President Donald Trump will deliver his closing message in the midterm elections Monday afternoon after a weekend of surprises, including an unexpected cross-party endorsement, sent shockwaves through key battleground races.
Trump is set to speak at the Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC, capping off a blitz of last-minute appearances in states where Republicans face competitive challengers. Tuesday’s elections will determine who controls Congress for Trump’s final two years in office, with the fate of his political agenda hinging on a handful of key contests.
In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed's campaign faced a new challenge after his former primary opponent, Rep. Haley Stevens, threw her support behind Republican Mike Rogers. Democrats rallied
behind El-Sayed, while Trump praised Stevens and launched a series of Islamophobic attacks against El-Sayed. Stevens' move threatens to weaken El-Sayed's recent narrow advantage in the race.
Meanwhile, a federal judge dismissed a Trump administration lawsuit in Alaska’s closely watched Senate races. The lawsuit attempted to block certification of the race if incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan lost because retired school teacher Daniel J. Sullivan's name was also on the ballot.
Democrat Mary Petola’s campaign has been accused of recruiting the teacher as a spoiler candidate to confuse voters, though she has denied those allegations.
Trump's approval marks a pre-midterm low
06:50 AM ET, November 2 2026, Marc RamirezWith his favorability dipping over the last 30 days, Trump’s approval rating is the lowest for any president heading into a midterm election in the last 80 years.
Trump has a 36% approval rating, according to the latest New York Times poll tracker, which compiles the daily average of polls conducted by various organizations. Meanwhile, 61% disapprove.
The Times' final national poll, conducted with Siena University, found Trump’s falling favorability linked to several top issues. Just under three in 10 likely voters support how the president has managed Americans' cost of living, the newspaper said, and more than four in 10 Republicans dislike his handling of fuel costs.
According to the Times' chief political analyst Nate Cohn, Trump has the lowest pre-midterm favorability rating since President Harry Truman − and fellow Democrats were shellacked in the 1946 elections.
Democrats rally around El-Sayed
06:35 AM ET, November 2 2026, Karissa WaddickDemocratic leaders put internal party divisions aside and united in support of Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on Sunday after Rep. Haley Stevens backed his Republican opponent. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Stevens' defection a "despicable betrayal," while former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said El-Sayed "must win."
Schumer previously backed Stevens in the Democratic primary but has since thrown his support behind El-Sayed.
"Senate Democrats are united in our support for Abdul El-Sayed, because we know he will fight for the economic interests of working families in Michigan, unlike Mike Rogers, who is a tool of Donald Trump and billionaire donors," Schumer said in a post on X.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Election live updates: Trump to make final midterm pitch at Reflecting Pool
