the Democratic nomination.

The RealClearPolitics average of polls taken October 8–21 put Talarico at 48.5% and Paxton at 46.7%.

Texas has not elected a Democratic senator since 1988 and with the close contest between Talarico and Paxton, the Southern state could be due for a toss-up.

US midterm elections 2026 LIVE: With reports of the US mulling another attack on Iran after the November 3 midterm polls, Gulf states are fearing a stronger retaliation from Iran if the US does strike again.

“We find ourselves drawn within a crisis that we worked diplomatically very hard to try to avert,” Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE’s president, told the IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain on Sunday. “We are clearly seeking a political off-ramp.”

“I have not heard a single Gulf official or civilian support renewed US-Israeli strikes on Iran, but the majority sense a new round is imminent,” said Mohammed al-Basha, an associate fellow for international security at the Royal United Services Institute. “They sense Iran this round will be more aggressive and will not respect the rules of engagement that were previously observed.”

(via Bloomberg)

US midterm elections 2026 LIVE: The US is preparing for renewed strikes on Iran after the November midterm elections are over, a report by CNN on October 26 claimed.

The US is preparing for renewed strikes on Iran after the November midterm elections are over, a report by CNN on October 26 claimed.

The officials described the potential strikes as "a big effort" that will differ from the current Washington tactic of striking infrastructure in Iran that can be rebuilt within a short time. This strategy has been in place since full operations were stopped earlier this year.

Questions remain on whether Donald Trump will greenlight the attack. Some of the US officials cited in the report said it's more a question of when, not if, Trump will give his nod to the operation. Most of the sources, however, agree that the operation will be launched after the November midterms.