Politics · 2026-11-01 · Afternoon briefing

Democrats lead polls ahead of US midterms test for Trump

Americans vote in midterm elections on Tuesday, with the Democratic Party aiming to retake control of Congress. Polling averages compiled by The New York Times show Democrats leading Republicans 51% to 42.6% on the generic ballot. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 Senate seats are being contested.

The vote is widely viewed as a referendum on Donald Trump’s second presidency. He has headlined 28 rallies in Republican-leaning states, urging supporters to vote “as if I were on the ballot”. Turnout appears high, with over 51 million early ballots already cast. Elon Musk has also weighed in financially, spending at least US$267m to support Republican candidates.

Despite the intense campaigning, the institution both parties are fighting to control is held in low regard by the electorate. Congress currently has an approval rating of just 14%, one of the lowest figures ever recorded ahead of a midterm election.

Summary written by Cup of News with AI from the sources below. Check the originals for the full story.

Read the sources

• Blue wave or flood? Democrats enter midterms with a strong polling lead
• Democrats lead final midterms polls, but the Senate is still uncertain
• US Midterm Elections 2026 Live: 28 Days Of This Crap Is A Lot, Says Trump On Midterm Rallies
• Are the US midterms going to see a blue wave of Democrats winning seats – or a blue flood?
• Who is winning 2026 midterms? Polls show anti-Trump vote looms large

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