Live Blog

2026 midterm elections live updates: Latest news, results, and analysis

By Washington Examiner Staff

Updated 5:17 pm, October 25, 2026

Here's what we're covering
  • Voters will head to the polls to decide which party controls Congress as well as a number of statewide contests, with all 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats, and 36 governorships up for grabs. Click here to get the key dates and deadlines ahead of Election Day.
  • As Republicans and Democrats compete for control of the House and Senate, dozens of closely watched races will shape the balance of power in Washington and in state capitals. Click here to read the latest 2026 election coverage from the Washington Examiner.
  • Several competitive Senate contests, such as those in Texas and Michigan, are emerging as key battlegrounds, with candidates and party leaders already turning their attention to the races that could determine control of the upper chamber.
  • Trump remains a central factor in the midterm elections. The president’s agenda, approval ratings, and involvement in individual races are expected to play a significant role as Republicans seek to defend their current majorities.
  • More than 150 ballot measures across 40 states are also on the table in November, with topics including citizenship requirements for voting and voter ID, abortion policy, transgender procedures for minors, and more.

3 days ago

Trump says he believes he has ‘the right to run again’ in 2028

From Gabrielle M. Etzel


President Donald Trump said he believes he has the right to run for president for a fourth time in 2028 despite the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution capping presidents at only two terms in office.

“I think I have the right to run again because they cheated,” Trump said, referring to his 2020 reelection campaign. “They cheated. They rigged the election.”

Trump said multiple times during the rally in Sioux City, Iowa, on Thursday that he has only two more years in the White House. The president said “there’s not a lot of wiggle room” in the 22nd Amendment, which was ratified after President Franklin D. Roosevelt died in his third term in office.

“I don’t know who’s going to be your next president, and I think the law said. I’m not 100% sure, but I think the law says that I’m not allowed to run again,” Trump said.

6 minutes ago

‘Government-run healthcare sucks,’ auto worker says while attacking el Sayed’s Medicare for All plans

From Carter Schroppe


President Donald Trump brought out an “Auto Workers For Trump” member at a campaign stop in Detroit on Sunday while campaigning for Republican Michigan Senate nominee Mike Rogers.

“They come over here to get emergency procedures done,” the man said of Canadians just across the border. “Because government-run healthcare sucks.”

Rogers’ Democratic opponent, Abdul el Sayed, has been criticized by Republicans for promoting a Medicare for All plan championed by socialists nationwide. The man also mentioned his private healthcare plan, saying “it’s the best in the country” and “we spent the last five decades negotiating for it.”

“Get over here, you, you union guy,” Trump said when he spotted the man “who has been with me since the beginning,” before inviting him onstage. Trump was discussing Audi’s Saturday announcement that it will open its first manufacturing plant in the United States in Macon, Georgia, when he invited the man onstage.

He drew loud applause from the crowd multiple times during his speech. “This guy’s the general, and we’re the soldiers,” he said of Trump, motivating attendees to vote and urge their family and friends to do the same.

1 hour ago

‘Let’s roll’: Trump brings out father of United Flight 93 hero to knock el Sayed in Michigan

From Christian Datoc


Trump brought David Beamer, the father of United Flight 93 hero Todd Beamer, onstage in Michigan to attack el Sayed, the Democratic nominee for the state’s U.S. Senate seat.

The younger Beamer was immortalized by a phone call placed to his family just before he and other passengers rushed the cockpit and overpowered terrorists who had hijacked a third flight on 9/11. Beamer and the other passengers all died when United Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania.

The elder Beamer addressed Sunday’s crowd immediately after the rally was shown a montage of el Sayed discussing his support for controversial progressive Twitch streamer Hasan Piker.

“So I ask you, I ask you, Michigan, whatever your allegiance, if you’re a Republican, show up,” he implored the crowd before leading the crowd in chanting his son’s immortalized sign-off, “Let’s roll!”

2 hours ago

Trump’s Michigan rally draws crowds, but supporters are still worried about gas prices and trade war with Canada

From Christian Datoc


Trump’s Michigan rally draws crowds, but supporters are still worried about gas prices and trade war with Canada
A child reacts after getting a hat thrown by staff before President Donald Trump arrives to speak during a campaign rally at McMorran Place Sports and Entertainment Center, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Port Huron, Mich. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

PORT HURON, Michigan — President Donald Trump took his midterm campaign tour up to the border with Canada on Sunday afternoon for a rally backing former Rep. Mike Rogers and other downballot GOP candidates.

Port Huron is located directly across the St. Claire River from Ottawa. Attendees packed out the McMorran Place Sports & Entertainment Center, which has a standard capacity of just under 5,000, but several longtime Republicans and Trump supporters still voiced concern about elevated gas prices and the president’s tariffs.

Sue, a retiree from nearby Saint Claire, told the Washington Examiner that gas prices are, as of Sunday, 74 cents over the average for the area. Her neighbor, Scott, also retired, said that he supported the ongoing war in Iran but listed gas prices as a top three issue for him this cycle, alongside immigration and cross-border trade.

Kim, who now works in ad sales at a local news station, told the Washington Examiner that at her previous job, managing a jewelry store, cross-border customers from Canada were a godsend.

She added that, while she supports Trump and Rogers, she understands why affordability-focused rhetoric from Abdul el Sayed, the Democratic candidate, is resonating with voters.

“He’s very well spoken,” she explained, noting that, during his own visit to Port Huron on Oct. 6, he wore jeans and seemed like someone she could “relate to.”

3 hours ago

Trump worries Alaska voters ‘don’t know what incumbent means’ on ranked choice ballot

From Claire Carter


President Donald Trump on Sunday said he was worried Alaska voters will be confused when casting their votes Nov. 3 due to some possibly not knowing what the incumbent label means on the ranked choice ballot.

Trump has repeatedly taken issue with Alaska’s ranked choice voting system, particularly as two candidates named Daniel Sullivan will appear on the ballot. The incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan will be listed as such and labeled as a registered Republican, while the challenger will be listed as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.

“People are totally confused,” Trump said. “They shouldn’t be confused when voting. At least let him use the name ‘Sen. Dan Sullivan’ as opposed to incumbent because a lot of people don’t know what incumbent means.”

Click here to read more.

3 hours ago

Mary Peltola injured in car crash, postponing Alaska Senate campaign stops

From Claire Carter


Alaska Democratic Senate nominee Mary Peltola was injured in a car crash Saturday night, leading the challenger to postpone her campaign stops just nine days before voters head to the polls in the Last Frontier.

Peltola was headed to the Alaska Federation of Natives Annual Banquet when the car transporting her and her family was struck by another driver, according to her campaign.

“Mary and her family sustained minor injuries but are in good spirits,” campaign manager Cheryl Bruce said in a statement. “Unfortunately, per the advice of medical professionals, Mary’s upcoming events in Fairbanks and Bethel will be rescheduled for later in the week as she takes time to recover.”

Click here to read more.

4 hours ago

Blanche declines to say if Trump ordered him to file Alaska election lawsuit

From Claire Carter


Attorney General Todd Blanche declined to detail the circumstances leading up to the Department of Justice filing a lawsuit challenging the results of Alaska’s Senate race because two candidates share the same name.

Blanche appeared on two different programs Sunday morning and was asked about President Donald Trump saying he directed the DOJ to pursue a legal challenge if the Senate race is affected by “voter confusion” related to incumbent Sen. Daniel S. Sullivan (R-AK) and former Forest Service employee Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. both being on the ranked choice ballot.

The attorney general appeared on CNN’s Face the Nation on Sunday and reaffirmed that he does not disclose his private conversations with the president. He also disputed the idea that Trump’s concerns about Alaska’s ranked choice voting system are new.

“I will never talk about any communications I have with the president of the United States,” Blanche said. “But what I will say is that the president is not shy to the American people and has been very clear with the American people about his concerns about what’s happening in Alaska.”

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6 hours ago

Rogers breaks with Trump on el Sayed attacks: ‘I’ve never called him a terrorist’

From Claire Carter


Michigan Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers broke with President Donald Trump on Sunday, declining to agree with the president calling Democrat Abdul el Sayed a “vicious, violent jihadist.”

Rogers rejected the idea that he has referred to his opponent in such a manner, telling NBC’s Kristen Welker he has “never” called el Sayed a terrorist. Welker then pressed Rogers about Trump’s language regarding el Sayed, asking if it was up to his standard.

“No, I don’t — I’ve never called him a terrorist. I’ve never called him a terrorist,” Rogers said.

However, Rogers said on Oct. 10 that Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy calling el Sayed a terrorist was “exactly right” and released a statement following the primary elections that claimed el Sayed “pledged his support to the Muslim Brotherhood,” four branches of which the United States has designated terrorist organizations.

Click here to read more.

7 hours ago

Democrat Josh Turek releases ad opposing transgender women in women’s sports

From Robert Blankenship


Democratic Iowa Senate candidate Josh Turek unveiled a new ad on Saturday rejecting transgender women’s participation in women’s sports, pushing back on a blitz of Republican attack ads just over a week before Election Day.

Turek, a Paralympic gold medalist in wheelchair basketball, says in the ad, “As a kid in a wheelchair, I faced my share of bullying. It’s why I believe that no Iowan should face discrimination. As a Paralympian, I also know it’s important to have rules. It’s why I oppose males competing in female sports, something that is already illegal in Iowa.”

“I’m against taxpayers paying for sex changes too. Anyone tells you any different is lying. … It’s time to stop the nonsense from both extremes and start to focus on lowering costs for Iowans,” he concludes.

The ad follows an Elon Musk-funded attack ad on Turek claiming the candidate voted to use tax dollars to fund sex change surgeries for children.

Turek is in a toss-up race against Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA).

7 hours ago

Trump rips Alaska’s ‘corrupt’ ranked choice voting in attack on Murkowski

From Claire Carter


President Donald Trump railed against Alaska’s “corrupt” ranked choice voting system, claiming it was the sole reason Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) secured reelection.

Trump directed the Department of Justice to file a lawsuit challenging Alaska’s election results next week if it is determined the race was affected by “voter confusion,” as the incumbent and a challenger share the same name. Murkowski has publicly denounced the DOJ’s lawsuit, emphasizing the state’s ability to handle its elections.

“The Republicans’ Worst Senator, by far, Lisa Murkowski, of the Great State of Alaska (A State for which I produced, on a continuing basis, Billions and Billions of Dollars, and which Crooked Joe Biden and the Dumocrats had totally shut down — Then I came back, and delivered even more!), who only got elected because of Corrupt Ranked Choice Voting, is upset because I revealed what everyone knows, that the Ranked Choice Voting Ballot is a TOTAL DEMOCRAT SCAM meant to confuse the Voter, so that Senator Dan Sullivan will lose Votes to a man who has never participated in Politics before, named Daniel J. Sullivan, Jr.,” Trump said in a Truth Social post on Sunday.

Click here to read more.

21 hours ago

Protester ejected from Trump rally in Georgia

From Christian Datoc


PERRY — A protester was ejected from President Donald Trump’s rally in central Georgia Saturday night.

The president’s team has recently begun using private security to assist law enforcement in preventing disruptions at Trump’s campaign events.

The protester on Saturday, an older man wearing a black t-shirt and blue hat, was escorted out of the facility after shouting a word or two shortly into the speech.

His disruption was so brief that the president didn’t stop talking or acknowledge the individual.

22 hours ago

El Sayed fires up Detroit crowd before Obama takes stage

From Barnini Chakraborty


DETROIT — Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul el Sayed took the stage Saturday night as the opening act for former President Barack Obama, where he invoked his immigrant roots and mentioned it was his first time seeing the former president speak in person.

“I love America enough to call on her to be America for all of her kids,” el Sayed told the Detroit crowd.

The son of Egyptian immigrants, el Sayed recalled watching Obama’s keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention while doing dishes at his parents’ home.

“I just stopped,” he said. “I got suds falling from my hands.”

Obama showed him “what elegance and grace and determination look like in a politician,” el Sayed said.

He also recalled meeting former President Bill Clinton after graduating from the University of Michigan in 2007. Clinton asked why he was going to medical school and suggested he might someday run for office.

El Sayed laughed at the idea.

“Mr. President, did you see my name?” he recalled. “There are 11 letters in my name, and I got two others after that. People like me don’t get to run for office.”

Then came Obama.

“He had a funny name. I got a funny name,” el Sayed said. “He’s tall and skinny, and, well, I’m five-eight.”

Megan Bunks, who was in the crowd, told the Washington Examiner, “I love Abdul. I’m going to vote for Abdul. But I’m here for Obama.”

There are 4,350 Michiganders in attendance at the event, which is being held in the gymnasium at Cass Technical High School.

22 hours ago

Obama draws packed crowds, protests, and political heat at Detroit rally

From Barnini Chakraborty


Obama draws packed crowds, protests, and political heat at Detroit rally
Former President Barack Obama greets the crowd during a campaign rally, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

DETROIT — Keith Coldicott thought he had scored the golden ticket.

The Detroit native had spent time on the waiting list for a ticket to see former President Barack Obama campaign in downtown Detroit on Saturday. When his chance to get inside looked increasingly unlikely, he decided to show up anyway at Cass Technical High School, bringing two friends along with him.

It quickly became clear they weren’t the only ones hoping to catch a glimpse of Obama.

The line snaked around the block as hundreds of people waited to see Obama take the stage alongside progressive Michigan Senate candidate Abdul el Sayed. After about an hour, Coldicott and his friends gave up. They would watch the rally on a livestream somewhere else.

Outside the school, meanwhile, the atmosphere was considerably less celebratory.

A small group of protesters gathered near the rally, at times creating a particularly heated scene as Obama supporters waited to get inside.

The dueling scenes, a packed line of Democrats eager to see one of their party’s biggest stars and angry protesters gathered outside, offered a glimpse of the political temperature surrounding one of the country’s most closely watched Senate races.

Obama’s appearance Saturday was designed to give el Sayed’s campaign a burst of Democratic star power on the first day of Michigan’s in-person early voting. But it’s clear the race has also become a flashpoint for some of the country’s most bitter political and racial tensions.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked el Sayed, a former public health official, using inflammatory rhetoric about his Muslim faith. Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers has also faced criticism after agreeing with internet personality Dave Portnoy, who called el Sayed a “terrorist.”

El Sayed, the son of Egyptian immigrants, has called the rhetoric from Rogers and his supporters “deeply racist and Islamophobic.”

1 day ago

Over 1,000 Talarico supporters attend San Antonio rally

From Lauren Green


Over 1,000 Talarico supporters attend San Antonio rally
Senate Democratic nominee James Talarico filled up the 1902 Nightclub Saturday afternoon with Election Day just over a week away. (Lauren Green/Washington Examiner)

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Senate Democratic nominee James Talarico filled up the 1902 Nightclub Saturday afternoon with Election Day just over a week away.

A thousand rallygoers poured into the venue just 45 minutes away from Paxton’s rally earlier Saturday morning at Cooper’s Barbecue in New Braunfels, Texas.

In a series of interviews with the Washington Examiner, attendees expressed “hope” this will be the year Democrats elect a candidate statewide for the first time since 1994, as Talarico remains locked in a tight race against his opponent Ken Paxton (R-TX).

“On election night we will turn on MSNOW or Fox News or CNN or whatever channel you want to watch, and the announcers will say something that we did not get to hear in forever,” Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) said at the rally.

Texas flags were handed out to supporters before the rally began. Democratic congressional candidate Johnny Garcia, who is running in one of the five seats redrawn in Texas’ gerrymander last year, joined Talarico at his rally.

“They will say that for the first time in a generation, the state of Texas is going to be a Democrat in the United States,” he continued.

The rally included time to “build community,” as Talarico’s team encouraged the crowd to meet someone next to them and ask what brought them to the rally.

“There’s that moment in every game, the last play, the last drive, when you have to leave it all on the field,” Talarico said.

1 day ago

DOJ sending poll monitors to six Democratic Georgia counties in November

From Emily Hallas


The Justice Department is sending poll monitors to six Georgia counties, all of which are left-leaning districts, in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.

Georgia is a battleground state, featuring intense elections this cycle at the Senate and gubernatorial levels. The DOJ is sending election monitors to Bibb, Cobb, Chatham, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The development comes after Harmeet Dhillon, the head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, announced in August that the DOJ would send 1,000 observers nationwide, in what she termed “the largest monitoring effort” in the agency’s history.

Monitoring elections is a normal part of the DOJ’s duties. However, the latest effort marks a substantial expansion of that effort. The department under former President Joe Biden sent roughly 400 monitors to 64 jurisdictions across around two dozen states on Election Day in the last midterm year, 2022. This year’s effort will more than double that number, while sending monitors to all 50 states.