For voters who say the cost of living is their chief concern, the midterms offered a choice over control of Congress as food and fuel costs weighed on household budgets.
Food and fuel prices had soared in part because of President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariffs and unpopular war with Iran. The price of a gallon of diesel was $3.75 before the war with Iran began in February and reached a record high of $6.52 in September.
In Michigan, Representative Haley Stevens had lost the Democratic Senate nomination to Abdul El-Sayed in the primary. On Sunday, Stevens endorsed the Republican nominee, Mike Rogers, against El-Sayed. Stevens had clashed with El-Sayed after his primary victory.
Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, answered with an unusually direct rebuke. “This is a despicable betrayal from Rep. Stevens”, he said. The endorsement came as Democrats sought to take both chambers of Congress.
Trump, 80, spent the final weekend campaigning across the country. He held rallies in Kansas, Iowa and Florida, including Sunday evening events in Kansas and Iowa that had previously been cancelled. His itinerary included traditionally safe Republican states such as Kansas and Iowa.
At his Iowa rally, Trump placed responsibility for the squeeze on Democrats. “The Democrats caused the high prices, the Democrats caused affordability problems... and we're fixing them”, he said.
Democrats had run on affordability and corruption through the final weekend. At a Saturday rally in Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, the Democratic nominee Elaine Luria told volunteer canvassers to begin each conversation with: “Jen Kiggans voted 100% of the time with Trump”.
Republicans had the larger advertising budget in the final week before Election Day, when total spending reached $561 million. Republicans accounted for $305 million and Democrats for $256 million. Nearly two-thirds of advertisements aired in competitive races last week referred to the economy. The spending formed part of a last-minute Republican defence backed by its cash advantage.
Republicans also spent $235 million on advertisements in competitive Senate, House and governor’s races focused on transgender-related issues during the election cycle. House Speaker Mike Johnson rallied in Michigan on Saturday alongside Rogers and the Republican House nominee Michael Bouchard.
Vice President JD Vance campaigned on Monday in Rome, New York. He promoted Trump’s moves to end taxes on tips and overtime and to secure the border, while calling Democrats “lunatics” who have contempt for American voters.
Trump’s final rally took place at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Monday, November 2, 2026, described as the day before the midterm elections. The pool had reopened after months of repairs. Trump devoted much of his closing speech to his efforts to spruce up Washington’s landmarks. “This is the last day before the midterm elections, the most important midterm I believe in our lifetime”, he said.
Democrats spent election eve reinforcing their economic argument in Iowa, Ohio, Kansas and Texas. Races had grown more competitive in traditionally Republican states including Kansas, Texas and Ohio. Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic House leader, said this weekend that his party was on course to win the House of Representatives.
Final polls put Trump’s approval rating at around 38%. Polls suggested Democrats were poised to seize the House and could reach the Senate. A Harvard University forecasting tool gave Democrats a 96% chance of taking the House and a 76% chance of taking the Senate.
An NBC News national poll published this weekend found registered voters preferred a Democrat-controlled Congress by 7 points, with Democrats leading Republicans 52% to 45%. A Gallup survey released last week found that 58% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents were more enthusiastic than usual about voting, compared with 48% of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents.
The outcome was set to determine whether Democrats could take either chamber from Republicans.
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