Trump makes final push with control of Congress at stake: Election updates

Former Rep. Taylor Greene says midterms are a 'complete referendum' on Trump

Michael Loria

Former U.S. Rep.Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, said Monday night that she expects the midterms to be a referendum on President Trump and Republicans in Congress who supported his agenda.

"It’s a complete referendum on Donald Trump, his betrayal where he promised no more foreign wars and to bring world peace, " Greene told CNN, listing some of her chief criticisms of the president. "And also not listening to everyday Americans who are saying we cannot afford the cost of living, we cannot afford health insurance, we cannot afford these high prices of gas and diesel, while he is constantly bragging about a ballroom and his big donors and having these big fancy dinners, as if he can’t even relate to the American people."

Greene, a former Trump ally, broke with the president in November 2025 over what she viewed as his hesitation or unwillingness to pursue justice for the victims of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

She also criticized Republicans in Congress who continue supporting Trump, warning that voters won’t welcome their loyalty to the president.

"They just stood behind him, applauding everything he said, every lie he told, and never fought back for the American people who gave them the majority," she said. 

Buttigieg blames Trump for high gas prices, economy

Michael Loria

Pete Buttigieg, former President Joe Biden’s transportation secretary, criticized President Donald Trump’s handling of the economy.

"The gas prices aren't happening because Putin started a war, like what happened four years ago," Buttigieg told CNN on Monday night. "Gas prices are happening because Donald Trump started a war. Mortgage rates are over 7% because the Trump-Vance administration decided to give away $1 trillion in tax breaks to corporations. The war alone, you know, is estimated to be costing Americans about $2,000 per household, that’s when you add up the interest rates, gas prices, and the direct costs in terms of our taxes."

Trump has defended the war as necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, though the fight is deeply unpopular among Americans. Democrats have pointed out that Trump's predecessor, former President Barack Obama, had struck a deal with Iran to keep the country from building nuclear weapons. Trump scrapped that deal in his first term. 

Buttigieg said Trump’s move to tout his efforts to beautify Washington, DC, landmarks indicates his indifference to the plight of most voters.  

Ahead of midterms, Trump defends Iran war

Michael Loria

President Donald Trump defended the U.S. war on Iran in an interview on Fox News Monday evening, just hours before polls open.

"We cannot let them have a nuclear weapon and we won’t," Trump told Fox News anchor Sean Hannity, justifying the war he and U.S. ally Israel launched on Feb. 28.

The war has seen long stretches without fighting but has become deeply unpopular, in part because it has driven fuel prices to their highest levels in years. Other concerns include its rising $47.1 billion price tag, reports of sinking morale among troops, and the deaths of at least 21 U.S. service members.

Trump on Monday night batted away criticisms, arguing that it’s not a war, though he hinted that the United States could attack Iran again if they don’t make a deal to end the conflict.

"There’s no war raging. It could happen if they don’t make a deal. But they want to make a deal very badly," said Trump, repeating claims about the intentions of Iran’s leaders that Tehran has derided as largely false throughout the war.

Supreme Court rejects Trump bid to set aside California ballots

Maureen Groppe

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the Trump administration's last-minute attempt to force California to segregate ballots cast by about 20,000 registered voters the federal government alleges may not be U.S. citizens.

The court declined the Justice Department's emergency request on the eve of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, leaving California's existing ballot procedures in place as voters prepare to decide races that will help determine control of Congress. None of the justices publicly dissented.

The ruling hands California a significant victory in an extraordinary election dispute that reached the nation's highest court just hours before Election Day. Read more about the case here.

For Vice President JD Vance, Ohio's Senate race is personal

Francesca Chambers

SWANTON, OH – Third time's the charm. Or at least Vice President JD Vance hopes so.

Vance, who owns a home in Cincinnati, made his third trip to Ohio in less than a month on Nov. 2, the eve of the midterm election that will decide whether the GOP gets to keep its majority in the House and Senate for the final two years of he and President Donald Trump’s term.

The battle for control of the upper chamber runs through Ohio, where former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, who lost his reelection bid two years ago, is angling for a political comeback against former Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, who replaced Vance in the Senate.

"It's definitely personal to me, and hopefully he's going to pull it out. I feel good about it," Vance told USA TODAY of Husted's race on the Joint Base Andrews tarmac.

The Senate seat that Vance vacated two years ago to join the Trump administration is in serious jeopardy. Husted is in a tight race against Brown, whom a quarter of voters believe is the incumbent.

Taking a ballot selfie? It might be illegal

Mary Walrath-Holdridge

That "I voted" sticker may be made for social media, but think twice before pulling out your phone at the ballot box.

Taking a ballot selfie is illegal or restricted in several states, and the rules can vary depending on whether you're photographing a completed ballot, taking a picture inside a voting booth, or simply using a camera near a polling place.

The consequences can vary, too. Depending on state law, voters who violate election rules could face a warning, fine, or other penalties.

Trump approval rating nears record lows in poll

Fernando Cervantes Jr.

Only hours before Election Day, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll showed President Donald Trump’s approval rating continuing to hover near record lows.

The poll, released Monday, found Trump’s approval rating holding at 32%, unchanged from the previous week and just one percentage point above the record-low 31% he hit in the poll in October.

Republicans also remained behind Democrats on the generic congressional ballot, though the GOP narrowed the gap. Democrats held an eight-percentage-point advantage in the latest poll, down from an 11-point lead the previous week.

Reuters/Ipsos conducted the poll from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2, surveying 1,765 U.S. adults. The poll has a margin of error of about 2 percentage points.

This deep-red district is in danger: Republicans sent Vance on a rescue mission

Francesca Chambers

ROME, NY – He has a 20-track hip-hop album titled “Thank you President Trump.” He gifted Donald Trump a 7-foot bronze statue in the president's likeness for his West Palm Beach golf club.

Sticker Mule founder and CEO Anthony Constantino, 44, is easily one of the most pro-Trump candidates currently running for Congress. But with the president’s popularity sagging, the brash business owner, who gained notoriety for constructing a 100-foot sign supporting Trump two years ago, is struggling to win over Republicans in deep-red territory in upstate New York.

So on the eve of the midterm election, Vice President JD Vance made a stop in the district Trump carried by 21 percentage points in an attempt to give Constantino a last-minute boost. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and the president's son, Donald Trump Jr., a close friend of Vance's, traveled with the vice president and spoke ahead of him at the event.

"This is of course my final day on the midterm campaign trail, and I was trying to think where is the best location to kick off this final day," Vance said as he spoke at an airport hangar in Rome.

The vice president said he was looking for a place with beautiful scenery and has red-blooded, patriotic Americans. "And it hit me, ladies and gentlemen, to get all of those things, all roads lead to Rome, New York."

Vance: Stevens endorsement gives voters 'permission' to cast a ballot for Rogers

Francesca Chambers

Vice President JD Vance told reporters on Monday that Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens' support for former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers in the Michigan Senate race provides a permission structure for liberal voters to back the Republican.

Haley's surprise endorsement helps "drive home the message" that "El-Sayed is a crazy person" for conservatives, independents and liberals, Vance alleged to reporters after campaigning near the Michigan border on the eve of the midterm election.

"I do think it drives home the message, maybe gives certain voters, who maybe wouldn't normally vote for a Republican a permission, knowing that the Democratic congresswoman of Michigan is going to support Mike Rogers, I think a lot of people across the political spectrum can, too," Vance said.

'We'll defend our country,' Trump says in midterm closing argument

Joey Garrison

After pivoting his remarks from the Reflecting Pool, Trump called Tuesday's midterm election "the most important election, I believe, in our lifetime" as he portrayed Democrats as dangerous extremists who must be stopped from taking control of Congress.

"The Democrat Party has nominated the most extreme and dangerous slate of candidates in American history," Trump said. "There's never been anything like what we're seeing."

For months, Trump has cast Democratic midterm candidates as "communists" who have veered too far to the extreme left politically. In his remarks, he accused them of wanting to open U.S. borders, raise Americans' taxes, take away their guns and pursue "transgender mutilation of your children."

"With your vote we will decide: These extremists will be given power or not power," Trump said as he called on his supporters to stop the country from being "torn down by a bunch of people that have failed everywhere they've been."

"So, we'll defend our country, our culture, and our heritage for generations to come. We're going to keep it the way it is. We're going to make it better and just." Trump added.

Trump uses final speech before midterms to focus on Reflecting Pool renovations

Joey Garrison

In an election dominated by the economy and Americans' pocketbook concerns, President Donald Trump used his final address before Tuesday's midterm election to discuss a different topic: his recent renovations of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Trump, who chose the Reflecting Pool as the site for his "closing argument" speech before the midterms, discussed the renovations for more than 15 minutes as he opened up his remarks.

"And by the way, we resurfaced the granite. This granite was all resurfaced," Trump said. "We've now fixed all the piping, it's in great shape," he later added. "Tremendous algae problem," he said, displaying a photograph of the pool before it closed for renovations.

It was a curious choice for the president, who Democrats have accused of being more worried about his various Washington capital projects ‒ including his White House ballroom and helipad ‒ than Americans' affordability concerns.

"It's really a beautiful thing. It's a work of art in many ways," Trump said as he showed before and after shots of the Reflecting Pool.

Trump jokes he's renaming Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after himself

Joey Garrison

President Donald Trump joked that he's renaming the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to the "Trump Reflecting Pool" as he began a speech the White House billed as his "closing argument" before Tuesday's midterm election.

"We'll announce that some time tomorrow," Trump said. "I'm sure that Secretary Doug Burgum will have a lot of fun in announcing that. Now I'm only kidding. I'm only kidding. Please don't report it."

Trump, who has boasted often about his renovations of the Reflecting Pool, used the speech to talk even more about the project, including highlighting before and after photos of the pool.

"The pool is now better and more beautiful than it's ever been before," Trump said.

Cruz warns Republicans they could lose Texas

Erin Mansfield

Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, warned supporters at a rally about 40 miles north of Houston that the GOP could lose to Democrats tomorrow if more Republicans don’t show up to vote.

He said nearly three-quarters of the most loyal Democrats have already voted, but less than half of loyal Republicans have voted, and “if the election were over today, the Democrats could well win every single statewide position in Texas.”

“It’s real simple math,” Cruz said. “If our people show up tomorrow, we win. That’s it. We’ve got the numbers.”

Trump’s closing midterm argument features Reflecting Pool

Zac Anderson

The stage is set for President Donald Trump to deliver his closing midterm argument in front of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which has been undergoing repair work after a “botched” renovation.

A small platform has been erected at the edge of the pool, near the base of the steps leading up to the Lincoln Memorial. Behind Trump’s podium is a poster board with an aerial image of the Reflecting Pool that reads “Back, and more beautiful than ever!”

Next to the podium is signage on either side reading “Restoring our Capitol,” and under that in smaller letters “The Reflecting Pool.” Media gathered under a cloudy sky ahead of the 2 p.m. ET speech. There also is a small amount of seats for guests, including uniformed National Park Service workers.

Trump ordered a renovation of the pool but it ran into problems, which he blamed on vandals. Washington, DC’s top federal prosecutor later said was the result of a “botched installation.”

Problem at the polls? You might still be able to vote

Erin Mansfield

Did you drive all the way to the elections office but forget your ID? Did you move since the last election but forget to update your address? Are the computers down so you can't prove your registered?

If you show up to the polling place and have trouble verifying your eligibility, the election official may be required to offer you a provisional ballot. This allows you to make your choices as soon as possible and confirm your eligibility later.

Read more here.

Will Sen. Susan Collins keep her Maine seat in a liberal New England?

Kinsey Crowley

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, is the only remaining Republican senator in a liberal New England. She continually talks about staying bipartisan, but her critics say she's aligned herself with President Donald Trump's MAGA movement.

Trump's presidency is unpopular in Maine, where the Iran war has driven up the cost of heating oil, Canadian tariffs have strained the relationship with its neighbor, and an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer killed a man in July. Some voters agree with Collins' central campaign message: She secures investments for Maine. Others have had enough of her tenure and her role in Trump's agenda.

"Trump has in some ways been the absolute worst thing that could have happened to Susan Collins," Jim Melcher, a political science professor at the University of Maine-Farmington, previously told USA TODAY. "She has tried very hard to look nonpartisan, 'I deliver for Maine,' and Trump keeps putting her in positions where she can't ride both of them."

Read more about what Mainers have to say about one of the most-watched Senate races in the country.

Ohio sets new early voting record ahead of November midterms

Haley BeMiller

Over 1.7 million Ohioans already voted in the Nov. 3 election, setting a new record for early voting in the midterms even as absentee ballots plummeted.

Nearly 1.1 million people voted in person through Nov. 1, the final day of early voting, and roughly 632,000 had returned mail-in ballots, according to data from the Ohio secretary of state. More than 104,000 absentee ballots were outstanding and must be returned by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.

The total blew past Ohio's previous midterm early voting record of 1.5 million during the 2022 midterms and gubernatorial election.

While the overall tally outpaced 2022, fewer Ohioans opted to vote by mail this year. Election officials issued 736,733 absentee ballots compared with roughly 1 million requested four years ago, according to the secretary of state's office.

The drop came after President Donald Trump unsuccessfully tried to overhaul the mail-in voting system and empower the U.S. Postal Service to block certain ballots. Ohio, meanwhile, no longer offers a four-day grace period for ballots that arrive after Election Day.

More than 1,000 federal election monitors expected at polls

Sarah D. Wire

The Department of Justice dramatically stepped up its election monitor program this year, sending over 1,000 monitors out to the 50 states.

A few county officials told USA TODAYthey weren’t given much information about why their jurisdiction was picked for a monitor. Several noted they are in liberal-leaning areas with large Hispanic populations. 

Some voting rights groups, including the NAACP, say they believe the Trump administration's decision to deploy monitors could suppress turnout and disenfranchise voters, particularly from minority groups. The NAACP has sued to block DOJ from using law enforcement agents to monitor polls. A hearing is scheduled for Monday afternoon.

The Justice Department has a long history of monitoring elections, typically to ensure people can vote, not to prevent them. In the past, the DOJ often dispatched civil rights experts to ensure all legal voters could exercise their right, sometimes in communities with a history of racial discrimination.

A DOJ spokeswoman said all the observers will be Justice Department personnel trained on state and local laws, and will be there to monitor, document and report on compliance with federal voting laws. They are not authorized to intervene to address compliance with federal law, like whether someone is a U.S. citizen.

DOJ takes California ballot fight to Supreme Court

Bart Jansen

The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to direct California to set aside mailed ballots cast by anyone on a list of 20,000 registered voters the administration alleges may not be citizens.

The administration filed that emergency request Nov. 2, the day before midterm elections which will decidewhich party will control Congress.

California said it already has safeguards to protect election integrity and the process the administration used to create its own list is “highly suspect.”

U.S. District Judge David Carter rejected the Justice Department’s request Oct. 28, saying never before in history has the federal government sought to coerce a state to abandon its constitutional election procedures and bend to the will of the executive branch.

Federal judge orders stop to DOJ pressure campaign

Sarah D. Wire

A federal judge imposed a sweeping emergency order barring the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security from pressuring election officials in all states, including a halt on threats of criminal prosecution.

The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division sent letters to election officials in all states this summer, threatening legal action if they knowingly allow noncitizens to vote or to remain on voter rolls. In October, the Civil Rights Division warned local ​election officials through letters that those who refuse to help identify suspected noncitizens on voter rolls would "risk significant federal scrutiny."

U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson granted a temporary restraining order the evening of Oct. 30 in a suit brought by labor unions and civil rights groups including the NAACP. The order bars the agencies from demanding that election officials in any state segregate ballots, purge voters from the rolls or halt ballot processing. The order also blocks threats of criminal prosecution against election officials and any other action that would "threaten, intimidate or coerce" them over ballots from voters the administration alleges are ineligible.

The day before the order, DOJ sent letters to election officials in all states threatening prison for failing to preserve records in accordance with existing federal law, and served grand jury subpoenas on Los Angeles County election workers.

Thompson has scheduled a hearing for Monday afternoon. DOJ appealed the order to the 9th Circuit on Saturday afternoon.

When can I vote in the midterms? When does early voting end?

Marina Pitofsky

In states across the country, you don't necessarily have to wait until Election Day to cast your ballot and make your voice heard. Early voting is common in many places, but each state gets to set their own rules for when Americans can take advantage of early voting opportunities.

Check out the chart below for the dates when your state offers early voting. You can find additional information, such as your polling place, through your state or local election officials.

Welcome to the jungle: Trump's Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago

Bart Jansen

The fall campaign was a jungle, and nowhere more than at the Halloween party at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.

Guests in the ballroom circulated in animal-print outfits including a number of cheetahs, leopards and tigers, according to reporters traveling with Trump. Guests also flocked to the event in costumes featuring colorful feathers.

The party occurred three days before the midterm elections focused on the high cost of gas and groceries. The Daily Beast reported that social media posts from the party showed a crab-and-caviar bar, with tins marked “Golden Goat Caviar.” Trump recently joked that $5,000 checks he promised if Republicans keep control of Congress wouldn’t buy more than “a hamburger and maybe a small dessert” at Mar-a-Lago.

The party came a year after a Great Gatsby-themed party, with the theme “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody.” That party was a day before federal food assistance was set to run out for 42 million Americans, in a spending dispute that was later resolved.

Does 'Double Sullivan' mean double trouble for Alaska and Congress?

Sarah D. Wire and Aysha Bagchi

The presence of two "Dan Sullivans" on Alaska's Senate ballot has spurred questions about whether the state's election results could get messy and mired in litigation as Republicans and Democrats vie for control of Congress.

But election law experts told USA TODAY Alaska's ranked choice voting system lessens the chance that repeat "Dan Sullivans" on the ballot will change the election's outcome.

Trump says he would pardon Elon Musk, aides if necessary

Joey Garrison

President Donald Trump vowed to protect Elon Musk and said he would consider preemptively pardoning the world's richest man and other White House aides as Democrats prepare for investigations if they take control of the House of Representatives.

"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 when asked about the potential for House Democrats to arrest Musk and seize his assets if they gain power.

Trump said he would issue preemptive pardons to Musk, a close ally, and other potential targets of Democratic investigations if he believes it is necessary to protect them, even if they've not been formally charged with any crimes.

"That's what Biden did. He gave everybody a pardon," Trump said. "I would if I needed to, sure. I wouldn't even think about it. I did it for J6."

The podcast interview, which aired Nov. 2, comes as Democrats are strong favorites to take control of the House in the Nov. 3 midterm elections, which would put them in control of committees that pursue investigations.

If they take back the House gavel, Democrats have signaled they could pursue potential investigations into Musk's run leading the government-slashing Department of Government Efficiency, his companies' lucrative contracts with the federal government and his potential role in cutting Ukraine's access to the satellite internet provider Starlink, which is operated by Musk's company SpaceX.

Voters head to the polls feeling queasy about the economy: Surveys

Bart Jansen

The economy remains a concern for voters heading to the polls to choose whether Republicans should continue to control Congress or if Democrats should be given a chance, according to several surveys.

The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index, which tracks household views on personal finances and broader economic conditions, stood at 48 in October – near the record low of 44.8 set in May. The index is down 31.9% from 70.5 in October 2024, just before Trump won back the White House.

Another measure of how Americans feel about the economy, the Conference Board's consumer confidence index, rose to 91.7 in October. But the score remained below its revised October 2024 reading of 109.6.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll revealed 36% of voters thought Democrats were better poised to tackle the cost of living, compared to 28% who chose Republicans.

An AP-NORC poll found 25% of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s handling of the economy.

See the data in charts.

Millions more voters cast early ballots than in 2022

Bart Jansen

Voters are surging to the polls early and mailing in ballots in this midterm elections on Nov. 3, with more than 54 million Americans – 8 million more than in 2022 – having cast ballots before Election Day, according to the University of Florida Election Lab.

States with competitive Senate races, including Texas, Maine and Kansas, are showing large increases in early voting, according to a recent Associated Press analysis. South Carolina and North Carolina are also recording more early voting numbers than in 2022.

For comparison, about 45.9 million early votes were recorded ahead of Election Day in the 2022 midterm elections.

See graphics.

Abdul El-Sayed's campaign raises $2.4M after Haley Stevens endorses GOP rival

Bart Jansen

Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign raised $2.4 million on Nov. 1  after the rival he defeated in the primary, Rep. Haley Stevens, endorsed his Republican opponent, Mike Rogers.

“This record-breaking grassroots fundraising haul is a testament to the excitement that Abdul’s movement has inspired in the hearts of Michiganders—and a rejection of the status quo politics that’s left Michigan behind for far too long,” said Cole Wozniak, a campaign spokesperson.

The money came from nearly 30,000 first-time contributors. The contributions averaged $36.74 from more than 65,000 people.

Trump threatens veto if Democrats win control of House or Senate

Bart Jansen

Trump has said he’ll wield the veto to enforce his priorities if Democrats gain control of the House of Representatives or the Senate, but that he expects they will want to negotiate deals.

"We’ll figure a way," Trump said of working with Democrats as he left the capital Oct. 27 for a pair of Texas rallies. "Look, I have a strong veto."

He said he hoped Democrats wouldn’t win enough seats to lead either chamber.

"I hope that won’t be the case," Trump said. "But if it is, it’s happened before with many presidents. You have a strong veto and you end up working out deals."

Utility regulator races draw attention

Erin Mansfield

Democrats are hoping to pick up seats on utility regulatory boards that affect people’s power bills and the infrastructure that data centers rely on.

There are races in nine states this year, but Democrats are most competitive in Arizona and Georgia, where races for governor and Senate are bringing voters to the polls.

In Arizona, Republicans hold all five seats on the Arizona Corporations Commission. Two Democrats are running and hoping to weaken that Republican majority on the board.

In Georgia, if Democrats sweep two seats, they will gain 3-2 control of the five-member Public Service Commission.

Lester Tellez, the head analyst of the forecasting firm On Point Politics, is projecting Democrats win all four seats up for grabs in Arizona and Georgia.

Democrats lead Republicans in Senate battlegrounds: NYT/Siena polls

Bart Jansen

Democrats lead their Republican rivals in five of the seven contested states that will determine control of the Senate, and were within the margins of error in two others, according to a final set of polls before the midterm elections Nov. 3 from The New York Times and Siena University.

The polls found significant leads in Texas, which hasn’t elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1988, and in Kansas, which hasn’t elected one since 1932.

In Texas, Democratic state Rep. James Talarico had 50% to Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton’s 43%. In Kansas, Democrat Adam Hamilton had 49% to Republican Sen. Roger Marshall’s 44%.

The Michigan poll found Democrat Abdul El-Sayed with 53% to Republican Mike Rogers with 42%. The poll was conducted before Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens, who lost to El-Sayed in the primary, endorsed Rogers on Sunday.

In Maine, Democratic former state Sen. Troy Jackson had 51% to GOP Sen. Susan Collins with 45%.

In Ohio, Democratic former Sen. Sherrod Brown had 49% to Republican Sen. Jon Husted’s 44%.

Two other races were within the polls’ margins of error. In Alaska, Democratic former Rep. Mary Peltola had 48% to Republican Sen. Daniel S. Sullivan’s 46%. In Iowa, Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek had 48% to Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson’s 47%.

The margins of error in the polls ranged from 4.8 points in Alaska to 3.3 points in Texas.

Trump pushes for New Mexico name change

Saman Shafiq

Trump suggested yet again on the campaign trail that New Mexico should be renamed to "New America." The president made back-to-back appearances in Salina, Kansas, and Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday to support Republican candidates in closely-watched races leading up to the midterm elections.

"New Mexico should be called New America," Trump said Sunday.

Trump argued in October that the "name would add great value and prestige to the State," and that "home values and incomes would rise, and you would be even prouder while saluting our beautiful American flag!"

The president has previously pushed to rebrand other parts of the United States that share names with foreign countries, ordering the Gulf of Mexico to be renamed the Gulf of America and Lake Ontario be renamed Lake America. Additionally, Trump restored Fort Liberty's former name, Fort Bragg, and changed the nation's highest peak from Denali back to Mount McKinley.

These House races will decide which party controls Congress

Emily R. Condon

With all 435 House races on the ballot and Republicans defending a slim 218-214 majority in Congress' lower chamber, political experts project that Democrats are likely to win control.

There's a long list of races across the country that will decide whether Democrats take control of the House, but whether there is a "blue wave" or "blue tsunami" remains to be seen.

Here's a sample of races that will determine whether Republicans defend their majority:

• Florida: Democrat Rep. Jared Moskowitz, from the state's 23rd Congressional District, is running in the new 25th District after a redistricting shuffle. Republicans in Florida hope redistricting could garner them four seats in Florida's Orlando-area 9th District, Tampa-area 14th District, South Florida/Palm Beach-area 22nd District and Miami-area 25th District.
• Pennsylvania: Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick is defending his seat for a sixth term in Pennsylvania's 1st Congressional District, and his Republican colleagues Reps. Ryan Mackenzie (7th District), Rob Bresnahan (8th District) and Scott Perry (10th District) are all in toss-up races.
• New Jersey: Republican Rep. Tom Kean is defending his suburban swing district after a four-month hiatus from Congress in the spring, which he says came during a hospitalization for depression. 
• New York: Republican Rep. Mike Lawler hopes to keep his Hudson Valley seat in one of the least-red Republican-held districts in the country. 
• Ohio: Republican Rep. Max Miller is running for reelection in what was once considered a solidly GOP district. The race was upended by domestic violence allegations by Miller's ex-wife, Emily Moreno, daughter of Republican Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno. Miller denies the allegations.
• Texas: Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz flipped a Texas border district red in 2022, but now a two-time Latin Grammy-winning artist, Democrat Bobby Pulido, hopes to flip it back blue. 
• Virginia: In a 2022 rematch, Republican Rep. Jennifer Higgins faces a challenge from former Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria, a moderate whom Higgins initially ousted to claim the seat.

Trump's approval marks a pre-midterm low

Marc Ramirez

With his favorability dipping over the last 30 days, Trump’s approval rating is the lowest for any president heading into a midterm election in the last 80 years.

Trump has a 36% approval rating, according to the latest New York Times poll tracker, which compiles the daily average of polls conducted by various organizations. Meanwhile, 61% disapprove.

The Times' final national poll, conducted with Siena University, found Trump’s falling favorability linked to several top issues. Just under three in 10 likely voters support how the president has managed Americans' cost of living, the newspaper said, and more than four in 10 Republicans dislike his handling of fuel costs.

According to the Times' chief political analyst Nate Cohn, Trump has the lowest pre-midterm favorability rating since President Harry Truman − and fellow Democrats were shellacked in the 1946 elections.

Democrats rally around El-Sayed

Karissa Waddick

Democratic leaders put internal party divisions aside and united in support of Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on Sunday after Rep. Haley Stevens backed his Republican opponent. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Stevens' defection a "despicable betrayal," while former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said El-Sayed "must win."

Schumer previously backed Stevens in the Democratic primary but has since thrown his support behind El-Sayed.

"Senate Democrats are united in our support for Abdul El-Sayed, because we know he will fight for the economic interests of working families in Michigan, unlike Mike Rogers, who is a tool of Donald Trump and billionaire donors," Schumer said in a post on X.