Donald Trump is campaigning again. With two days until Americans vote on November 8, the U.S. president held campaign events on Sunday in Dubuque, Iowa, and Salina, Kansas. The Republican Party are trying to hold on to slim majority margins in Congress. Both areas have become key battlegrounds because they are seeing a close battle for control of the Senate. So far more than 52 million American voters have voted early or by mail (US Midterm Elections 2026).
All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 seats in the Senate will be up for grabs in the November 3 elections. Republicans have a slim majority in both the House and Senate, with a 53–47 edge in the Senate. The Democrats must pick up four votes in each house to win control, Reuters reports. The potential loss of both chambers by Republicans would make it much more difficult for Trump to pass legislation and advance his political agenda in the last two years of his presidency (US Midterm Elections 2026).
Why These Midterm Elections Matter
Mid term elections happen halfway through the 4 year presidency. Unlike presidential elections, voters cannot vote for a President. They instead vote for members of Congress like representatives and senators.
They are important as Congress can pass laws. It is responsible for controlling the government spending and can investigate the administration and key decisions within the government. While the president leads the executive branch, congress has a big part to play in whether the president’s policies become law (US Midterm Elections 2026).
The results could have a direct impact on the rest of Trump’s presidency. Having both houses controlled by Republicans means that the administration will have a greater chance of passing their proposals. However if Democrats win either the house or senate, they will have the power to slow down some Republicans, make changes to bills and start investigations into the administration.
It will also be a good indicator of how the public feel about Trump’s leadership. While not an election for the president, midterm elections can act as a public referendum for the ruling party.
The Economy Becomes the Biggest Election Issue
The economy is one of the largest issues facing Republicans. Affordable essentials including food, housing, healthcare and fuel have become an issue for many American families.
The economy is a huge factor in registered voters’ decision making process for the 2026 congressional elections with 84% stating it is an extremely important factor. It was a top concern for both parties. (US Midterm Elections 2026)
This is an important issue for people. It results in less disposable income for families due to increased prices. This reduces people’s spending power within families of low and middle income.
Tariffs are also an issue in politics. The Trump administration has stated that they have implemented these trade policies to protect American industries and workers. However critics argue it causes prices on imported goods to increase causing an extra burden on businesses and consumers.(US Midterm Elections 2026)
An additional issue is the war in Iran. Energy prices may result in increased transportation, manufacturing and food prices. This allows voters to make decisions based on what economic promises the administration has made as well as how they will respond to issues internationally affecting the family budget.
Trump’s Popularity and the Republican Challenge
Trump has become highly prominent in the campaign as he uses his rallies to motivate voters to go to the polls, helping Republican candidates in tight races.
However, Trump’s high popularity may cause some issues for the party. In October, it was reported that Trump had fallen to an approval rating of just 31% by polling company Ipsos. As Trump is involved in the campaign it may encourage his supporters to vote, however it could encourage people who disagree with his policies to vote for democratic candidates. (US Midterm Elections 2026)
This creates an issue for the Republican campaign as they must appeal to those who may be encouraged to vote by Trump’s political appeal, but also address issues with the administration.
Iowa and Kansas show how the final weeks of the campaign can have a large impact on races. Iowa, traditionally a Republican stronghold, currently has several tight races. Kansas, typically a Republican stronghold, is also having an unusually tight Senate race.
Kansas has not voted for a Democratic Senator since 1932 however if they were to do so it would be very significant, reported by Reuters. These races show how local issues can combine with national political issues to create a competitive race in areas that traditionally had long Republican leanings. (US Midterm Elections 2026)
What Could Happen After November 3?
This will give Republicans more leverage when implementing their legislative agenda with Trump in power. The administration will be able to put their agenda into action as they can focus on their priorities such as taxation, immigration, trade, and government spending.
However, it will give the Democrats a majority in either chamber. This would allow them to challenge and question the policies set by the Republicans, investigate decisions made by the government and impact future legislation. There may be issues passing significant legislation due to the split Congress which will cause more division between the White House and Congress.
It will have wider implications on the economy, health, immigration, foreign policy and government spending over the next two years. (US Midterm Elections 2026)
Conclusion
Both Donald Trump and the GOP will need to see how they fare in the 2026 U.S. mid-term elections as the Republicans look to keep their firm grip on Congress while the Democrats hope to turn things around.
The Republicans are trying to hold onto their slender majority while the Democrats hope to turn things around.
With the economy, cost of living, healthcare and the war with Iran dominating in voters minds, Trump’s campaign rallies in Iowa and Kansas show just how important the last few weeks of campaigning are for both parties.
The results will depend on how people feel about the direction of the country and which party they believe can help them. No matter what the result, the election outcome will set the tone for Washington politics in the last two years of Trump’s term.
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