2026 midterms

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has signed a directive ordering the department to defend the 2026 midterm elections from foreign threats. The move puts the Pentagon formally behind election security preparations ahead of next year's vote. The announcement was published by the department and is drawing attention to how the military will be involved in countering foreign interference.

The New York Times is tracking the contest for control of Congress ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, asking which party is currently favored to win majorities in the House and Senate. The piece reflects growing attention to the midterms, which will shape the second half of President Donald Trump's term.

Pete Hegseth, serving as Secretary of War in the Trump administration, has signed a directive tasking the Pentagon with defending the 2026 US midterm elections from foreign threats. The move puts the military formally into an election-security role, an area traditionally led by civilian agencies, and is likely to spark debate over the appropriate scope of the Defence Department's domestic involvement.

The Trump administration is pursuing changes to US election rules that critics say are designed to benefit the Republican Party ahead of the midterm elections. Le Monde reports the effort as an attempt to reshape voting procedures and districting to the administration's advantage. The moves are drawing scrutiny over their implications for the fairness of the 2026 contests.

News outlets are publishing early polling and coverage for the 2026 US midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress. With all 435 House seats and about a third of Senate seats on the ballot, trackers are following candidate announcements, primary contests and approval ratings for President Trump and congressional leaders as the campaign season takes shape.

Observers warn the days between the US midterms and final vote counts — the so-called 'counting window' — could be exploited by Donald Trump to cast doubt on results he dislikes, echoing his 2020 election fraud claims. The Guardian's First Thing briefing highlights the delayed-count period as the most vulnerable moment for baseless fraud allegations to spread and for officials to face pressure over certification.

The New York Times published an analysis on September 28, 2026, asking who is winning the race for Congress, as the midterm campaign season draws attention to which party is favored to control the House and Senate. The piece examines the state of the congressional contests and the political landscape heading into the elections.

A planned steel mill in Iowa is being read as a window into President Trump's strategy for the 2026 midterm elections. Reporting frames the project as an effort to signal economic revival and manufacturing investment in the Midwest, a region likely to be pivotal in November's congressional contests. The story is drawing attention amid debate over whether industrial projects translate into midterm gains.

A planned steel mill in Iowa is being framed as central to Donald Trump's strategy for the midterm elections. Reporting connects the industrial project to Republican efforts to court manufacturing jobs and blue-collar voters in the Midwest, positioning the mill as a symbol of economic renewal ahead of the vote.

The New York Times has published updated polling on the 2026 gubernatorial races, offering an early look at how candidates are positioning in key state contests. The latest numbers give voters and political observers a first measure of candidate strength, though most races remain more than a year away and few campaigns are fully underway.

Voting Rights Lab has released a Battleground Report examining how voting rules have changed across key states since the 2022 midterms. The report compiles shifts in election legislation ahead of the 2026 contests, covering changes to registration, mail voting and related procedures in battleground states. It is being cited in discussions about how the 2026 midterm landscape may differ from past elections.

Donald Trump is publicly promoting criticism of a fellow Republican who broke with the party line on immigration, the New York Times reports. The clash underscores ongoing tension within the Republican Party over immigration policy heading into the 2026 midterm season, with Trump continuing to pressure lawmakers who dissent from his hardline stance.

Guardian columnist Moira Donegan argues that abortion, once a dominant political issue after the overturning of Roe v Wade, has notably receded from America's national debate ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Despite ongoing Republican pushes for abortion bans, the topic is drawing less attention than in recent years, raising questions about shifting voter priorities and Democratic strategy.

Attention is turning to the 2026 US midterm elections, with coverage focused on how the results could reshape Donald Trump's power in his second term and determine control of Congress. All 435 House seats and about a third of the Senate are up for grabs, and the outcome could either cement Republican control or hand Democrats a check on the president's agenda.

Pollster Frank Luntz says voters are angry as he outlines which coalitions of voters could decide the 2026 US midterm elections. His analysis points to shifting allegiances among key voting blocs that both parties will need to watch as campaigns ramp up.

Attention is turning to Texas's 2026 election cycle, with coverage highlighting the key races on the ballot alongside historical presidential election results in the state. Observers are looking at which statewide and congressional contests could shape the political balance in Texas and nationally, and how past voting patterns might inform what happens next.

Attention is turning to Michigan's 2026 elections, with coverage highlighting the key races on the ballot alongside the state's history of presidential election results. As a key swing state, Michigan's contests for statewide offices and the legislature are expected to draw national focus, with its past voting patterns seen as a barometer for the broader political landscape heading into the midterms.

Commentary is weighing how the 2026 US midterm elections could reshape American foreign policy. The argument centers on whether congressional control changing hands would constrain or redirect the administration's approach to issues like Ukraine, the Middle East, trade and alliances, or whether foreign policy will remain largely in the executive's hands regardless of the election outcome.

NPR examines whether clergy running for office could help Democrats become competitive in Republican-leaning states. The report explores how candidates with religious backgrounds may connect with conservative voters on moral and community terms, testing a new electoral strategy for the party ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is playing down talk of a potential 2028 presidential run, saying the focus should be on the 2026 midterm elections. She has been mentioned as a possible Democratic contender amid speculation about the party's future leadership. Commenters are weighing whether she is genuinely deferring ambitions or keeping options open ahead of the midterms.

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has signed a directive aimed at defending the 2026 midterm elections from foreign threats. The announcement, published by the Department of War, is drawing attention in the United States and abroad, with the story trending in Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Observers are weighing what role the Pentagon will play in election security and how the directive will be implemented ahead of the vote.

Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman has pushed back against criticism that he is a bad senator, amid frustration from fellow Democrats. He has repeatedly criticized his own party, fueling speculation that he could caucus with Republicans after the 2026 midterm elections. Speaking at the Texas Tribune Festival, Fetterman defended his record and his independent streak, insisting his bipartisan approach serves Pennsylvania voters rather than party interests.

Texas Republicans have survived past Democratic surges, but analysts are asking whether the 2026 midterm cycle could finally break that pattern. Attention is turning to whether shifting demographics, national political headwinds and competitive races could put longtime Republican strongholds in Texas at genuine risk next year.

ABC7 Chicago has published a guide to the 2026 US midterm elections for voters in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, covering when Election Day falls, how to register to vote, early voting periods, and polling place information. The explainer aims to help residents across the three states prepare for the November contests.

Attention is turning to the race for New York's 12th Congressional District ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, with fresh polling coverage tracking how potential candidates stand. The district, anchored in Syracuse and central New York, is being watched as campaigns and voters look for early signals about the contest's direction. Specific poll numbers have not yet been widely reported, but interest in the seat is clearly building.

Republicans are framing their legislative agenda around the 2026 midterm elections, with coverage linking the party's major bill to its electoral prospects. Discussion centers on whether the legislation will help or hurt the party's chances of holding congressional seats, as both sides prepare for a contest that will shape the second half of Donald Trump's term.

North Carolina Senator Ted Budd completed a trip across the state, where he discussed his views on Iran, artificial intelligence and the coming midterm elections with constituents and local media. The tour gave the Republican first-term senator a chance to gauge voter sentiment on national security and emerging technology issues heading into the 2026 election cycle.

A new guide lays out the races and candidates Arkansas voters will face in the 2026 general election. It covers which statewide, legislative and local offices are up for grabs and who is running, giving residents a single reference point as campaigning picks up ahead of Election Day next year.

Attention is turning to which US states will hold trifecta control — one party holding the governorship and both legislative chambers — after the 2026 elections. Gubernatorial and state legislative races that year will determine party control in dozens of state capitals, shaping policy on budgets, redistricting and social issues heading into the next presidential cycle.

A Michigan voter says their 2026 midterm general election ballot was mailed out on September 24, 2026, arrived within days, and was dropped off at an early voting drop box. The post urges others to register and vote. It highlights how quickly mail ballots are turning around in Michigan ahead of the midterms.

Attention is turning to Indiana's Fourth Congressional District ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Local coverage is framing the district as a race to watch, with voters and commentators beginning to weigh in on the contest. With candidates and campaign dynamics still taking shape, the seat is emerging as an early talking point in next year's election cycle.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies has published an analysis of the terrorism threat facing the 2026 US midterm elections, drawing on attack data to outline what risks lie ahead. The report assesses patterns in politically motivated violence and what they suggest about the security environment as the vote approaches.

New Jersey's House race for the 2026 US midterm elections is drawing attention in election coverage. Early focus is on which parties and candidates will contest the state's congressional seats, with New Jersey seen as a potential battleground in the battle for control of the House of Representatives.

A new guide outlines what Ohio voters need to know for the 2026 midterm elections, including registration and voting deadlines and the races that will appear on the ballot. Coverage is focused on helping residents prepare ahead of election day, with details on statewide and local contests, key dates for absentee and early voting, and where to find official election information.