WASHINGTON/NEW YORK - Republicans mounted a final push on Sunday to prevent a predicted Democratic surge in Tuesday's U.S. midterm elections, where polls indicate Democrats are well placed to win control of the House of Representatives and have a real chance of capturing the Senate.
President Donald Trump headlined Republican rallies in Iowa and Kansas, states where his party was expected to win comfortably but which required presidential boosts. At these rallies, Trump made claims that Democrats would turn the country communist if they win and offered $5,000 payments to everyone in the country if his party prevails. He painted Democrats as "extreme and dangerous radicals" who would "steal your wealth" and let in migrants to "ransack, rape and plunder."
An NBC News poll released on Sunday showed 60% of Americans disapprove of Trump's performance, particularly over high prices exacerbated by his eight-month, sputtering war against Iran. The poll underscored voter concern as Trump's second term has featured a relentless expansion of presidential power, including sweeping tariffs and threats to annex Canada and Greenland.
Record early voting was evident, with 54 million Americans already having cast ballots around the country before Election Day. In a sign of party divisions, Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens defected to endorse Republican Mike Rogers against Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed, highlighting tensions between the establishment and progressive wings.
Trump indicated he would be willing to grant pardons to Elon Musk and close associates if Democrats take control of Congress, fearing investigations. The final New York Times/Siena poll showed Democratic candidates leading in all seven competitive Senate races, though five remained within the margin of error.
A Democratic majority in the Senate would be able to shut down Trump's lifetime appointments to courts, especially the Supreme Court. About $11 billion has been spent on advertising for the midterms, with Elon Musk contributing nearly half-a-billion dollars to Republican efforts. The outcome will determine whether Trump faces a Democratic Congress able to investigate his administration and block judicial appointments, or retains Republican control.
