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

Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) declined to commit to serving a full second term as Pennsylvania governor if reelected during a Wednesday night debate.

“The only thing I am focused on is running for reelection as governor,” Shapiro said when asked if he would commit to serving all four years of a possible second term.

Shapiro is running for his second term as Pennsylvania’s governor against Republican challenger, state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump. Shapiro has also been floated as a possible 2028 presidential candidate and has hit the campaign trail with several other Keystone State candidates throughout the midterm election season.

“I’m focused on these midterms and trying to generate the kind of turnout and support for the kind of candidates who will push back on the chaos, the cruelty, and the corruption of Donald Trump — the kind of chaos, cruelty, and corruption that my opponent supports,” Shapiro said.

Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD), another suspected 2028 candidate, also hit a similar bump in his gubernatorial debate on Tuesday, where he also did not rule out cutting his second gubernatorial term short.

Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) is hitting the campaign trail for Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate David Crowley on Friday. The two will hold a meet-and-greet in Kenosha.

“Governor Wes Moore is in town this Friday and we’d love to meet you, talk about how we can run through the finish line of this race, and deliver a Democratic Trifecta on November 3rd,” Crowley posted on social media.

Earlier in the day, Crowley got a boost with an endorsement from former President Barack Obama.

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will also be hitting the pavement in another battleground.

Buttigieg will hold a rally with Sean McCann, the Democrat running for Congress in Michigan’s 4th District. McCann is hoping to unseat Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI). The Cook Political Report shifted the race rating from “likely Republican” to “leans Republican.”

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) explained her decision to stump with Democratic Senate candidate Abdul el Sayed the day of the election, despite her staunch support for his primary challenger during the summer, calling the situation “all hands on deck.”

“I’ve been supporting the ticket since the day the primary was over,” Whitmer told reporters in Grand Rapids. “I like Abdul. I respect Abdul, and I know he is going to be the one to go and fight for Michiganders.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he’s unsure what the future holds for him if the Republicans lose control of Congress in November.

“Heaven forbid, if we lose this majority or whatever, I don’t know what my next chapter of life is,” Johnson told Fox News this week. “If God moves on our hearts and says we should, you know, go back to my hometown of Shreveport and start a lawn business, I’ll do that with equal fervor.”

Democrats have enjoyed positive momentum in the last few weeks as voters show frustration with the Trump administration’s Iran war and its effect on prices.

Former President Barack Obama endorsed Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley to be Wisconsin’s next governor as part of his array of endorsements announced on Thursday.

“As governor, David will fight to make Wisconsin more affordable, so that you’re paying less at the pump, at the doctor’s office, and less at the end of the month. There is nobody better to lead Wisconsin forward,” Obama said in his endorsement message.

Crowley, who is set to face Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) in the general election, won the Democratic nomination in an upset win against socialist state Rep. Francesca Hong in the August primary. Hong led Crowley by double digits in polls, but the Badger State chose the more centrist Democrat to send to the general.

“David’s life story is about overcoming adversity, and his life’s work is about bringing people together,” Obama said. “Like me, David started out as a community organizer, and he happens to be a girl dad too.”

The race between Hong and Tiffany is listed as a toss-up race by Cook Political Report, with Crowley leading by single-digit margins in recent polling. The state currently has a Democratic governor, Tony Evers, but it flipped red and voted for President Donald Trump in 2024.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) will hit the campaign trail with Democratic Senate candidate Abdul el Sayed, ahead of his debate against Republican candidate Mike Rogers Thursday night.

The two will appear in Grand Rapids on Thursday afternoon.

Whitmer was a strong supporter of Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) during the bitter primary battle over the summer. El Sayed attracted the support of the progressive wing of the party, while Stevens appealed to Jewish and black voters.

Since the primary, there has been a party-wide effort to support el Sayed in the battleground. Former Vice President Kamala Harris appeared with him, as have many senators.

Democrat Abdul el Sayed has responded to a post where President Donald Trump referred to him as “Mohammed” multiple times, saying it’s an example of how “low” he thinks of Muslims.

“He knows my name is Abdul. He says it everyday,” el Sayed wrote Thursday morning. “But he’s not just attacking me. He’s attacking all of us. He thinks so low of us. He thinks he can use my name and my faith to distract us from the suffering his policies are inflicting on us at the pump, at the grocery store, and at the doctor’s office. He thinks we don’t know any better.”

Trump ripped into el Sayed in a Truth Social post overnight, a day before he’s set to debate former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in the battle for Michigan’s Senate seat.

“Mohammed El-Sayed is a terrible Candidate for the Dumocrats,” Trump wrote. “While his opponent, Mike Rogers, is an extremely good one, Mohammed goes back to the days of the Jihad. He is a RADICAL Extremist, Terrorist Sympathizer, and no different from his best friend, America Hating Hasan Piker. How’s France doing? Mohammed’s Values are not exactly those of Michiganders, or those of our Great United States of America! He is WRONG for Michigan, and WRONG for America.”

“VOTE FOR MIKE ROGERS — HE HAS MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT, AND WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” Trump concluded.

Candidates in three major Senate races will face off in debates Thursday night:

Republican Mike Rogers will debate Democratic nominee Abdul el Sayed in Michigan at 7 p.m.

Republican Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) will debate Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) in Georgia at 7 p.m.

Sen. Susan Collins will debate Democratic state Sen. Troy Jackson in Maine at 8 p.m.

The Maine debate is the second of the week, with Jackson making a viral moment in the first debate of the election on Tuesday.

Follow along for updates from the Washington Examiner.

President Barack Obama has endorsed Democrat Troy Jackson in his battle against Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME).

“Troy Jackson is running to be your next senator, and I’m proud to be on board,” the former president said in the video addressed to Mainers. “In this economy, we need a fighter like Troy, a fifth-generation logger. Troy worked 80 hours a week and still struggled to get by. As Maine’s Senate president, he fought to raise wages, lower the cost of prescription drugs, and provide free lunch to every student in the state. After Roe was overturned, Troy helped protect the right to an abortion in Maine, and now we need Troy to deliver for us in the Senate. So do not sit this one out. Get out there and vote for Troy Jackson.”

Jackson won the Democratic nomination after embattled candidate Graham Platner dropped out due to allegations of sexual abuse that came to light after he won the primary. Jackson, who was the state Senate president, hasn’t been able to gain the national enthusiasm that other battleground Democrats, such as Abdul el Sayed, have.

Democrats are focusing on the Iran war in their latest attack tactic against Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) as they hope to flip the seat blue.

“I’ve liked Susan Collins in the past. I voted for Susan Collins every time she’s run, but this time, no. I just can’t overlook what’s happening now,” a man said in the ad. “Susan voted for Trump’s war in Iran five times, driving up our gas prices. While Susan Collins is off getting rich from stock trading, she increased her wealth over $10 million.

“Susan Collins is making us pay more while she’s off getting the rich. I can’t vote for Susan anymore,” he continued.

The Iran war has been a drag on Republicans’ popularity, as the conflict continues to drive oil and gas prices up. Many Republicans in battleground states have tried to distance themselves from the Trump administration’s decision regarding the war, including Michigan’s Mike Rogers.

A major campaign arm for Senate Democrats has released an ad ripping Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) over accusations of wrongdoing related to her husband’s work as an insurance lobbyist.

“It’s a match made in Washington. She’s a congresswoman. He’s a shadow lobbyist for the insurance industry,” the ad begins. “He set up private meetings between insurance executives and his wife, and she wrote a law boosting insurance industry profits and giving tax breaks to companies like her husband’s.”

“Ashley Hinson’s gotten up to $8 million richer since she went to Washington, and now she’s facing an ethics complaint. Ashley Hinson sold us out,” the ad said.

WinPAC, backed by Senate Majority PAC, put $3.4 million behind the ad.

A report detailing the records of Hinson and her husband arranging meetings between insurance groups and lawmakers was published by the Washington Sun in August. Shortly after, the House Ethics Committee filed a complaint against Hinson. She and her husband have maintained that their actions went through the proper channels.

“Matt’s not a lobbyist nor has he ever lobbied Ashley on anything — they maintain the highest ethical standards,” a Hinson campaign spokesperson told the Washington Sun.

Former President Barack Obama has added a new name to his endorsements list: Keisha Lance Bottoms.

“Georgia, I hope you’ll support my friend Keisha Lance Bottoms for governor. … Keisha believes that public service is about putting you first. She’s invested in young people, delivered historic pay raises for police officers and firefighters, and balanced the budget without raising taxes. Now, Keisha has a plan to lower costs, expand Medicaid, strengthen rural hospitals, and give communities the option to eliminate grocery taxes,” he said in a statement Thursday.

“And as a mom of four, Keisha understands the importance of giving every kid a strong start. That’s why she’ll work to guarantee Pre-K for every four-year-old. There is a lot at stake in this election, Georgia. Make your voice heard and vote Keisha Lance Bottoms for governor,” he concluded.

Bottoms, facing Republican Rick Jackson in the race to be Georgia’s next governor, is within the margin of error, but a few points behind her opponent in most polls.

President Donald Trump’s Texas rally for Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton was repeatedly interrupted by protesters on Wednesday, drawing loud boos from the crowd and sharp jeers from the president.

Trump was forced to stop several times during his speech to supporters in San Antonio after multiple hecklers in the crowd caused a kerfuffle, leading security to intervene. The president joked that one of the protesters was going to get “hell” at home because “his mom voted for Trump.” At another point, Trump claimed that the disruptions were coordinated by “enemies of our nation.”

“If there are any more paid protesters, please raise your hand and get the hell out of here,” the president said at the rally as he targeted the “really bad-looking people.”

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Democratic Senate nominee for Iowa Josh Turek said he does not intend to pursue impeachment charges against President Donald Trump if he is elected.

“I have no interest in looking at impeachment,” Turek said. “I think that we need to look forward, not back. My full intention is to go out there and to work on policy that is going to benefit everyday Iowans.”

During the debate, Turek referenced his hundreds of votes with Republicans in the Iowa legislature as a signal of his bipartisanship and willingness to work across the aisle.

“What Iowans want is they want someone that is going to go up and work hard to provide solutions to people’s problems through bipartisan policy,” Turek said.