Oct 1, 2026
Senators from both parties announced a bipartisan agreement on legislation to speed up federal approval of pipelines, power lines, and other major infrastructure projects, though a vote will not occur before the midterm elections.
Senate Democrats blocked the Ratepayer Protection Act, which would have encouraged states to protect consumers from power rate hikes caused by data center growth, denying Republicans a legislative win ahead of the midterm elections.
President Trump announced plans for Mesabi Metallics to build a $15 billion steel plant in Iowa, which the administration is calling the largest in U.S. history. The announcement comes as Trump campaigns for vulnerable Republicans in the battleground state ahead of midterm elections.
National Republican groups are making massive late investments in Senate races in traditionally safe states like Texas and Kansas as new polling shows Democrats competitive. GOP operatives express concern about defending seats once considered secure.
The US Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to use a controversial federal database to help states check voter citizenship before the midterm elections, despite concerns from civil rights groups about potential mass purges.
The Trump administration began airing a campaign-style television ad on Fox News and other networks promoting the president and warning against communism, with a disclaimer stating it was 'Paid for by the U.S. Government.' Democrats and some Republicans criticized the ad as potentially illegal government propaganda.
Rep. Byron Donalds scrubbed multiple references to President Trump from his gubernatorial campaign website, joining a growing number of Republicans distancing themselves from the increasingly unpopular president ahead of midterms.
Multiple GOP Senate candidates in battleground states, including Ashley Hinson in Iowa and Tom Tiffany in Wisconsin, are calling for a swift end to the Iran war as diesel prices hit record highs and voters express frustration.
Retiring Democratic Rep. Jared Golden of Maine endorsed Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in his competitive New York reelection race, calling him 'a true partner.' The rare cross-aisle endorsement angered House Democrats.
Multiple polls show Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa leading or tied with Gov. Greg Abbott, while Senate candidate James Talarico runs competitively against Ken Paxton. The results suggest potential Democratic gains in a state that has been reliably Republican for decades.
House Speaker Mike Johnson canceled Thursday votes and sent members home early for the midterm recess, effectively delaying a vote on Rep. Thomas Massie's resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth until after the November elections.
A Department of Homeland Security whistleblower alleges that federal investigators violated state laws and used unreliable data while investigating non-citizen voting ahead of the November midterm elections. DHS employees were reportedly instructed to misrepresent themselves when accessing state voter databases.
Speaker Johnson stated that President Trump's promise to send $5,000 to every American adult if Republicans retain Congress would need legislative approval, tempering expectations about the midterm campaign pledge.
President Trump suggested the US could remain in Iran to secure its oil, drawing parallels to US involvement in Venezuela's oil reserves. He also said the Iran war would end after US midterm elections and claimed Houthis asked the US not to intervene in Yemen.
President Trump pledged to issue $5,000 'Trump dividend' checks to every American adult if Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress in November. The proposal, which would cost over $1.2 trillion, drew immediate bipartisan skepticism.
David Morales, a 27-year-old democratic socialist endorsed by Bernie Sanders, defeated incumbent Providence Mayor Brett Smiley in Rhode Island's Democratic primary, marking another progressive victory in a major city race.
President Trump announced plans to send $500 rebate checks to approximately 1 million Americans in 30 states who the administration claims were overcharged for Affordable Care Act coverage, with the payments expected before the November midterm elections.
Top White House advisers including JD Vance and Marco Rubio have privately told President Trump that the Iran conflict could extend through the remainder of his presidency, contradicting his public claims that the war will end soon after the midterm elections.
Dueling federal court orders left Missouri's congressional districts in limbo eight weeks before Election Day, with one court blocking use of new GOP-drawn maps while another prohibited use of old maps, creating unprecedented confusion for voters and election officials.
President Trump announced at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas that his administration would pay a $5,000 'Trump Dividend' to each American adult if voters help Republicans keep their congressional majority in November's elections.
An armed individual charged at Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton at the Canfield Fair near Youngstown, injuring several people before being stopped by troopers. Patrick Havas, 38, was arrested.
The number of Republican-held Senate seats rated as toss-ups or leaning Democratic has doubled from three to six since May, as vulnerable GOP candidates distance themselves from Trump ahead of the midterm elections.
A new NBC News poll shows President Trump's support among Republican voters has declined less than two months before the November midterm elections, with multiple reports indicating GOP candidates are distancing themselves from Trump.
The Supreme Court on Friday cleared the way for political parties to buy television advertisements at special reduced rates in the lead-up to the midterm elections, granting an emergency appeal from Republicans. The decision potentially hands a near-term win to the GOP.
Elon Musk's America PAC disclosed its first spending on behalf of Republican candidates, providing roughly $800,000 to help congressional contenders across several states including Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton. The super PAC unleashed $260 million in 2024.
Democrat Everton Blair was sworn in to represent Georgia's 13th district after winning the special election to replace the late Rep. David Scott, reducing Speaker Mike Johnson's majority to just five seats ahead of the midterms.
Vice President JD Vance attacked Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed at a Michigan rally, calling him 'very, very evil' and telling him to 'keep my wife's name the hell out of your mouth' after El-Sayed criticized Vance's wife.
The U.S.-Israeli war in Iran has now lasted six months, far exceeding President Trump's initial prediction of a four-to-five week conflict. Nearly 8,000 people have been killed, and there is little indication the conflict will end soon, raising concerns among Republican strategists about midterm election impacts.
A Maryland court ruled against a proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed Democrats to redraw the state's congressional districts ahead of the 2028 elections, blocking it from appearing on the November ballot.
Two Dan Sullivans will appear on Alaska's November Senate ballot after a federal prisoner with no clear ties to the state advanced from the primary, potentially complicating incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan's reelection bid.
Pro-crypto advocacy group Stand With Crypto released endorsements for 32 US House incumbents including Republican Warren Davidson and Democrat Ritchie Torres as it ramps up political influence efforts ahead of midterm elections.
Trump ally Ed Martin is departing his senior Justice Department position after clashing with other officials over his handling of investigations. Trump announced Martin will take on an outside legal role focused on midterm and 2028 elections.
California state Sen. Aisha Wahab won the special election to fill former Rep. Eric Swalwell's House seat, becoming the first person of Afghan descent elected to Congress. Wahab overcame millions in spending by AIPAC opposing her candidacy.
Florida voters head to the polls for primary elections to choose the Republican nominee to replace term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis, with Trump-endorsed Byron Donalds facing a crowded field in a race shaped by new congressional maps.
President Donald Trump has authorized pouring millions of dollars from his personal PAC toward supporting vulnerable Republicans in November's midterm elections, as GOP prospects face challenges over his handling of the economy and Iran war.
President Trump in a Newsmax interview declined to rule out declaring a national security emergency as a means to assert more control over the 2026 midterm elections, openly hinting at taking over the electoral process.
Representative Andy Ogles was defeated by former state Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher in Tennessee's Republican primary, becoming the third House Republican to lose renomination this year despite President Trump's backing.
Tennessee voters cast ballots in the state's 2026 primary elections on Thursday, August 6, with Jerri Green winning the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. The Republican gubernatorial primary featured Marsha Blackburn and John Rose competing to succeed term-limited Governor Bill Lee.
North Carolina Republican congressman Chuck Edwards abandoned his reelection bid days after the House Ethics Committee recommended censure, finding substantial evidence he fostered a hostile work environment and engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct toward two young female aides.
Missouri State Senator Rick Brattin won the Republican primary for the redrawn 5th Congressional District with President Trump's endorsement, setting up a November general election challenge against 11-term Democratic incumbent Emanuel Cleaver in a district that was redistricted to favor Republicans.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson won the Democratic primary and U.S. Rep. John James won the Republican primary for governor on August 4, 2026, setting up a November general election matchup. James seeks to become Michigan's first Black governor.
Progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeated establishment-backed Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary, delivering a significant victory for the party's left wing in a closely watched race that exposed deep divisions within the party.
Maryland's Democratic-controlled legislature voted to place a constitutional amendment on the November 2026 ballot that would pave the way for redrawing all eight congressional districts to favor Democrats in the 2028 elections. Governor Wes Moore signed the bill, which would eliminate the state's lone Republican-held district.
Ty Masterson secured the Republican nomination in Kansas' gubernatorial primary election, defeating challengers including Vicki Schmidt and Philip Sarnecki. He will face a Democratic candidate in the November general election to succeed Governor Laura Kelly.
Progressive candidates Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan's Senate race and Francesca Hong in Wisconsin's gubernatorial race lead polls ahead of Tuesday primaries, alarming party operatives who fear left-leaning candidates could endanger general election prospects in battleground states.
Elon Musk announced plans to spend between $100 million and $120 million supporting Republican candidates in the 2026 midterm elections, including backing Senator Susan Collins, despite earlier pledges to stay out of politics.
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has won his Republican primary runoff election, defeating businessman and political newcomer Toby in his bid for a full term in office. The victory came after Rhoden was forced into a runoff following the initial primary vote.
The Trump administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court on July 27, 2026, to allow nationwide implementation of an executive order tightening mail-in voting rules ahead of November midterm elections. The request follows lower court rulings blocking the order, including a rebuff from the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in response to lawsuits from 23 Democratic-led states arguing that states have constitutional authority over election rules.
Anthropic announced it will donate $20 million to a U.S. political lobbying organization that supports AI regulation, doubling its midterm election spending to $40 million total as Silicon Valley factions clash over AI policy.
Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson has won support from a majority of delegates to effectively secure the Democratic nomination, replacing Graham Platner as the party's candidate to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins in November.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin warned state election officials on Friday they could face loss of federal funding, investigations, fines, and even prison time if they don't comply with Trump administration election security demands. Mullin asserted foreign adversaries could hack voting machines and vowed to use 'maximum pressure' on states.
President Donald Trump gave a primetime speech accusing China of meddling in the 2020 election and claiming vulnerabilities in U.S. voting systems, without providing new evidence. The address, which came ahead of November midterm elections, was criticized by experts as undermining confidence in American electoral integrity.
Hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin has invested approximately $40 million into the 2026 midterm campaigns, with the total potentially doubling by November as he works to influence the Republican Party's direction and help maintain its House and Senate majorities.
Idaho has joined Virginia, Nevada, and at least one other state in placing abortion-related measures on the ballot, with Idaho voters set to decide on rolling back the state's abortion ban while Virginia and Nevada consider constitutional amendments to establish abortion rights. Some states are simultaneously considering measures to raise thresholds for passing constitutional amendments.
The Democratic U.S. Senate primary in Minnesota has become a heated contest between U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, representing a broader moderate-progressive divide playing out in pivotal Midwestern states.
Two federal judges issued conflicting rulings on state access to a government database for verifying voter citizenship, with one judge blocking states from using it while another mandated access for some states, creating confusion ahead of the midterm elections.
At least six Maine Democrats are vying to replace Graham Platner as the party's Senate nominee after the progressive candidate suspended his campaign amid a rape accusation from a former girlfriend. The state Democratic Party will select a replacement to face Sen. Susan Collins in the fall election.
State Republican parties are charging as much as $20,000 for 'honorary delegate' positions at President Trump's unprecedented midterm convention, which the RNC has positioned as a fundraiser for state candidates rather than a traditional nominating convention.
The Trump administration's Department of Justice has sent letters to election officials in all 50 states threatening criminal charges if noncitizens vote, while also threatening to withhold federal funding from states that don't change voting practices. The move represents an escalation in federal pressure on state election administration.
A federal judge in Florida ruled that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security must resume providing four Republican-led states access to an immigration database for verifying citizenship status of registered voters, despite another judge's nationwide block on the practice.
Maine's Democratic Party stated that U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner would not be able to select his replacement if he drops out of the race, while accusing his campaign of attempting to influence the replacement process. Platner's team has denied the accusations.
Growing number of Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Bernie Sanders and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, are urging Maine Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Graham Platner to withdraw from the race following a Politico report of a sexual assault allegation from a woman he dated in 2021. Platner has denied the claim.
Democrats are positioning healthcare issues, including rural clinic closures and potential congressional oversight, as a central campaign theme for the 2026 midterm elections, with the issue showing potential to sway traditionally Republican voters in states like Iowa while Senate races remain complicated by candidate controversies.
Rep. Haley Stevens and former Wayne County health director Abdul El-Sayed faced off in a contentious Democratic Senate primary debate, sparring over Israel policy, AIPAC funding, and their contrasting approaches to politics as the race enters its final stretch.
Michigan state Senator Mallory McMorrow suspended her U.S. Senate campaign in early July 2026, narrowing the Democratic primary to a two-way race between moderate Haley Stevens and progressive Abdul El-Sayed just one month before the August 4 primary election.