With midterm elections happening nationwide, Democrats are hoping to gain control of Congress, which would require a net gain of four seats in the Senate and a net gain of three seats in the House. Democrats are hoping that key elections in toss-up states like Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, Texas, Maine, Michigan and New Hampshire will give them the edge they need to gain control for the final two years of the Trump administration. In the past, the out-of-power party has seen gains in the midterm elections.
Key issues shaping this election include: a rising cost of living, immigration, abortion, and health care. A Harris Poll for The Guardian found that cost of living was the single most important issue for voters this election. The rising cost of living has been driven by rising gasoline prices due to the war in Iran, persistent inflation, high mortgage rates, and aggressive tariffs. These issues may impact the Republican vote, as Trump’s approval rating reaches a record low.
At the same time, earlier today the Trump administration announced that it would be administering the “largest election monitoring effort in history” in a press release from the Department of Justice. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division at the DOJ stated that “Election integrity has been one of the top priorities for this Administration and this Division.” This year, approximately 1,000 monitors will be deployed nationwide, compared to 289 deployed for the 2022 midterms and 714 for the 2024 presidential election.
Of the 126 jurisdictions where election monitors will be deployed, at least 89 voted for the Democratic candidate in the last three presidential elections. This deployment announcement comes after the Supreme Court ruled against the Trump administration’s demands to set aside over 20,000 ballots from “likely” non-citizens in the California midterm elections, raising concerns about potential election interference.
Voting centers are open today from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3, for in-person voting or drop-off. As long as you are in line by the time polls close, you are eligible to vote.
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