The US midterm elections are set to take place on November 3, with voters heading to the polls to decide who controls Congress for the final two years of US President Donald Trump’s term. While Trump has
hogged much of the political spotlight, several other personalities have made this election particularly significant.
Midterms are elections held halfway through a US President’s four-year term. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 Senate seats are being contested this time, along with several governorships and state-level positions.
The outcome could determine how much room Trump has to push his legislative agenda. If Republicans lose control of either chamber, Democrats could block legislation, hold up appointments and launch congressional investigations into his administration.
Here are five people who have dominated America’s 2026 midterm election conversation.
1. Donald Trump: The President Whose Political Future Is At Stake
Trump may not be on the ballot but he has been impossible to keep out of the midterm campaign. The US President has spent much of the election season campaigning for Republican candidates, making appearances across 20 states in the final 32 days before voting. The election is a crucial test of his second presidency as voters have been weighing concerns over the cost of living, immigration and the war with Iran, while Democrats have sought to turn the midterms into a referendum on his administration.
2. Elon Musk: The Billionaire Who Put His Money Behind Republicans
Elon Musk has become one of the biggest talking points of the 2026 midterms because of the extraordinary amount of money he has poured into Republican campaigns. According to campaign finance filings, Elon Musk has contributed around $445.6 million during the 2026 election cycle, making him the biggest individual political donor of the midterms, according to OpenSecrets. His donations include major contributions to the Senate Leadership Fund, which backs Republican Senate candidates, and America PAC, his own political action committee. He has also spent heavily in Texas, supporting Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton against Democrat James Talarico.
3. Abdul El-Sayed: The Democrat Seeking To Make Senate History
A closely watched Senate contest in Michigan put Abdul El-Sayed in the national spotlight. The Egyptian-American physician and former public health official is seeking to become the first Muslim ever elected to the US Senate. He is running against Republican Mike Rogers in a race that has also become a flashpoint in the debate over religion and identity in American politics. Abdul El-Sayed has faced attacks from Republican politicians over his remarks on Israel and a deadly attack at a Detroit-area synagogue, allegations he has pushed back against.
4. James Talarico: The Democrat Taking On Republicans In Texas
Texas emerged as one of the most closely watched battlegrounds of the 2026 midterms, with Democrat James Talarico challenging Republican Ken Paxton for a Senate seat. A state representative, James Talarico has made affordability and the influence of wealthy donors central themes of his campaign. He has also directly challenged Elon Musk’s role in the race, accusing wealthy political donors of using their money to influence the outcome.
5. Ken Paxton: The Republican At The Centre Of A Costly Senate Fight
Ken Paxton, Texas’s attorney general, is seeking to move from state politics to the US Senate but his campaign has become one of the most expensive and contentious contests of the election. His political career has been marked by legal and ethical controversies, including a 2023 impeachment trial in the Texas legislature, where he was acquitted. He also reached a settlement in a securities-fraud case. Despite the controversies, Ken Paxton has received Trump’s backing and substantial financial support from Elon Musk.
