OMM Newsroom
Donald Trump made a final appeal to voters over the weekend before the US midterm elections, seeking to keep Republicans in control of Congress. He held rallies in Florida, Iowa and Kansas, states he has won in previous elections, in a sign of the defensive position Republicans face ahead of Tuesday’s vote, according to the BBC.
With voters frustrated by rising prices, especially for fuel, Trump sought to redirect attention from the cost of living and focus on attacks against Democrats. He said they would “bankrupt” families if elected.
Trump campaigned across the country, including in areas once considered safe Republican strongholds. Alongside rallies in Kansas, Florida and Iowa, he took part in tele-rallies for candidates in states including Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Trump told supporters he had transformed the country, saying Democrats had left the US in a “dark age” and that, under his leadership, “we quickly turned it into the golden age of America”.
Prices for fuel, groceries and health care have risen since the war in Iran began more than eight months ago. At rallies in Florida and Iowa, Trump highlighted his trade and immigration policies and warned that Democrats would “open the border”, “bankrupt your family”, “take away your guns” and “mutilate your children”. He also played video montages of Democrats criticising ICE and supporting transgender rights.
His supporters cheered at the rallies, but some Republicans have expressed concern about his appeal to more moderate voters.
Polls point to close contests for Congress
Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries said over the weekend he was “very confident” his party was on course to win the House of Representatives. Former President Barack Obama and other senior Democrats also made final appeals to voters.
A Harvard University forecasting tool that analyses multiple polls and historical data put Democrats’ chances of taking the House at 96% and their chances of winning the Senate at 76%. A national poll by NBC News published over the weekend found that registered voters favoured a Democrat-controlled Congress by seven percentage points, with 52% supporting Democrats and 45% Republicans.
The Senate race in Michigan, a closely contested seat currently held by Democrats, saw a dramatic development over the weekend. Haley Stevens, a sitting congresswoman who lost the Democratic Senate nomination to Abdul El-Sayed, endorsed Republican candidate Mike Rogers on Sunday. The move drew widespread condemnation from fellow Democrats and praise from Republicans, including Trump, who called Stevens “very brave”.
In Alaska, a judge on Sunday dismissed an attempt by the Trump administration to delay certification of election results if the Republican incumbent loses. The case concerned two candidates with the same name appearing on the ballot.
Control of Congress at stake
Trump and his administration have repeatedly questioned the credibility and security of the vote ahead of the election, despite evidence that voter fraud is rare. The Justice Department has launched investigations or sought to have votes set aside in multiple states.
Midterm results are widely seen as a measure of public satisfaction with a president’s performance. The party holding the White House typically loses seats in Congress in midterm elections, leaving Trump’s Republicans with more at stake.
Republicans currently hold slim majorities in both the House and Senate. Losing seats could hinder their ability to pass laws and shape policy. Democrats are seeking to take control, which would allow them to challenge Trump’s agenda, investigate his administration and present their vision for the country ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
Who wins at city, state and federal levels can affect voters’ everyday lives, including the cost of fuel, inflation, grocery prices, access to health care and abortion, income and property taxes, and immigration.
